Advocacy & Safety - REALLY taking the lane; don't get cheated

Riding in the right tire track IS NOT ENOUGH TO GUARANTEE TAKING THE LANE. It usually works, but today I was denied. We have a slower (60 km/h), lower traffic volume, 3-lanes in each direction road where I've always taken a lane by riding in the right tire track. The road has great sightlines and few intersections, so it's usually easy for a car to merge left even halfway, and passing isn't an issue.

Today, I was passed with less than a foot of clearance while I thought I was taking the lane, because 3 cars travelling abreast co-operated to squeeze left enough that they could all pass at once. I think those great sightlines worked against me, since all 3 lanes of traffic saw me and moved over just enough to cheat me out of my 'taking the lane' strategy and scare the cr@p out of me. Of course, there was a red light just ahead, so all this endangering of my life was also entirely pointless. :notamused:

I don't think this confluence of motorist co-operation is likely to happen often, but be warned, and be even more assertive about taking the lane than you might have thought you'd need to be. I plan to ride right down the middle in the future.

Exactly the reason I keep an eye on those behind me.

If they don't move over far enough, I do! This takes that option away from them.

Oh, the Moountain Myrrracle makes that strategy possible.

So you got passed close...big deal, it happens.
The dirty little secret about lane position is that it isn't some magic bullet that prevents close passes.

so you got passed close...big deal, it happens.
The dirty little secret about lane position is that it isn't some magic bullet that prevents close passes.

+1

Here in L.A., I can ride in the left tire track and cars will still pass within a foot or two. You get used to it...

Exactly the reason I keep an eye on those behind me.

If they don't move over far enough, I do! This takes that option away from them.

Oh, the Moountain Myrrracle makes that strategy possible.

And opens up the option of passing you on the right, including using the shoulder to do so.

So you got passed close...big deal, it happens.
The dirty little secret about lane position is that it isn't some magic bullet that prevents close passes.I got hit once by a guy just passing close. Cost his insurance $400 and him a Hit&Run conviction. And I was riding in the very center of the lane.

Unfortunately, there is no magic technique that saves us from close passes or actual harm.

Speedo

And opens up the option of passing you on the right, including using the shoulder to do so.

Which is why you have to keep an eye on them - I can move that way toooooooo...

I always figured the issue with going too far to the left is that you are asking people to pass you closely in the other lane. I have found that to really get the message across to many people you have to be in the middle of the lane. Or be carrying something wide and scary looking on your rack, like a bike frame.

Which is why you have to keep an eye on them - I can move that way toooooooo...

Yeah, but playing them games is what gets you hurt...your attention needs to be multi-tasking and having to put a little more attention into one thing comes at the cost of the others. I prefer a position where there is no doubt to the reasonable person that there is not room either left nor right to pass me without having to cross the line or do something stoopid. It is much less of a drain on your attention multi-tasking skills to be aware of the potential of stupidity...than it is to invite and make it an eventual certainty.

Also, if the lane is that wide that you can't position myself to cover your right and left, then it's wide enough to be sharing anyway.

. . . I plan to ride right down the middle in the future.

I think we do drivers a favor by making it as clear as possible that a lane is too narrow for safe sharing.
My favorite spot is a maybe a foot or two left of center.

I get a lot less flack when I run in the left tire track.

Yeah, but playing them games is what gets you hurt...your attention needs to be multi-tasking and having to put a little more attention into one thing comes at the cost of the others. I prefer a position where there is no doubt to the reasonable person that there is not room either left nor right to pass me without having to cross the line or do something stoopid. It is much less of a drain on your attention multi-tasking skills to be aware of the potential of stupidity...than it is to invite and make it an eventual certainty.

Also, if the lane is that wide that you can't position myself to cover your right and left, then it's wide enough to be sharing anyway.

Hey, you are the one who said they were gonna pass on the right - not me!

I never alluded to a WIDE lane, either.

You have to multi task, if you are going to be totally aware of your surroundings...... I guess some are better equipped for it than others.....

Hey, you are the one who said they were gonna pass on the right - not me!

I never alluded to a WIDE lane, either.

You have to multi task, if you are going to be totally aware of your surroundings...... I guess some are better equipped for it than others.....

I didn't say you did or they were, you were the one who said you were watching them...and could move to prevent them from coming up on your right...I just pointed out that preventing them before the fact, rather than after, means you can free up one spec of your senses to be monitoring something else because you don't have to pay AS MUCH attention on the guy you said you'd be watching in some game of preventable cat and mouse.

Which is why you have to keep an eye on them - I can move that way toooooooo...

I assume you are making a joke since doing this would compromise your safety.

no, you can block by moving left. but how do you know when you've moved too far left? when the cars start passing you on your right.

however, when holding the center of a lane too narrow for bike and car to pass side by side and you are doing it for an extended period of time,

an insouciant butt waggle with some random hand signals while wearing approved safety cravats may assist in your negotiations with the motorists behind.

when I waggle my butt women faint and men go for their guns. :eek: