surfkitty

Hi, I'm a fairly new cyclist (well new again, used to ride decades ago) and I'm wondering what you all would do in this situation:

I rode to the local strip mall, which is at an intersection with two streets without bike lanes, but with signals, and with sidewalks along the strip mall areas leading to said intersection (all four corners have strip malls.)

One street has two lanes, one has three. Would it be safer to ride in the street, ride on the sidewalk (lots of cars coming into/out of parking lot, including people turning left from opposite side of street into said lots) or get off bike and walk bike on sidewalk? I ended up doing #3, after trying to do #1 but getting a bit freaked out by cars zipping by in the same lane as me instead of moving over to the other lane (there was very little traffic today, and they could easily have at least merged a bit into the other lane to give me plenty of room. I'm also a bit freaked that they might try to turn into a lot right in front of me or something.)

Not sure if I should just totally "take the lane" to force them to move over to another lane, ride way over at the right of the lane and hope for the best, or just do what I did and walk the bike on the sidewalk.

I live in southern California by the way, and I think it's technically "legal" to ride a bike on the sidewalk (most people seem to, judging from what I see around here, but to me that seems REALLY dangerous with all those cars coming in and going out.)

Chris516

By your saying that you are in Southern CA, and your question pertains to an intersection that has strip malls at all four corners of the intersection, I would say 'take the lane'. That is, unless for some dumb reason the State of California and/or the county/city/municipal government made some outrageous speed limit that includes that intersection.

Northwestrider

I'm not sure as I've not seen the intersection referred to. How long was the section in question? I usually don't ride sidewalks, legal or not, while tending to take the lane, but each situation is different. Do what is comfortable at the moment. The solution may be different on another day. I'd guess your solution was correct for you on that day.

2wheelcommute

This is a city-by-city thing, and the law is all over the place. Generally in Southern California, though, it's illegal to ride on the sidewalk more often than not (LA is a big exception, and there are plenty of other exceptions too). You're right about the dangers with all the cars pulling out.

As for riding in the street, if you can post a link to the intersection on Google Maps, we might be able to better judge.

dsprehe89

I say ride where you are comfortable. It is illegal to ride on the sidewalk where I live, but I sometimes do if I feel it is actually safer than riding in the road. However, I have noticed that the longer I have been riding, the braver I am and the more often I ride in the road and on bigger roads.

skye

Take a League of American Bicyclists Road I course.

gcottay

That sounds like a challenging riding environment.

When you are riding to the right side of a lane you are telling other traffic that you consider the lane wide enough and other condition appropriate for safe sharing.

Is the lane you are using wide enough for safe sharing? By my lights, only you can answer that question. If it is wide enough that the cars whizzing by are giving you three or four feet of clearance that may be important information for you to consider. If most are passing closer than three feet that, I think, is certainly important to your consideration.

If conditions are not appropriate for safe sharing you are left with two choices, either take the lane or use the sidewalk. Again, by my lights, only you can decide which is the better option. If you choose the sidewalk I think it is important to slow WAY down to something approximating pedestrian speeds.

Whatever choice you make right hooks are always possible. Your mirror and your ears are a big help in predicting those unsafe right turns. For me, and this is not true of all experienced riders, an area with high traffic and many active driveways calls for reduced speed. Many drivers don't seem to understand that a bicycle can be moving along at 20 or 25 MPH. I like to ride those areas at maybe 15 MPH. That reduces the frequency of right hooks and makes it easier to hit the brakes to avoid problems with the rest.

You might also want to take skye's suggestion seriously. LAB courses not only tend to be very useful but are usually taught by riders who understand the challenges of your local area.

sggoodri

When you say two lanes verus three, is that across the whole road, or for one direction? If there are multiple lanes in your direction, and you are getting passed uncomfortably closely when riding curbside or you can tell that it is narrow, taking the lane is usually the best strategy.'

With one lane in each direction plus a center turn lane, I personally like to ride in the right tire track (if the lane width is marginal), encouraging drivers to un-stick from the lane to pass.

