Bekologist
06-25-11, 08:14 AM
How would YOU describe riding a bike as a vehicular cyclist on a two lane road?
give it your best shot, keep it brief.
give it your best shot, keep it brief.
Vehicular Cycling (VC) - Vehicular cycling on two lane roads
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John Forester
06-25-11, 09:27 AM
How would YOU describe riding a bike as a vehicular cyclist on a two lane road?
give it your best shot, keep it brief.
On the typical two-lane road that does not have wide lanes, then I would simply use the right-hand lane as is normally required for traffic.
give it your best shot, keep it brief.
On the typical two-lane road that does not have wide lanes, then I would simply use the right-hand lane as is normally required for traffic.
gcottay
06-25-11, 10:25 AM
Pristine ideological purity is not near the top of my list of virtues so:
If the lane is wide enough and doing so is otherwise safe I share it. That's one of many advantages of having a narrow vehicle.
If the lane is not wide enough or sharing would otherwise be unsafe I take the lane. If my speed is far under that of other vehicles and a long line forms behind me, I seek out a safe and convenient spot to stop and let other vehicles through, just as I would if driving a motor vehicle at the same speed.
On a fast rural two-lane with a nice smooth clean shoulder I consider it my own little special purpose lane and use it but stay especially alert at all intersections and driveways.
If the lane is wide enough and doing so is otherwise safe I share it. That's one of many advantages of having a narrow vehicle.
If the lane is not wide enough or sharing would otherwise be unsafe I take the lane. If my speed is far under that of other vehicles and a long line forms behind me, I seek out a safe and convenient spot to stop and let other vehicles through, just as I would if driving a motor vehicle at the same speed.
On a fast rural two-lane with a nice smooth clean shoulder I consider it my own little special purpose lane and use it but stay especially alert at all intersections and driveways.
Chris516
06-26-11, 10:02 AM
How would YOU describe riding a bike as a vehicular cyclist on a two lane road?
give it your best shot, keep it brief.
I take the lane, outright. I only 'share' the lane by pulling over for emergency vehicles.
give it your best shot, keep it brief.
I take the lane, outright. I only 'share' the lane by pulling over for emergency vehicles.
Bekologist
06-27-11, 07:42 AM
This is not my personal opinion, but in the book Effective Cycling, it suggests bikes stay out of the way of traffic and that that bicyclists should position themselves to the right of traffic, and only in the right tire track if the lane is narrow. this advice directly out of EC the book contradicts a glib 'use the right hand lane as normal for traffic'. :lol:
from the Forester-driven EC notebook from his tenure at the LAB as bike educator.... EC is much more a edge of the road methodology. I characterize it as the EC curbhug, even though most bicyclists posting here knows not to curbhug, bicyclists should NEVER, and I mean NEVER, position themselves relative to the cars passing them.
I would never suggest this submissive lane positioning technique.
Here's a general rule: ride just to the right of traffic, except in a narrow lane, when you should ride in the right hand tire track.
a far cry from 'use the right hand lane as normal for traffic'. that incomplete methodology completely ignores both bikes unique operating characteristics and the statutory duties of bicyclists.
I'm a proponent of "take the lane, share the road when safe."
from the Forester-driven EC notebook from his tenure at the LAB as bike educator.... EC is much more a edge of the road methodology. I characterize it as the EC curbhug, even though most bicyclists posting here knows not to curbhug, bicyclists should NEVER, and I mean NEVER, position themselves relative to the cars passing them.
I would never suggest this submissive lane positioning technique.
Here's a general rule: ride just to the right of traffic, except in a narrow lane, when you should ride in the right hand tire track.
a far cry from 'use the right hand lane as normal for traffic'. that incomplete methodology completely ignores both bikes unique operating characteristics and the statutory duties of bicyclists.
I'm a proponent of "take the lane, share the road when safe."
John Forester
06-27-11, 08:32 AM
This is not my personal opinion, but in the book Effective Cycling, it suggests bikes stay out of the way of traffic and that that bicyclists should position themselves to the right of traffic, and only in the right tire track if the lane is narrow. this advice directly out of EC the book contradicts a glib 'use the right hand lane as normal for traffic'. :lol:
from the Forester-driven EC notebook from his tenure at the LAB as bike educator.... EC is much more a edge of the road methodology. I characterize it as the EC curbhug, even though most bicyclists posting here knows not to curbhug, bicyclists should NEVER, and I mean NEVER, position themselves relative to the cars passing them.
I would never suggest this submissive lane positioning technique.
a far cry from 'use the right hand lane as normal for traffic'. that incomplete methodology completely ignores both bikes unique operating characteristics and the statutory duties of bicyclists.
I'm a proponent of "take the lane, share the road when safe."
I rewrote that more than a year ago. The MIT Press is taking its time about publication schedule.
from the Forester-driven EC notebook from his tenure at the LAB as bike educator.... EC is much more a edge of the road methodology. I characterize it as the EC curbhug, even though most bicyclists posting here knows not to curbhug, bicyclists should NEVER, and I mean NEVER, position themselves relative to the cars passing them.
I would never suggest this submissive lane positioning technique.
a far cry from 'use the right hand lane as normal for traffic'. that incomplete methodology completely ignores both bikes unique operating characteristics and the statutory duties of bicyclists.
I'm a proponent of "take the lane, share the road when safe."
I rewrote that more than a year ago. The MIT Press is taking its time about publication schedule.
Pscyclepath
06-28-11, 03:48 PM
How would YOU describe riding a bike as a vehicular cyclist on a two lane road?
give it your best shot, keep it brief.
1. Behave like a driver of a vehicle;
2. Control the traffic lane until it's safe for me to yield that control, and
3. Never compromise my safety for someone else's convenience.
Brief enough? ;-)
give it your best shot, keep it brief.
1. Behave like a driver of a vehicle;
2. Control the traffic lane until it's safe for me to yield that control, and
3. Never compromise my safety for someone else's convenience.
Brief enough? ;-)
genec
06-28-11, 06:42 PM
1. Behave like a driver of a vehicle;
2. Control the traffic lane until it's safe for me to yield that control, and
3. Never compromise my safety for someone else's convenience.
Brief enough? ;-)
Just for grins... how do you "control a lane" in the presence of a multi-ton vehicle bearing down on you?
There are plenty of documented cases of motorists pushing and shoving cyclists with their vehicles.
2. Control the traffic lane until it's safe for me to yield that control, and
3. Never compromise my safety for someone else's convenience.
Brief enough? ;-)
Just for grins... how do you "control a lane" in the presence of a multi-ton vehicle bearing down on you?
There are plenty of documented cases of motorists pushing and shoving cyclists with their vehicles.