Commuting - Cyclists "Jumping Ahead" at Lights

I know this has been discussed at length here at BF but wanted to vent after this mornings commute. Since I have nobody to talk "shop" with here at work (I'm pretty much the only bike commuter), I'll rant here to my BF buddies:)

As I was coming into work this morning I was going at a pace of about 14-15mph and catching up with a hybrid cyclist with no helmet, nobbie tires, and tennis shoes. So I passed him at this pace and we hit a light at a major intersection with tons of traffic. As the light that runs perpendicular to ours turns yellow, he sprints out from behind me on the right. This annoyed the $hit out of me b/c now I'll have to pass him again but this time I'll have to fight with traffic to get around him. So, I pass him again and he does the exact same thing at the next light... WTF??? The next time I passed him I wasn't so polite. I'm struggling to comprehend why people do that, it just puts us both in more danger when I pass him again and we have a line of cars going 30mph only inches to the left of us.

Now you know how drivers feel when we filter up past them at lights and they have to pass us again. Indeed, why do you feel like you have to pass him again if it is "dangerous" to do so? Why not just hang back and take him when a safe and easy opportunity presents itself...even perhaps pulling the same stunt that he did to you?

IMO, you're making a mountain out of a mole hill....it's traffic, whether the guy is on a bike or not, just deal with it and don't let it get your blood pressure too high. Enjoy the ride and don't let the small stuff bother you too much. ;)

Edit: and what does his bike or what he was wearing or not wearing have to do with anything...or is that part of what ticked you off?

To clarify, when I did pass him I waited for a safer point in which to do so like no immediate traffic to our left. Regardless, passing in those conditions is more dangerous than passing on a MUP for example.

True - it's traffic and I need to deal with it. What bothers me about this is cyclists making it more difficult for other cyclists. We deal with enough with the standard car/bus/pedestrian traffic out there.

You're right, what bike he was on has nothing to do with the story that I described above. I ended up deleting some of the text due to the length of the post, which may have made that more relavent.

He ain't no different than a lot of idiot drivers, comes with the territory. If you want to ride in traffic, you gotta deal with traffic...and idiots. ;)

He ain't no different than a lot of idiot drivers, comes with the territory. If you want to ride in traffic, you gotta deal with traffic...and idiots. ;)
Very true - fair or not, I guess I have a higher expectation when it comes to other cyclists than I do cars/pedestrians.

I have a higher expectation when it comes to other cyclists than I do cars/pedestrians.

Thanks for admitting that up front.

A large number of posters on BF have the same problem, and are unable to come to grips with it.

Long, inane flame-wars often result.

I had that happen to me once, I slowed to a stop at a redlight, and this dude on a clunky mtn. bike sails past me, between me and the curb, right through the red light. It startled me because I was pretty far right and considered that side "cut off". The road after the light climbed a bit, so I sped up to sprinting speed then stopped pedaling and freewheeled by the dude going about ~20 mph uphill, no "lookback". That was the best response I could think of at the time!

Life is a race to the grave. That guy is obviously intent on winning.

Now you know how drivers feel when we filter up past them at lights and they have to pass us again. Indeed, why do you feel like you have to pass him again if it is "dangerous" to do so? Why not just hang back and take him when a safe and easy opportunity presents itself...even perhaps pulling the same stunt that he did to you?

IMO, you're making a mountain out of a mole hill....it's traffic, whether the guy is on a bike or not, just deal with it and don't let it get your blood pressure too high. Enjoy the ride and don't let the small stuff bother you too much. ;)

Edit: and what does his bike or what he was wearing or not wearing have to do with anything...or is that part of what ticked you off?

This 100%

Very true - fair or not, I guess I have a higher expectation when it comes to other cyclists than I do cars/pedestrians.

That gets us all in trouble sometimes. ;)

Sometimes we just gotta remember that many, if not most, cyclists are also drivers...and some ride as rudely, impatiently, incompetently and just plain stupidly, as they drive.

Life is a race to the grave. That guy is obviously intent on winning.

+100.

I figure to get there slowly. :D

It may just take me a bit longer.

