One more reason not to ride on the wrong side of the street.
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Originally Posted by BostonFixed
80% of my commute is either on worng way bike lanes, or going the wrong way down 1 way streets, or riding into oncoming traffic.
I'm much faster this way, and I've never had a problem.
I'm much faster this way, and I've never had a problem.
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Originally Posted by BostonFixed
80% of my commute is either on worng way bike lanes, or going the wrong way down 1 way streets, or riding into oncoming traffic.
I'm much faster this way, and I've never had a problem.
I'm much faster this way, and I've never had a problem.
Do you have a car? Did you ever have a car? Don't get me wrong. I think not having a car in a city is very practical and a good thing for many reasons. I put 10 times the mileage on my bikes in a week than my car. I would do more if possible.
The only reason I ask, is I think this helps you understand the other persons point of view. In other words it helps you imagine what a driver thinks when he is close to you. I don't doubt that you can go quickly up the street and miss that car. My point is that most, if not all drivers will go through a second of panic when you are nearby going against traffic, then they don't know how to react. This makes them mad too. What are your thoughts on that?
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I loooooove wrong way cyclists who want to take the inside of a passing situation.i.e. I am riding with traffic, (on a one way street I ride on the left) Wrong way in hurry guy coming, he leans to my left, putting me to my right, further out into traffic I cannot see. I am therefor burdened by this guy with oncoming cars and now him. Huge pet peeve of mine.
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Originally Posted by nycm'er
I loooooove wrong way cyclists who want to take the inside of a passing situation.i.e. I am riding with traffic, (on a one way street I ride on the left) Wrong way in hurry guy coming, he leans to my left, putting me to my right, further out into traffic I cannot see. I am therefor burdened by this guy with oncoming cars and now him. Huge pet peeve of mine.
Do you ever wonder if the guy coming at you may not have ever driven a car?
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I ride on the left for several reasons, The biggest is that left turning cars will have me right outside the drivers window, no "didn't see you in my mirrors" bit when I was in front of or next to the car and mirrors won't help anyway. Also you are right there for any exchange of "civilities" I have found that I am cut off by left turning cars much less than on the blind (right) side of right turning cars. Bad drivers don't need to guess how close they are to you from the other side of the vehicle, they are right next to you. Traffic is moving slow, but not always slower than me. When I think of wrong way cyclists in NYC, it is of the food delivery guys on Second Ave riding in the bike lane (on the left of the ave) the wrong way. I don't think they have US licenses and most likely did not in the country they immigrated from. I think there is a large degree of poverty and lack of education that motivates food delivery riders to more often than not ride the wrong way (or on sidewalks). I was thinking about this thread while riding last night breaking an uncountable number of traffic laws; when I do break rules, I am careful not stick it to anyone else, a legal ped, or another biker or a car.
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Originally Posted by nycm'er
I ride on the left for several reasons, The biggest is that left turning cars will have me right outside the drivers window, no "didn't see you in my mirrors" bit when I was in front of or next to the car and mirrors won't help anyway. Also you are right there for any exchange of "civilities" I have found that I am cut off by left turning cars much less than on the blind (right) side of right turning cars. Bad drivers don't need to guess how close they are to you from the other side of the vehicle, they are right next to you. Traffic is moving slow, but not always slower than me. When I think of wrong way cyclists in NYC, it is of the food delivery guys on Second Ave riding in the bike lane (on the left of the ave) the wrong way. I don't think they have US licenses and most likely did not in the country they immigrated from. I think there is a large degree of poverty and lack of education that motivates food delivery riders to more often than not ride the wrong way (or on sidewalks). I was thinking about this thread while riding last night breaking an uncountable number of traffic laws; when I do break rules, I am careful not stick it to anyone else, a legal ped, or another biker or a car.
Last edited by 2manybikes; 01-17-05 at 10:11 AM. Reason: incomplete
#32
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I don't insist on my right of way when cycling since the wrong way bicycle rider obviously has no clue. I move as far to the left as is safe to do so and let wrong way take the inside. I also calmly (really!) tell him he's going the wrong way. This technique has resulted in a safe, or at least uneventful, pass in every instance so far.
In the event I couldn't move left, I would tell wrong way I can't move, slow and hold my line. If nothing became of this, I would get out of the situation any way I safely could. It doesn't pay to be dead right.
I have almost hit wrong way in my car when I was making a RH turn on a red (legal in CA). I looked right to watch for peds, but there were none so my attention turned to the left. When a space opened up I went. Almost got wrong way.
While commuting one morning I witnessed an accident where this is exactly what happened. Fortunately, after minor first aid, wrong way continued on his way to school, carrying his bike. The car driver felt terrible, and I made sure to let him know that from what I saw, the bike rider was at fault. He never called me...I hope he didn't get sued.
In the event I couldn't move left, I would tell wrong way I can't move, slow and hold my line. If nothing became of this, I would get out of the situation any way I safely could. It doesn't pay to be dead right.
I have almost hit wrong way in my car when I was making a RH turn on a red (legal in CA). I looked right to watch for peds, but there were none so my attention turned to the left. When a space opened up I went. Almost got wrong way.
While commuting one morning I witnessed an accident where this is exactly what happened. Fortunately, after minor first aid, wrong way continued on his way to school, carrying his bike. The car driver felt terrible, and I made sure to let him know that from what I saw, the bike rider was at fault. He never called me...I hope he didn't get sued.
Last edited by eubi; 01-19-05 at 12:15 PM.
#33
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Originally Posted by 2manybikes
Very interesting. A couple of good points that I never thought of before. I have to keep that in mind while riding. I go out and come back a few blocks of one way roads every time I ride. I live on one.
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I was thinking about this thread while riding last night breaking an uncountable number of traffic laws; when I do break rules, I am careful not stick it to anyone else, a legal ped, or another biker or a car.
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I know a guy, AAA Advanced Driver graduate, LAB Effective Cycling graduate, on the board of our state bike coalition. Yet he managed to do the same damn thing. Took a right in his car and smashed head on into a wrong way cyclist.
Look out!
Look out!
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i must agree i usually obay all laws unless its 2 am and my light just went out then i find a side walk and ride it. i think it is not smart to go against the grain with a bike it makes us cyclist look bad to motorists and sets a bad example to the young ones
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Originally Posted by ofofhy
I know in Philly it is legal to ride on the left side of a one way street (that has no designated bike lane) in the direction of traffic provided you are not "impeding the flow of traffic." I usually choose the left on one ways to stay out of the door zone as most of the parking spots seem to be on the right side of the street.
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Well actually in Boston the street network is famously heinous so there often isn't an equal and opposite one way.
Nevertheless, I make wrong-way cycling a rare exception (sometimes you just find yourself completely painted into a corner and getting out will take like a block of wrong-way), I wouldn't imagine building my commute around it.
Nevertheless, I make wrong-way cycling a rare exception (sometimes you just find yourself completely painted into a corner and getting out will take like a block of wrong-way), I wouldn't imagine building my commute around it.