MikeRides

I've never used a bike lane. I ride slow (14-16 mph average) and don't feel inclined to be integrated with traffic doing 55 in a 30 zone. I once had a cop roll down his window next to me at a red light and tell me I should be in the bike lane, I just told him I feel much safer on the shoulder. I wear bright colors and have lights on my bike, but honestly with or without the lights if the driver can't see me they need to give up their right to drive post haste.

Unfortunate true story, there was a guy in my local cycling club that was riding home from work one afternoon. We just got bike lanes installed recently and although he was reluctant to try them out he did, he had no problem keeping up with the 30mph speed limit on this road so he saw no problem integrating with traffic. On this afternoon, he was stopped in the bike lane at a red light when a car came up too fast behind him, my guess is they were texting or eating while driving as they never saw the light was red. As they slammed on their brakes, they swerved into the bike lane and sent the cyclist flying into the middle of the intersection where he was hit by a van going across. My source told me he died at the scene. Had he continued riding the (wide) shoulder like he did every day prior, he probably would still be here today. At least riding the shoulder, he would only have to watch out for cars turning right at this particular intersection. The cycling club is trying to get the bike lanes removed, there was never a need for them here as our population is like 17-18,000, we have wide shoulders and there's never many bicycles out on the road to utilize them. But hey, the neighboring cities have them so we had to follow suit.

edit: By the way, I ride with an mp3 player as well, I only put the ear bud in my right ear and always keep my left ear open so I can hear traffic behind me. I also have a side mirror, so there's nothing wrong with listening to music on the bike. Personally I've seen more inexperienced riders crash from socializing with one another than single riders listening to music.

Route 66

I'm not going to try to persuade the OP about the perils of not being able to hear the potential dangers (and shouted warnings) going on around him; obviously, his mind is made up. What I will say though, is that there is no comparison between how vulnerable a person is who can't hear sounds around him while riding on a bike, vs. being inside a car.

dynaryder

This is your problem;you seem to think bike lanes are magic. They're not,they're just lines of paint on the road. That double yellow line down the middle of the street is supposed to keep people from crossing into oncoming traffic,yet I see people do it all the time. Paint doesn't create force fields,it tells people where they're supposed to be. Just because you're in a bike lane doesn't mean you're protected from cars,you still need to be aware of your surroundings.

It's not a preference,it's the law. By wearing headphones,you're breaking it.

If the law can't stop you from wearing headphones,how can it stop people from driving in the bike lane?

lopek77

https://www.amazon.com/Bike-Peddler-C.../dp/B001VTQNVO

There is 2 sizes - Compact and Original. Just buy Original and I guarantee you will be happy with it. The best mirror on the market.

Sofulofit

I am new to cycling, since several decades anyway, and am just getting confident enough to venture out of the neighborhood.
I drive A1A every day in Vero, and have seen people reading, doing makeup, texting etc while driving. I'm really not sure I want to ride on the bike lanes, thinking maybe I'll just get a rack and take my bike to a big development to ride.

Most of the connecting roads around here have speed limits of 40 to 45 with people running 55+.

klmmicro

This sort of stuff is nation wide. I bet those people doing that stuff are the ones that complain loudest when they see a bicycle roll through a stop sign at 10 MPH. I drive for a living and some of the stuff I see is "WTF"? Anyway, riding on the road mixing with car traffic is a calculated risk, always. It is impossible to actually bring your risk down as the most dangerous factors are out of your control. If you are not comfortable, best to steer clear.

blue_cheese

I am not sure why you are getting ragged on about the earphones - other than the law part, I don't understand the safety issue. YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE of your surroundings, as a car or as a cyclist. Unless you are blind like a bat, to me that means with your eyes - In mirrors - not via hearing.

I have mirrors and am always checking them (several times a minute, depending on traffic), even if I am going straight. This lets me anticipate coming cars so that they don't surprise me, so that I don't surprise them if there is a hole in the road a few meters up ahead, etc... Hearing a 5 second honk (at best) or an engine roar prior to my demise does me no good. So I just listen to my music loud enough to hear honks, but drown out the wind noise.

Here in Ontario, the Highway traffic act does not prohibit the use of headphones for cars or bicycles. If the law says no earphones in Florida then that's a different story. In addition here a bicycle on the road has the same rights and follows the same laws as a car. Bikes are not allowed on freeways, but on other roads I find it safest to hog up an entire lane than to ride on the side, in the shoulder, or in a bike lane. I find that if you are off to the side, you encourage drivers to pass you close, and given how they hand out driver's licenses here I would rather not depend on someone else's spacial awareness for my safety. If I am in the middle of the lane, then cars have no choice but to pass me as they would pass another car or farm vehicle (I obviously don't ride like this in busy city streets, it is a somewhat suburban area). Once in a while (you would be surprised how rarely) you get someone honking at you because you are holding them up, but I don't care. If they don't have the confidence to pass on the left in the oncoming lane, then I rather they not chance on them skimming by side by side in me in the same lane.