So for a couple lights in a row, you were at the front of the line. Did you have to filter to get there? Did any cars have to pass you more than once?

At stop sign or intersection, most other cyclist will sprint pass me from a full stop. That's the way it is because of all the stuff I have to carry on my bike just makes me slower. Some of these folks does have a slower pace than I which means I usually will pass them eventually. However if I see another intersection that require a stop and I feel that the other cyclist will get there at the same time, then I don't bother to even pass them until after the next intersection.

I know some of these fast sprinter are not doing it on purpose. It just there way of riding as it is my way of slow starting from all those extra gear. There are certain cyclist such as those on BMX bike which I know will be ahead of me from the start and I will have to pass them eventually. It just a different style of riding and I try to not let that bother me.

Let the other rider get to the light before you, slow roll up behind him, and out sprint him (if safe to do so). Next light, slow roll in front and be ready to out sprint him again. He'll soon acknowledge your awesome sprinting ability and accept his position as a follower.

Otherwise, relax and enjoy the ride.

Now you know how drivers feel when we filter up past them at lights and they have to pass us again.

Lol, yeah, seriously. I still haven't figured out how it's supposed to make sense for bikes to filter to the front at a light, cross the intersection, then have all the traffic they filtered past pass them again as it's faster.

The behavior you're talking about is annoying, for sure. People just have that drive to feel like they're going fast and passing someone. If you just keep ending up together at lights, though, might just be easier to just stay behind him though!

Jump the light before him. Problem solved.

Why didn't you just stay behind him when you were clearly going the same speed anyway?

Stoplights are the equalizers of the pace disparity. Unless there is a good chance that passing someone prior to a light is necessary in order to clear the intersection before the light turns (and the subsequent light, as well), I hang back and let the other guy do his/her thing.

Otherwise, the perpetual leapfrogging becomes tiresome and potentially dangerous.

I've often chosen to turn and take a different route to find some solitude in the bike lane.

Funny, cuz I had the same thing happen to me 2 days ago. Almost the same description of the rider and bike too, no helmet, tennis shoes, knobbie tires on a mtb. He kept blowing through the red lights as the perpendicular traffic's turns yellow. Each time I catch up to him and pass him all the way to the next light. I think, finally, he gave up when he noticed that I just kept blowing by him after his stunts.

The only difference between us is that it didn't really bother me that he kept doing what he was doing because I see this behavior in a daily basis. My only pet peeve is when they can't hold a straight line making them very unpredictable.

You coulda given a "on your right" call and wedged him into the travel lane.

I saw a bumper sticker (on a car)
"Don't like driving in traffic? You ARE traffic"
Sometimes I forget that too.

If he kept catching up to you, then it doesn't seem like you were riding that much faster. I would've just hung behind him and let him go on his way.

Perhaps the other rider was just trying to annoy you and it seems he was successful; or he was just being competitive and decided to jump early because he knew you were the stronger rider. Either way, enjoy the ride and keep avoiding the little irritators like you did. Thanks for sharing the rant.

If its a really bad situation ask yourself, what would Mark Renshaw do in the situation? :bike:

Renshaw head butt
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMIxS8bjlM4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMIxS8bjlM4)

what would Joey do? ;)

Lol, yeah, seriously. I still haven't figured out how it's supposed to make sense for bikes to filter to the front at a light, cross the intersection, then have all the traffic they filtered past pass them again as it's faster.

Because waiting in line on a bike is a significantly greater delay for the rider than the driver. It's not about beating traffic, it's about getting to one's destination faster. It's not like passing a bicyclist is a big deal; I don't care if the same driver has to pass me twice. There's nothing especially dangerous about leapfrogging, unless it's something like a bus that pulls to the curb at every stop. I'm doing my own ride; traffic is something I have to deal with, but I'm not filtering to get a jump on the motorists, I'm doing it because it makes my life much easier.

I will filter up to both where I know I will make the light after it turns green, and where I have a good view of everything. Not necessarily all the way up front.

