How come noone rides like this?
08-18-08, 11:06 AM
#76
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Going back to the specific road diagrammed in the OP post (two lane in each direction with narrow non-side-by-side-sharable outside lane):
Riding centerish also benefits passing motorists. They can see further in advance that it will not be possible to pass in the same lane. This allows/encourages them to plan & execute a merge to the inside lane earlier before they have slowed to cyclist speed. A merge done earlier at speed of other motor vehicles is easier/smoother and will result in less delay to the passing motorist.
Al
Riding centerish also benefits passing motorists. They can see further in advance that it will not be possible to pass in the same lane. This allows/encourages them to plan & execute a merge to the inside lane earlier before they have slowed to cyclist speed. A merge done earlier at speed of other motor vehicles is easier/smoother and will result in less delay to the passing motorist.
Al
08-18-08, 11:46 AM
#77
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From https://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/chapter2a.htm
On a multilane road with narrow lane, ride in the middle of the right lane.
In my city 70% of cyclists use the sidewalk, remaining 30% hug the curb/ white line. If this is the right way to ride ( which I think it is ), how come nobody does it?
On a multilane road with narrow lane, ride in the middle of the right lane.
In my city 70% of cyclists use the sidewalk, remaining 30% hug the curb/ white line. If this is the right way to ride ( which I think it is ), how come nobody does it?
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
08-18-08, 12:06 PM
#78
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Ok, veggie lover should have said almost nobody. But the point that so very few cyclists "ride this way" or take the lane when it would be the most prudent thing to do, remains.
As others have noted, ignorance and peer pressure contributes to the curb hugging epidemic. How can cyclists be taught (and motorists made to understand) that taking the lane can sometimes be the safer option? I hope that leading by example helps to make the practice of controling the lane more acceptable to other riders and drivers, as that's what I do.
As others have noted, ignorance and peer pressure contributes to the curb hugging epidemic. How can cyclists be taught (and motorists made to understand) that taking the lane can sometimes be the safer option? I hope that leading by example helps to make the practice of controling the lane more acceptable to other riders and drivers, as that's what I do.
08-18-08, 12:07 PM
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You VILL ride in zee proscribed manner, in zee proscribed lane position, using zee proscribed equipment and wearing zee proscribed clothing, Herr Allister. AND YOU VILL LIKE IT!
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
08-18-08, 01:31 PM
#81
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This picture actually supports the dream.. By taking the lane you can see this person in your mirror not slowing down and take evasive action. If you ride too close to the right, then every driver looks like this so you ignore them .
08-18-08, 03:15 PM
#82
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Some of us actually drive within our sight lines and don't need to "switch lanes with little to no warning" or "force (our) way into nonexistent gaps" just because a cyclist is in the lane.
08-18-08, 03:18 PM
#83
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
Oh, lookee there, a cyclist.
Alright, I should start looking for a way to get around.
(how long has it been since you've driven in traffic? Hm?
)
08-18-08, 03:32 PM
#84
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BarracksSi - Riding centerish (as in the road design in the OPs diagram) helps reduce the very situation you overly fear. See my post #75
08-18-08, 03:39 PM
#85
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or as my son says "Use Fat Gaps!"
08-18-08, 03:50 PM
#86
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
Maybe I should ditch my Civic and get one of these so that I can see everything within a hundred yards of me.
08-18-08, 04:00 PM
#87
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08-18-08, 04:00 PM
#88
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
By the way, I don't know where anyone can find traffic like that shown in the original diagram. Where I ride, if it's not completely devoid of vehicles (since they often travel in clumps between stoplights), it looks like this:
08-18-08, 04:03 PM
#89
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I verified today on my commute home that the center sections of the roads I travel are actually lighter in color than the tire tracks, which I assume just have more rubber build up. The only oil slick areas I encouter are at traffic lights where traffic is stopped for a significant period of time.
08-18-08, 04:03 PM
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If its that chunked up with traffic then generally great to be in the middle of the lane because everybody moves along about biking speed.
08-18-08, 04:05 PM
#91
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Ok, so the left lane clears, then the right lane motorists switch to the left and pass. Or if they are smart, they see you out in the middle of the lane long before they need to slow down, negotiate their lane change to the left and pass without even needing to brake. I see this every day and have had no problems doing it myself (I drive at least a few thousand miles a year along with cycling 4000-5000).
08-18-08, 04:06 PM
#92
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
08-18-08, 04:06 PM
#93
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08-18-08, 04:07 PM
#94
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
Ok, so the left lane clears, then the right lane motorists switch to the left and pass. Or if they are smart, they see you out in the middle of the lane long before they need to slow down, negotiate their lane change to the left and pass without even needing to brake. I see this every day and have had no problems doing it myself (I drive at least a few thousand miles a year along with cycling 4000-5000).
Let me clarify some more --
The left lane (of three) gets blocked by people hoping to turn left, because there is no dedicated left turn lane. The right lane gets blocked by people double parking because they can't imagine that anyone else wants to drive on the street while they're stopping "just for a minute" to pick up their dry cleaning.
So, you're left with three lanes' worth of traffic hoping to squeeze through one center lane so that they can get out of DC in less than an hour.
Last edited by BarracksSi; 08-18-08 at 04:11 PM.
08-18-08, 04:09 PM
#95
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08-18-08, 04:09 PM
#96
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
08-18-08, 04:11 PM
#97
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08-18-08, 04:11 PM
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I ride in the NYC metro area.. That's the last thing I'm thinking. I was taught defensive driving when I was young.. I ride the same way.
It would be wonderful if everyone behaved that way but I make each call as I see it. Sometimes I take the lane, sometimes I don't, depends on what's safer at the moment.
It would be wonderful if everyone behaved that way but I make each call as I see it. Sometimes I take the lane, sometimes I don't, depends on what's safer at the moment.
08-18-08, 04:12 PM
#99
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
08-18-08, 04:13 PM
#100
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.