Helmet Head

Since you started reading this forum, do you ride any differently than you did before?
In particular, do you ride further left than you did before?
Do you ride centered more often than you did before?
Do you think you are a safer cyclist now than you were before? How?

If so, were changes in your riding influenced by what you read here, and, in particular, how much if any from posts written by yours truly?

(just wondering if I'm totally wasting my time here, as some keep telling me, or what)

Thanks!

noisebeam

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes. How am I safer or how do I know?
Yes. Who?
Keep it up.

Al

Roughstuff

I am not sure if its further left or any other specific thing. But I have learned some important points about riding (in these forums) camping/touring in that forum. I try and make sure I submit to cycling forums, where we help one another, and not just politics/religion down below, where we love to argue.

roughstuff

saharvey2

Yes, I am more likely to "Take The Lane" in difficult traffic areas.

My commute has two sections where when I ride to the right, car bicycle conflicts occur. The first is at a freeway onramp. I have found that cars don't cut me off, speeding to get on the freeway, if I take the lane. The other is a short narrow section of road with very rough pavement. There is no appreciable shoulder here, and the rough road means that I may have to swerve to regain balance. By taking the lane I have a wider (and better) choice of pavement from which to select my line, and lower risk of encountering an obstruction that would cause me to lose my balance.

N_C

No, I ride the same as I did before. As a legal vehicle of the road.

I ride in the section of the lane depending on the dynamics of the roadway, width, traffic volume, speed limit, shoulder, debris, etc.

See previous answer.

I have always been a safe cyclist, one of the safest on the roadways. What people have posted here has not affected my cycling in anyway shape or form. I have my own unique riding style which I adapt as needed. It works great for me & may not work for others. My style keeps me safe.

IMO this thread may be a waste of time.

SSP

For years I've been a confident, assertive Vehicular Cyclist.

By law and convention I generally ride "as far right as practicable". But this doesn't mean I hug the shoulder or always ride in the bike lane...far from it.

I take the lane whenever I need to, and stay to the right (but not too far right) otherwise.

I don't "PowerWeave" in and out of the bike lane, unless conditions warrant (e.g., debris, door zones, etc.). On NOL roadways I will intentionally shift left to force overtaking traffic to adjust their position to the left, if I see that the overtaking driver isn't moving left to give me room.

Cyclists have been using these same basic techniques for sharing the roads with other vehicles for nearly 100 years...just because HH has a bug up his butt about his pet theory doesn't make it unique, innovative, useful, or true.

It's not rocket science, no matter how much bandwidth gets used up trying to explain "cognitive conspicuity" and "inadvertent drift" and "DLLP".

San Rensho 

You have got some ego. Can't learn anything from anyone, because you know it all already. You are a piece of work.

Helmet Head

Apparently, reading this forum is a waste of time for you, since you already know everything.

Hmm, our posts are a waste of time for you, and your posts offer nothing of value to us... why are you here again???

staehpj1

Sorry, but most of what I have read here is either total BS or stuff I already knew. I may have picked up something useful, but not much.

SSP

Yes...you are.

SingingSabre 

I ride the same as I did before I discovered BF.

HH, your posts have made me a safer rider...by outline what not to do.

KnhoJ

[group hug]I'm so sorry, did someone do or say something to make you feel unwelcome?[/group hug]

noisebeam

Let me clarify. I've always had vehicular cycling tendencies (learned them from my dad as a kid), but it was participating in BF that clarified them and allowed me to fine tune them for specific situations. I'm still refining my traffic cycling methods from my experience combined with BF discussion - with inputs/ideas from all points of view contributing.

Al

Helmet Head

That's the key for me. I think most cyclists don't realize what clarifying [VC techniques] and fine tuning them for specific situations means, and how it applies to their own cycling.

Most are like N_C, though perhaps not as willing to admit it: "I have always been a safe cyclist, one of the safest on the roadways. What people have posted here has not affected my cycling in anyway shape or form. I have my own unique riding style which I adapt as needed. It works great for me & may not work for others. My style keeps me safe."

genec

Your question and your answers do not match.

Your question focuses on riding further left, but your answer choices point to two other conclusions.

In my case, I have not changed where I ride on the road, but I do in fact believe that my participation in BF has helped me ride more safely. Clearly a contradiction for your poll.

Laika

Pot, kettle, etc.

Laika

+1

Helmet Head

The poll question matches the poll answers.

The question in the thread title goes with the "essay" questions in the OP.

But I admit it ends up looking a bit sloppy, especially if you expect the thread title to match the poll question.

Blue Order

Yes.

And our time. Don't forget our time.

genec

No, your time is only wasted by you... if you don't like what you read here... Don't read here.

Blue Order

Well, theoretically, there must be something other than HH propaganda in here. We just have to slog through endless bandwidth to find it.

Helmet Head

Right. Also, I find the ignore function to be very useful, and recommend it highly to be used on me by all those who don't find any value in what I have to say in my controversial way.

If you don't have me on ignore, you have no one to blame but yourself.

Mentor58

well this thread may have set a record for turning into ego wars, Pity, it would have been nice if we could have gotten some constructive posts from folks that have learned something.

Steve W

kill.cactus

Thank you HH and VH supporters. Although I still tend to use bike lanes on some streets, I must say that without BH I'd be sidewalk bicycling.

Thanks to all.

jwc

I learned more about my rights on the road by reading this forum...or more to the point, I'm more likely to assert myself.

I was familiar with the laws of NC, but hesitant to follow some of them because it seemed that no one else riding did so. Now, with the knowledge that I am in the right, I feel as if I'm helping set an example to other riders on the road.

Today, I was followed by a vehicle, a gold Sentra, that has buzzed past me before on the same stretch of roadway. Today, that car didn't buzz me. I was traveling 22 in a 25 zone, fully expecting the woman to pull around me and fly past as usual. Not today. I couldn't figure out why, until I rechecked my mirror. Turns out the was a police car behind her. I speeded up a little more and as my turn approached, gave a left hand signal, fully took the lane, gave the hand signal again and made my left turn. Two or three years ago, I probably would have pulled off to the right and let both pass by then crossed the intersection.

(This also told me that she has known all along what the law is, but has ignored it...).