Because waiting in line on a bike is a significantly greater delay for the rider than the driver. It's not about beating traffic, it's about getting to one's destination faster. It's not like passing a bicyclist is a big deal; I don't care if the same driver has to pass me twice. There's nothing especially dangerous about leapfrogging, unless it's something like a bus that pulls to the curb at every stop. I'm doing my own ride; traffic is something I have to deal with, but I'm not filtering to get a jump on the motorists, I'm doing it because it makes my life much easier.

That doesn't make any sense - how is waiting in line on a bike a significantly greater delay for the rider than the driver? And I'm not talking about not stopping for stop signs where there's no traffic or something, I'm talking about a situation where you all have to stop anyways. Whether you're in a car or on a bike, time spent at a light seems like it's the same.

If there's plenty of room for a car to pass you on your bike that let's them give you 3 feet of room without going into the oncoming traffic lane then it might not be dangerous. But if it's like it is around me, in order for a car to pass a biker they either have to pass really close (then go look up all the "why can't these bastard drivers give me decent room when they pass me - they almost took me out with their mirror!") or swerve into the oncoming traffic lane when no one is coming. And that doesn't count the "bike herd" that sometimes develops at the front, spreading out so no one can pass them.

Still think it's kind of rediculous when there's lots of lights - you just see the cars pass the bikes, the bikes catch up and go to the front at the next light, the cars have to pass them again, again and again. Though to be fair, my thoughts are on certain situations I've seen, may not apply to some other particular situations.

Are you always this preachy? I understand what you're saying, and I understand the value of remaining calm and collected on the bike, but has nobody ever made you angry with their behaviour? Have you never written about it just to vent a little? I have learned to find my road zen 90% of the time, but come on, nobody's perfect...

Just because someone wants to vent doesn't mean we have to hold his/her hand and have a pity party or sing kumbaya and take warm showers together.

Do you always run your yap when you are in a new place and don't know anybody yet? Do I have to post my glamor pics? :eek:

Just because someone wants to vent doesn't mean we have to hold his/her hand and have a pity party or sing kumbaya and take warm showers together.

Do you always run your yap when you are in a new place and don't know anybody yet? Do I have to post my glamor pics? :eek:

You know what? You managed to respond while I was deleting my original post... after reading the whole thread I realized you weren't nearly as preachy as I originally thought. I am rarely if ever a yap runner, new places or old.

**GASP** .... hybrid cyclist with no helmet, nobbie tires, and tennis shoes!

Flog him with your SIDI's I say! This is an outrage! A travesty I tell you! Such shenanegans and ballyhoo!
What comes next?? Clipless sandals with black sox??

You know what? You managed to respond while I was deleting my original post... after reading the whole thread I realized you weren't nearly as preachy as I originally thought. I am rarely if ever a yap runner, new places or old.

If you hadn't quoted my response, I could have deleted it too. ;)

What comes next?? Clipless sandals with black sox??

HEY NOW!




I miss being able to wear my sandals...but at least I still have my black sox. ;)

the jumper should have been flogged for his absolutely awful taste in bikes--read: not on a road bike. next time you see him, kick his ass.

also, +1 on just jump the light before him :) I can't say enough for boning out a little early to get out of the way/find a nice safe spot to be

I used to filter to the front, but now it depends on the road and how safe I feel it is to do so.

I like to snicker loudly when another biker is so blatant in his/her inadequacy.

There's a pathlete I run into - only on the MUP - who absolutely cannot stand to be passed. I like to run up on his left, and say, "On your left" then watch him stand up and hammer for maybe 30 seconds, then slow back down. I'll ride up a few minutes later and do it again, and laugh like a loon when he jumps up, once more.

Or I'll blow by without saying anything and cackle obnoxiously as he spins by to pass me again. Little things amuse little minds...

There's a pathlete I run into - only on the MUP - who absolutely cannot stand to be passed. I like to run up on his left, and say, "On your left" then watch him stand up and hammer for maybe 30 seconds, then slow back down. I'll ride up a few minutes later and do it again, and laugh like a loon when he jumps up, once more.

That would never get old!