With just one lane in each direction and no center turn lane, if the lane is narrow and oncoming traffic is heavy, I take the lane and pedal like @hotplace.

sunstorm

I tend to take the lane at lights/intersections that are relatively busy. I have found that it makes me far more obvious to automobile drivers, and while it may irritate some, it keeps me safer. I won't ride on sidewalks (unless they are also designated as greenways and are 2-3x larger than normal...and even then I prefer the road) so if I really feel unsafe on the road, I walk my bike on the sidewalk. As others have said, there isn't a right answer to this, and it will change with the situation. I tend to hop off and walk my bike on the sidewalk if there is an accident or a police stop on the right shoulder/lane of the road. I have had too many folks fling the driver side door open without checking, putting me at risk of nailing the door or darting into traffic, which is especially risky with the rubbernecking that occurs.

Chris516

This is not true IF, a cyclist makes a point of not taking a lane position that will help them avoid being 'right-hooked'.

This is a major reason I 'take the lane'. This forces the motorist to wait to make a right turn, just like everyone else.

I was on a two-lane blacktop going through the center of a small city a couple days ago. There is a construction site near the center of the city. As I was about to pass the construction site, an 18-wheeler flatbed with a hazard vehicle in front and behind them honked their horn for me to get out of the way. I refused because I knew the 18-wheeler would not be able to see me had I road the curb. I told a crew foreman that it was insane for the 18-wheeler to try to pass me on a two-lane blacktop, just because the truck driver didn't want to wait for me to pass the construction site.

surfkitty

Thanks for all the tips, everyone. I'll consider taking a course with the League of American Bicyclists. And it's two or three lanes in each direction, and the right lane is a bit narrow (maybe barely enough for a car to pass with 3 feet of clearance, but seemed a bit too close for my comfort, which is why I walked my bike on the sidewalk instead.) Sidewalk section isn't all that long, maybe 500 feet or so, along where the parking lots for the strip malls are. I'll hopefully become more confident about taking the lane once I get more "road" experience, I've only been back riding a couple weeks. Years ago, there were very few bike lanes when I was riding, but back then I used to pretty much hug the curb (sometimes literally riding in the area between the asphalt and the curb.) I know now thanks to reading this forum that's NOT the thing to do. I also used to ride on the sidewalk a lot too.

gcottay

Be careful out there. Taking the lane is no insurance against right hooks on a multi-lane road as described in the original post. You also, with the rest of humanity, lack the power to "force" driving behaviors.

irwin7638

Anytime you feel that traffic will not give you safe clearance while passing, take the lane and make them wait. Your life and safety is more important than their time.

Marc

RobertHurst

Yes/retweet/seconded.

Also, you could be right-hooked from behind while taking the lane as an impatiently driven car smacks your rear wheel as it turns. This results in bodily damage.

Chris516

It is not a guarantee absolutely, but it gives the cyclist an 'out' when passed by a stupid driver. Because unless the driver is a homicidal maniac, a cyclist 'taking the lane', will be passed just like another motorist would be passed. Also, By 'riding the curb', there is a tendency for the cyclist to blend into the scenery thereby becoming invisible, resulting in a driver saying to the cops 'I didn't see her/him', after the driver has killed the cyclist.

As for 'forcing' drivers' behavior, like I just said about a driver being a homicidal, by 'taking the lane', a cyclist stays out of a motorist's blind spot. A motorist will think the cyclist is being a pain for doing that, but it sure is better than ending up dead.

Chris516

+1000

jcbjr

another option might be to ride somewhere else where the traffic isn't so bad. Putting yourself and your bike in a dangerous scenario just because you have the "right"to do so can render you a dead cyclist who, by God, took his lane. If it's that scary, go elsewhere until you gain more experience. Most bike collisions with motor vehicles are not intentional run-overs, but accidents, and the "share the road" responsibility goes both ways. Don't be an obnoxious prick; follow the road rules and ride smart and courteously!

rando

if you feel comfortable riding on the sidewalk in that area, do it. they can be ridden safely, I do it every day I commute, you just have to watch extra closely for cars and peds. It's NOT incredibly dangerous, as some would have you believe, but you DO have to pay attention. do I ride the sidewalks everywhere in town? no. only when I feel it's the best option for me. you can be flexible and adaptable while biking. in fact, its preferable, IMHO.