Do you filter (lane split) to the front at stop lights?
#1
Pepperoni Power
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Do you filter (lane split) to the front at stop lights?
It is not illegal to do so in California. I do this on my bike (and I do it on my motorcycle). Does this piss off the VC camp? If so, why? I don't see why it is efficient to wait behind a long line of cars when I can pass them on my bike. Sure, they may pass me later, but I can't help that. To me, riding a bike means using advantages available to cars (e.g., use of lane when that is safest), motorcycles (e.g., lane splitting), and pedestrians (e.g., walking my bike on the sidewalk or in a crosswalk if that that is the fastest way to get where I'm going).
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Yes.
IMHO, few but the teminally anal retentive wouldn't.
But, then, this is the VC lunacy forum. And Forester-worshiping terminally anal retentive nutcases probably represent the majority of card-carrying VC-ists.
But, then, that's just a personal opinion.
I have no doubt that a true believer will assert that I'm wrong.
Zealotry knows no uncertainty.
IMHO, few but the teminally anal retentive wouldn't.
But, then, this is the VC lunacy forum. And Forester-worshiping terminally anal retentive nutcases probably represent the majority of card-carrying VC-ists.
But, then, that's just a personal opinion.
I have no doubt that a true believer will assert that I'm wrong.
Zealotry knows no uncertainty.
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#5
Cycle Year Round
Good job JRA, jumping right in to declare what others believe, rather than listening for their answer.
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sometimes yes, sometimes no. its very situational.
but that still doesn't change the reality JRA alludes to-
VC holy book thumpers ARE full of zeal, pomp and circumstance about their riding style being the true faith of bicycling.
but that still doesn't change the reality JRA alludes to-
VC holy book thumpers ARE full of zeal, pomp and circumstance about their riding style being the true faith of bicycling.
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We've talked about this many times. Even Forester splits lanes.
The main differences seems to be in terms of when (in what circumstances) it is done, and where (how far forward, and positioned exactly where) you end up.
Many cyclists seem to always split lanes, it never even occurring to them to stop behind the last car in line, even if there was only one car stopped in front of them at the light. Most of them will stop off to the side even when there is no one else at the light yet, instead of stopping in the center of the lane, where, again, it wouldn't even occur for them to stop. When they do lane split to get to the front, they seem to pass everyone, including the first car in line, and stop in front of them, ahead of the stop line or in the crosswalk. They seem oblivious as to how this causes delay to those who got there first when the light turns green.
The vehicular cyclists I've seen and talked to seem to take a more measured approach, stopping behind the last car in line, at least when the line of cars is short enough that they know they won't miss a cycle if they wait there. If they do choose to split lanes to get ahead, they seem to stop before the first car. What i like to do is find a gap between the first few cars, always looking back and acknowledging the driver I'm stopping in front of. If some cyclist goes by and stops in front, I usually end up passing him very shortly after the light turns green. Being a few cars back means I can see the light turn green and be prepared to go as soon as the car in front of me starts moving, getting some draft advantage from it to boot, while the guy at the front hesitates before starting when the light turns green, then moves out of the way and gets no draft advantage.
The main differences seems to be in terms of when (in what circumstances) it is done, and where (how far forward, and positioned exactly where) you end up.
Many cyclists seem to always split lanes, it never even occurring to them to stop behind the last car in line, even if there was only one car stopped in front of them at the light. Most of them will stop off to the side even when there is no one else at the light yet, instead of stopping in the center of the lane, where, again, it wouldn't even occur for them to stop. When they do lane split to get to the front, they seem to pass everyone, including the first car in line, and stop in front of them, ahead of the stop line or in the crosswalk. They seem oblivious as to how this causes delay to those who got there first when the light turns green.
The vehicular cyclists I've seen and talked to seem to take a more measured approach, stopping behind the last car in line, at least when the line of cars is short enough that they know they won't miss a cycle if they wait there. If they do choose to split lanes to get ahead, they seem to stop before the first car. What i like to do is find a gap between the first few cars, always looking back and acknowledging the driver I'm stopping in front of. If some cyclist goes by and stops in front, I usually end up passing him very shortly after the light turns green. Being a few cars back means I can see the light turn green and be prepared to go as soon as the car in front of me starts moving, getting some draft advantage from it to boot, while the guy at the front hesitates before starting when the light turns green, then moves out of the way and gets no draft advantage.
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I do it very rarely. I figure, what's the point of stressing out about a few extra seconds spent on the road? That's a disease for car-people. I don't need it. I do filter occasionally when I'm in a particular hurry if there is enough space to do it safely. I don't want to be too close to the side of a car when the light turns green and I certainly don't want to be in someone's blind spot when the light turns green. I very much prefer to do it when there room to pass on the left and when I can find a spot to land in advance.
