Taking the lane vs impeding traffic

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04-09-15, 12:42 PM

#151

spare_wheel

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Quote:

Originally Posted by PatrickGSR94

I don't understand why you think some of those are "VC politics". Most experienced cyclists and commuters I know and have seen make left turns from the left turn lane. And merging into the right lane at a queue of traffic is far safer than going up the right side.

I strongly disagree that these approaches are necessarily safer. I consider myself to be a very experienced cyclist and I almost never queue. Moreover, the VC queueing approach is exceedingly rare in Portland. Motorists expect cyclists to bunch up at the beginning of an intersection and our bike safety stats speak for themselves.

Quote:

Oh and, getting up to the front of the queue and those so-called bike boxes? Rubbish and disrespectful when there's not a bike lane on the other side of the intersection, because now those motorists who passed you previously have to pass you again.

On my commute it's often the other way around -- cyclists queue up to pass slower moving or jammed car traffic. (I'm not a fan of the design of our bike boxes but advanced stop lines can work well.)

Quote:

Some people call it "shoaling" when a cyclist passes a group of other cyclists waiting at a light, then takes off slowly making the others pass him again.

Picture a line of 20 cars and 5-20 cyclists. The VC approach of inserting into the queue simply does not work well in this situation. Moreover, a pack of cyclists generates a safety in numbers effect and often facilitates easier passing by motorvehicles.

Quote:

because now those motorists who passed you previously have to pass you again.

Except that the VC approach of queueing up requires motorists behind the cyclist to pass. Moreover, the non-VC approach of cyclists bunching up at the beginning of a line allows motorists to pass many cyclists at once.

Last edited by spare_wheel; 04-09-15 at 12:49 PM.

04-10-15, 08:34 AM

#152

cellery

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Dear #1 ,

Every once per year or so when I decide to ride a small slice of sidewalk rather than ride in the lane, there is always some highschooler holding his girlfriend's hand walking slowly blocking the entire sidewalk. I am unable to continue riding fast at 18.5 mph and have to slow behind them so that I am almost track standing. Furthermore, they heckle me over my $240 Castelli pro-level kit. Don't they know I am on a very important training ride to beat my friend's Strava KOM? WHAT DO I DO!?

Sincerely,

-Ridefastlikeapro32