Paul Barnard

This pic was posted by a friend on Facebook. He was complaining that the bicyclist was being inconsiderate.

The lane to the right of the bike lane is a right turn lane. The bike lane continues through and beyond the intersection. What other reasonable excuse would a cyclist have to be positioned as this one is?

TenSpeedV2

Cyclist probably should be in the bike lane, but that doesn't mean that they have to. Check local laws regarding that. Maybe there was a reason that no one can see on the other side of the intersection? I probably would be in it but that is me.

turkey9186

Debris from a car accident in the bike lane. Can't tell if it is glass or plastic, but I would not ride thru it.
it also looks like the light just turned green. I would assume the cyclist will move to the right as soon as they are passed the debris field.

Paul Barnard

The FB friend is from CA and said in CA bicyclists must use bike lanes when present.

Paul Barnard

I couldn't tell either.

wphamilton

In-line with traffic is safer through the intersection than beside it, even when there is a bike lane, because some drivers tend to disregard the bike in the intersection. I don't know why, but they'll leave less room.

That said, with a straight through bike lane to the left of the left-turn only lane I'd generally just stay in the bike lane.

TenSpeedV2

Maybe there was an issue with the driver in the right turn lane? Cyclist does appear to be looking that way. It's hard to tell without being there and seeing it in person.

howsteepisit

This look to me like a make an issue out of a nonissue things. Yeah, the cyclist may be something slightly inconsiderate but even if that's so, it's so minor as to be totally insignificant. Or as they used to say, much ado about nothing.

TenSpeedV2

Could be broken glass in the bike lane there from an accident, who knows? Several reasons. Tell your friend to calm his underpants down. What does it matter to your friend anyway? They are turning right....right?

FBinNY 

It's impossible to know what's in the cyclist's mind, but whatever, "inconsiderate" may be a a bit strong.

Like 90% of what people get worked up over on the roads, it's more of a "no harm, no foul" sort of thing.

IMO if folks gave less thought to what others do and focus on what they do instead to make roads safer or more efficient for everybody, then we'd all be happier on them.

It may be regional, or maybe after 50 years riding on all kinds of roads, but I find very little to get worked up over when riding. Likewise, I hear few negative comments about bikes from drivers.

If anything, the chief complaint may come from fear. Drivers find that bikes are very erratic, and they're deathly afraid of hitting one. BTW - I learned to drive from a truck trailer operator, he felt the same way about Volkswagon Bugs.

CB HI

I often use the same position at lights.

Some reasons:
1. Bike lanes after intersections often have the most debris.
2. Bike lane after the intersection may have parked cars that put the bike lane in the door zone.
3. Red light runners from cross and left turn traffic are more likely to see the cyclist and stop before running the light.
4. Fit cyclist accelerate faster (especially since this cyclist is positioned to know when his light will turn green) and being in the bike lane puts him in more danger from a red light runner not seeing him as he enters the intersection first.
5. Might be a bus behind them that will cut through the bike lane after the intersection for a bus stop.
6. Might be a large truck making a right turn that will swing left into the bike lane.
7. Car behind the cyclist may have drifted into the bike lane before the intersection, so the cyclist is positioning to prevent it from happening again in the intersection.
8. Cyclist might not have wanted the dog hanging out the window right next to his head as the car passed.
9. Some drivers still turn right from the through lane.
10. Cyclist wanted to prove to you how much your friend hates cyclist, even you, by getting the friend to take the picture and make an issue out of nothing.

jimincalif

In addition to the debris already mentioned, I have sometimes done the same when there is something blocking the bike line just beyond the intersection. A utility truck, stopped bus, road repair, broken down vehicle, etc. I'm going to have to take the lane to get past it, so I will take advantage of the traffic break provided by the signal to get in position.

GamblerGORD53

It depends what that debris is, it seems to be also in front of the car. So, If its just leaves and little twigs, then he is a dick. TMO, and maybe also of the unseen car driver in front getting looked at.

TenSpeedV2

You know, I never thought about this. Maybe he is turning left? Looks like a two lane turn and they are still sitting at the red light, while the other light is green.

Chris0516

VEHICLE CODE - VEH
DIVISION 11. RULES OF THE ROAD [21000 - 23336] ( Division 11 enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3. )
CHAPTER 1. Obedience to and Effect of Traffic Laws [21000 - 21296] ( Chapter 1 enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3. )

ARTICLE 4. Operation of Bicycles [21200 - 21213] ( Article 4 added by Stats. 1963, Ch. 479. )

21208.
(a) Whenever a bicycle lane has been established on a roadway pursuant to Section 21207, any person operating a bicycle upon the roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride within the bicycle lane, except that the person may move out of the lane under any of the following situations:
(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle, vehicle, or pedestrian within the lane or about to enter the lane if the overtaking and passing cannot be done safely within the lane.
(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
(3) When reasonably necessary to leave the bicycle lane to avoid debris or other hazardous conditions.
(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
(b) No person operating a bicycle shall leave a bicycle lane until the movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 22100) in the event that any vehicle may be affected by the movement.
(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 674, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Looks like hazardous conditions in the bike lane.

genec

I used to do exactly that where a 3 lane road with a right turn lane and bike lane became a 2 lane road without a bike lane, across the intersection.

They have now added a sharrow and cyclist symbol to the right hand lane across the intersection, but the only safe way to get into position for that right lane, is to be in it before you cross the intersection... like the cyclist in the OP.

B. Carfree

All that and more (like perhaps he is setting up for a left turn after the intersection).

This brings up one of the problems with bike lanes as they are currently done. All too often, they are not a safe place to ride for any number of reasons (door zones, debris, overly narrow for the road speed, poor pavement, etc), and yet from the windshield perspective any bike that isn't in one is automatically trespassing.

We need to both raise the standards of our bike lanes and raise the standards for maintaining a license to drive, imo. I'm not holding my breath waiting for either of those to happen, just pontificating on what would make the world a nicer place to ride.

curbtender

Does that say N Vasco RD? Your friend from the Livermore area? If it is, I know they have a Landfill in that area with a lot of garbage haulers going through. He may know a hazard ahead that motorist aren't aware of.

wphamilton

Another thing I forgot: Some times there is no bike lane on the other side of the intersection. Sometimes there's no lane and even the lanes are narrower. In these cases you have to be in line with the cars and not beside them.

CB HI

Stated by the OP:

canklecat

What was his specific complaint?
What was the specific situation: what was the cyclist doing -- turning left, proceeding straight, etc.?

CB HI

The friend is a motorist complaining about a cyclist, no need to have a specific complaint, general angst is more than enough.

work4bike

I agree with others, that the exact reasoning probably can't be determined from the pic. Personally, I do the same thing in that situation, mostly to be clear of large vehicles as they turn, there's nothing wrong with the cyclist's position.

I do believe a lot of motorists react negatively to this and other things cyclists do, simply because they are not use to seeing cyclists, therefore don't understand the laws. The idea that a cyclist must stay fixed in the bike lane is silly and quickly becomes obvious once one has spent just a little bit of time in the saddle.

An example in my case is when I take the lane as I come up to a red light and I don't allow anyone to pass me and I stay in that lane until the speeds get too fast. I know there are a lot of drivers that are confused by this, but many of them see the reason once someone in front of me turns right suddenly, many times without a signal given...

work4bike

...Also...I have an intersection in my area and the bike lane is moved over one lane to the left directly after the intersection.

work4bike

Show your friend this...

Here is California law and it's basically the same as the laws of Florida...I've left the bike lane countless times, including with a cop behind me, never a problem.

California Bicycle Laws - California Bicycle Coalition