You should head-butt the guy the next time he tries to pass you like that.

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/07/05/mcewen_wideweb__430x286.jpg

Since I ride essentially the same route to and from work each day I know which lights I'll make and which one's I won't. If it's a light I normally wouldn't beat anyway I'm content to hang behind a slower rider. If it's a light I can make I'll put the hammer down (well, it may not be much of a hammer, but it's MY hammer) and pass when it's safe to do so. I never see much point in passing people just to get caught again at the next red.

I must be missing something here. It simply is not that hard to take a lane and pass another cyclist. It is not even dangerous. And since both the OP and other cyclist keep ending up at red lights, repeatedly passing makes the OP look like the motorist that just has to race a cyclist to be first at the next red light.

Just because someone wants to vent doesn't mean we have to hold his/her hand and have a pity party or sing kumbaya and take warm showers together.

If it does mean that, I can't wait till CbadRider decides to vent. :D


Do you always run your yap when you are in a new place and don't know anybody yet? Do I have to post my glamor pics? :eek:

Rantwick says he's viewed the forums, but he might not be familiar with your glamor shots. Perhaps a small sample is warranted.

Sheesh, guys. I'm actually with OP on this. It's just bad form to pass another cyclist while s/he is waiting for a light to change, especially if they're just going to have to pass you again. That said, there's not much point in ranting about it every time you witness bad cycling form.

Rantwick says he's viewed the forums, but he might not be familiar with your glamor shots. Perhaps a small sample is warranted.

We'll keep it about as G-rated as you can get,...this time. :eek:

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l156/Wordbiker/blessed-mother-teresa.jpg

Mother chipcom:lol:

Sheesh, just draft the guy and let him do all the work....as long as I'm keeping my pace comfortable I'd let them huff and puff and when they finally get tired of it they'll drop off.

I always let other cyclists go first at lights - they might be faster than me and that way I can say I got all the way to work without being passed :)

Personally I don't filter and if others want to do so it's up to them...as long as they are not posting here about how they are getting hooked all the time...

you can take the human out of the car, but you can't take the human nature out of the human.

Just another good reason to stay centerish in the lane

I always let other cyclists go first at lights - they might be faster than me and that way I can say I got all the way to work without being passed :)

Personally I don't filter and if others want to do so it's up to them...as long as they are not posting here about how they are getting hooked all the time...

Not when you filter and stop 3-4 feet ahead of the car in front. Never been right hooked yet.

There are three lights on one of my several commuting routes where I don't jump, but I time the lights. Instead of a) Wait for green b) Begin pedaling c) Clip in, I 1) Before I go, gauge the right turn traffic behind me (in a double straight/right scenario) to see who is turning and possibly not paying attention to the loudy-clad cyclist 2) Watch cross traffic's lights, clipping in as then light goes from yellow to red 3) Be rolling as my light turns green

This gets me ahead of traffic once crossing the intersection, and just enough. There's no need to take off on a red light.

EDIT: I do not filter on left turns. I wait my turn at the right of the left lane. I'll get there when I get there. Right turns, it's me and the curb, so filtering is allowed.

There's a pathlete I run into - only on the MUP - who absolutely cannot stand to be passed. I like to run up on his left, and say, "On your left" then watch him stand up and hammer for maybe 30 seconds, then slow back down. I'll ride up a few minutes later and do it again, and laugh like a loon when he jumps up, once more.

Draft him when he starts hammering. As soon as he slows down, say, "On your left," and watch him hammer again while you grab his wheel again. After three times he'll either blow up or puke, either of which is fun (as long as it's not you doing it).

A couple of years ago I was regularly riding to work with a co-worker. We'd typically move along at 20-22 mph - not extremely fast, but faster than most people ride. One day we passed a guy who immediately dropped in my draft - I'm OK with that, but it's good manners to ask if you can grab my wheel, and it's definitely good manners to spend at least some time at the front. After two or three miles of this, he stopped by the side of the road to throw up. He caught us at the next light, and at least had the wherewithal to ask if we always ride so fast. Well, no, we usually ride faster. :-)