ColonelSanders

I was almost collected today riding home from work at dusk, in my city's CBD.

A Taxi driver appeared to not see me till the last instance and as he was trying to turn into a car park, cut straight across me and if I didn't brake hard, could have been sent tumbling from my bike.

What might have altogether prevented this near miss, was if I had a rear light on my helmet.

I actually have two rear lights on my rack and rack bag, but they may have been too low to catch the Taxi driver's line of sight.

This incident has now convinced me that not only do I need a rear light for my helmet, but I will now go ahead and get a certain rear light that I was a bit undecided about, thinking maybe it was overkill.

Gentlemen, I present to you, the NiteFlux RedZone 8.

Clyde1820

A death wish, in the lane where cars expect to find cyclists? Not how I'd characterize it, no, despite the occasional instance of abject failures in such lanes.

It's little different than suggesting are sidewalks the "death wish" spot for pedestrians. Actually, statistically, I'd say the spot they're expected is generally the safest spot for them, simply because of it.

Of course, there are "lanes" and there are lanes. Badly designed ones, or the dual-use ones in particular, can confuse the heck out of some drivers. My preference, by far, is for very wide, clearly marked lanes that are (ideally) as far as possible from the vehicle lanes they're next to.

dynaryder

Sorry,but that is not going to be as effective as they claim in the daytime. It's not like it's going to outshine the sun and bounce red light off things like at night. Also not liking that pricetag;a set of Blackburn Fleas will be half that,and prolly just as effective.

yashinon

Nice! I have avoided lights since I typically only ride during the day. However, I am now thinking that lights are a good idea.

Fudgeurpizzy

nice to see this thread get back on topic of bike lane safety / experiences. bike lane at night i shiver at the thought!!!! i only cycle during the day for exercise.

@MikeRides thanks for sharing that sad story.

@lopek77 nice mirror.

@Sofulofit another vero beach rider!!! any time you wanna "hybrid" shoot a text to 561 299 3387. cheers!

@blue_cheese it's their opinion on the subject and i respect it. still going to do what i want though.

@ColonelSanders that thing is so bright it looks like it would draw cars to you like a bug zapper.

@Clyde1820 that white line is not a magic buffer and i understand it. just wish there was a better safer way to enjoy cycling on the road.

i want to thank everyone for chiming in. ride on!!!

ColonelSanders

I'll probably use the highest setting during day/dusk and a lower setting at night.

ColonelSanders

They claim that one of their flash settings outputs 400 lumen.

memebag

The law exists because of the safety issue. Your hearing is part of your awareness of your surroundings.

i pass a lot of joggers, walkers and cyclists wearing headphones. They don't hear my bell, or my audible warnings. They threaten my safety and their own. I know they love Maroon 5 a whole lot, but that's not a good reason to put me at risk.

MickeyMaguire

hattori hanzo... assassinated general Nobunaga which resulted in Tokugawa becoming shogun. Interesting choice of words.

BTW... My wife and I will most likely be moving to Vero Beach some time in a matter of months. We have not set a date, but, we have grown to hate Ohio winters. We are leaning toward Vero, but, we are also considering Delray Beach and St. Augustine.

Fudgeurpizzy

ever seen the movie kill bill??? hattori hanzo is a sword smith in the movie. saint aug is beautiful and you would like it there. aug is one of my favorites to visit. vero beach is the richest area in the state which gives this small town a over abundance of top notch restaurants, entertainment that caters to the wealth that flies in for the winter. delray is nice if you want to be in a more trendy busier south florida. also check out daytona for the beaches and really cool vibe. all the best

Ultraorange

Riding with headphones is stupid, more so when you are in traffic. Even driving a car with headphones on is more dangerous then having the music blasting. No reason removing the best sense aside from your eyes.

LGHT

Here in Cali there are a lot of situations that require a bicyclist to ride in a lane meant for a car. The reason being if the cyclist can't safely ride in the bike lane it's better to force a car to pass on the left going around the bicyclist instead of getting side swiped because there isn't enough room.

Sounds odd, but believe me your safer in a lane where a car can see you and go around you instead of hiding in the gutter and getting clipped.

fietsbob

Have you considered Moving?