#11
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why do the "VC" stop behind the first car? is that some solidarity gesture to the drivers?
and why does the rider at the front of the pack 'supposedly' hesitate at the green?
what a bunch of conjecture.
Some riders, riding according the the vehicular rules of the road, have NO compelling need to stop a few cars back, head.
not every 'vehikular cyklist' rides just like you, head.
tonight, I split, but was on a big basket bike, so when the cruch got tight, I hopped onto the sidewalk, advanced past a bus, then smoothly curbed it back into the road, to make a right on red ever so gracefully. probably got ahead of three blocks of stopped traffic.
there are evangelical VC who insist in staying behind cars under the 'same roads same rules' slogan.
and why does the rider at the front of the pack 'supposedly' hesitate at the green?
what a bunch of conjecture.
Some riders, riding according the the vehicular rules of the road, have NO compelling need to stop a few cars back, head.
not every 'vehikular cyklist' rides just like you, head.
tonight, I split, but was on a big basket bike, so when the cruch got tight, I hopped onto the sidewalk, advanced past a bus, then smoothly curbed it back into the road, to make a right on red ever so gracefully. probably got ahead of three blocks of stopped traffic.
there are evangelical VC who insist in staying behind cars under the 'same roads same rules' slogan.
Last edited by Bekologist; 08-25-07 at 11:02 PM.
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Well, I split lanes all the time
Actually, it really is situation-dependent, like a couple of other posters said. If there are like 3 cars in a line, then I take my place at the back. If there's a total traffic jam thing going on, I'll filter to the front and go through the gridlock at the green light.
I'm a CA resident, too, so I'm not breaking any laws here (yet).
Actually, it really is situation-dependent, like a couple of other posters said. If there are like 3 cars in a line, then I take my place at the back. If there's a total traffic jam thing going on, I'll filter to the front and go through the gridlock at the green light.
I'm a CA resident, too, so I'm not breaking any laws here (yet).
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+1.
yawn
A classic example of cycling being faster than motoring in gridlock (Allister, you've got bigger nutz than I do! I'd bypass some other way...)
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Last edited by LittleBigMan; 08-26-07 at 09:04 PM.
#15
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Really, it's less dangerous than you probably think.
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yeah, you're obviously deficient in traffic cycling ability, allister.
your video makes me think mr. head would be left in the dust, quaking in his cycling shoes, cursing your recument, if he had to follow your lead traffic splitting. (being that he's more of a weekend/club rider, I suspect head is likely a bit of a neophyte at that type of riding.)
your video makes me think mr. head would be left in the dust, quaking in his cycling shoes, cursing your recument, if he had to follow your lead traffic splitting. (being that he's more of a weekend/club rider, I suspect head is likely a bit of a neophyte at that type of riding.)
#17
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yeah, you're obviously deficient in traffic cycling ability, allister.
your video makes me think mr. head would be left in the dust, quaking in his cycling shoes, cursing your recument, if he had to follow your lead traffic splitting. (being that he's more of a weekend/club rider, I suspect head is likely a bit of a neophyte at that type of riding.)
your video makes me think mr. head would be left in the dust, quaking in his cycling shoes, cursing your recument, if he had to follow your lead traffic splitting. (being that he's more of a weekend/club rider, I suspect head is likely a bit of a neophyte at that type of riding.)
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Allister, is that a recumbent you're riding? Just curious.
Oh, and in answer to the question you posed on your video, I would go, go, go! Definitely, in a situation like that
Oh, and in answer to the question you posed on your video, I would go, go, go! Definitely, in a situation like that
#19
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Filtering is for people who think the bike lane isn't really a lane.
#20
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..I bet that's helmet head's take on bike lanes, Diane. Although using a bike lane to move past traffic is simply use of preferred class lanes to advance on stopped traffic. Having seen pics of HH's commute, he gets to use bike lanes a lot. No real splitting going on in a bike lane
filtering lane splits, like allister's Youtube video, is an altogther different animal.
filtering lane splits, like allister's Youtube video, is an altogther different animal.
Last edited by Bekologist; 08-27-07 at 05:02 PM.
#21
Part-time epistemologist
Allister ... you must have a pair of coconuts in your pants.
How do you stay visible when weaving in and out of traffic on a bike so low? (how low are you?)
Does slower traffic stay on the left when you drive on the left-side of the road? I never thought about it. But I guess it makes sense.
-G
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Yes
You'd be silly not to, really.
I'm not that low. It's a dual 26" wheel highracer that puts me on about the same eye level as motorists. A bit lower than a regular bike, but not that much.
Yeah. Basically, it's exactly the same as driving on the right, only opposite.
Yeah. Basically, it's exactly the same as driving on the right, only opposite.
#25
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**********???
dude, get a grip. allister knows how to split.
I made no alludes to your comments in this thread.