What do you do?

[Litespeed]

When I'm riding with a group and going straight through the intersection (no bike lane), I know I am suppose to get in the middle of the lane to indicate that I am going straight, but the other people in the group don't know the correct procedure and get as far to the right as possible to get out of the cars way. Should I forget what is correct and crowd over with the rest of the group or look like fool when I am the only one sitting in the middle of the lane. They keep telling me to get over to the right. How would you handle this Serge? :eek:

[twahl]

I'd say that in a group, you're safer with the group. Regardless of that though, I stay right but not far enough right to be mistaken for taking a right turn. If there's a turn lane I avoid it, and I watch my mirror. If a car coming up behind me seems confused, I might make a weird sweeping gesture from arm straight down to arm straight forward to indicate that I am going straight. Worked for me so far.

[supcom]

In Shakespeare, the fool was usually the wisest character in the play.

[2manybikes]

I'd say that in a group, you're safer with the group. Regardless of that though, I stay right but not far enough right to be mistaken for taking a right turn. If there's a turn lane I avoid it, and I watch my mirror. If a car coming up behind me seems confused, I might make a weird sweeping gesture from arm straight down to arm straight forward to indicate that I am going straight. Worked for me so far.

I do essentially the same thing. In the straight through lane on the right side. I find an arm signal sometimes is very helpful for all sorts of things. I have very good luck communicating with drivers this way. The more the drivers know what you want to do the better.

You might just mention V Cycling to the group in a easy going manner. At a time when conversation is easy. It may take a long time, but you may get the word out to some. You could buy a used version of "Effective Cycling" from Amazon. Some were very cheap, just a few bucks. You could leave it around or give it to someone. Or mention how you like this forum and let them discover it on their own as a few of us have.

[webist]

Are you stopping at this intersection? If so, I tend to stay far enough over in the lane to permit right on red cars to get by me. Once the vehicles behind me are aware that I am going straight through, since I am in front of them going straight through, I pull to the right so they can accelerate past me.

[Litespeed]

When I am stopped at an intersection, I make sure I am far enough in the lane that cars that want to turn right can do so. Since the group I ride with doesn't do this, I find myself torn between being in the correct position or being with group. I guess they figure I am just asking to get hit. I know I use to think that way before taking the effective cycling class. I always make sure once I proceed that I get over to the right hand side as soon as possible to let the cars pass.

Only once when I was on our tandem did we get yelled at by a motorist (actually the passenger) for being in the center of the lane at a stop light (to allow cars who wanted to turn right to do so). She screamed at us "YOUR NOT A CAR! after we had proceeded through the intersection and got to the right hand side of the road again.

[operator]

Uhh... if everyone else is in the right gutter, i think it would be safe if you continued on, unless the car decides to right hook a paceline of 10 cyclists. And i'm guessing in your first post you mean that you're all stopped at a light?

If you aren't stopping for a light you shouldn't be in the middle of the lane.

[twahl]

If I'm the first one in line at a stop sign or red light, I take the center of the lane. As soon as I can proceed legally, I move right. I hate being beside a car at a stop, I'd rather be in front of (and) behind one. A lot of cyclists will move up the right side passing cars, and to me that just breeds bad attitudes. If I want to be treated with respect, I need to act with respect, not take advantage. That's my view though, it's how I choose to ride, and so far I've never been run off the road or had anything thrown at me.

[Treespeed]

I think you may need to have a chat with your group, because in my opinion it is only a matter of time before someone right hooks either the front or the tailend of your paceline. Hugging the right curb is just novice cycling behavior at an intersection, especially for what I imagine is a group of experienced cyclists.

[genec]

I think you may need to have a chat with your group, because in my opinion it is only a matter of time before someone right hooks either the front or the tailend of your paceline. Hugging the right curb is just novice cycling behavior at an intersection, especially for what I imagine is a group of experienced cyclists.

I can't imagine a group trying to hug a curb... Every group I ever rode with was large enough to dominate the entire road. :D

Get at least 4 riders together and you take the room of one auto. Ride where you want.

[Treespeed]

I can't imagine a group trying to hug a curb... Every group I ever rode with was large enough to dominate the entire road. :D

Get at least 4 riders together and you take the room of one auto. Ride where you want.

I completely agree, it just sounds like his group is hugging the right lane to the point of going into the right turn lane at some intersections or something to this effect.

[John E]

Ride in the proper lane position, irrespective of what the others do. The rightmost tire track of the rightmost through lane works well in many cases.

[Helmet-Head]

Hi Mary,

I know exactly what you're talking about. I encounter this situation almost every Saturday (when I go on the sdbc ride). Sadly, these experienced cyclists (many of them racers) ride out-of-the-way. Anyway, I'm generally with John:


Ride in the proper lane position, irrespective of what the others do.
That's what I do. Sometimes someone else will fall in with me. If nothing else, it provides a good example of discussing "destination positioning" at the next break. If it comes up, you can say "I want to make sure they see me and know where I am going - in particular, that I'm not turning right".

Serge