Originally Posted by spunkyj

Indeed you are missing something. The cyclists are not having the same speed, equalized by the lights. If it weren't for the slow cyclists moving back in front of the faster ones at the traffic lights by cutting in front of the line and jumping the lights, the faster ones would quickly put much distance and many lights in between them. It is only being held at about half speed for a considerable time before a safe opportunity arises to pass, and then finally passing only to be stopped at the next light that equalizes the speeds. My original post clearly states that at the first light where I prevented the filterer from jumping in from of me, I quickly put some distance between us and left her in the dust (exactly the first scenario you describe).


I can understand filtering to the front of a line of cyclists if you know you will be fast (I still prefer to wait my turn). But if you already know you're slower then it is simply rude and inconsiderate to do so.

Originally Posted by charbucks

I reflexively say "Sorry!" and get on with my ride. Damn my Canadian instincts.

Originally Posted by Doohickie

Who's the bad cyclist here?

Originally Posted by CB HI

I do not know of a marathon that does not close down at least half the road. Lots of other events close down roads, or trails such as triathlons, parades, mountain bike races, road cycling races, charity walks/runs, etc.
...

The police road and path blocks and the guard rails put up for the event. Is Burlington really that back woods?

Originally Posted by Daves_Not_Here

I think the reason why some are having a hard time taking your complaint seriously is that it consists of 2 simultaneous improbabilities: (1) a clueless cyclist that repeately filters past a queue of faster riders, and (2) a riding environment that prevents the easy passing of that slower rider (even though the rider somehow had the room to filter up).

I can't recall a time I had a difficult time getting past a slower rider, and I suspect others here may feel the same way. Slow cyclists are slow off the line, and I find it pretty easy to pass them in the open intersection.

But, assuming the scenario and passing difficulties occurred as described, why wouldn't you just speak up. "Hey, nice day. Cool beach cruiser. Hey, I hope I don't mean to across as the ettiquette nazi, but we're having a hard time safely passing you when you keep coming up to the front. We'll have to ask you to stay at the back or we'll be forced to make comments about your butt."

Originally Posted by CB HI

You really have that hard of a time sticking out your left hand, merging with traffic and zipping past these terribly slow cyclist, OH MY. Not that hard to do.

Or you could just track stand to time the like and go hard just as the light turns green, beating the other cyclist and motorist through the intersection (almost before they even get moving).

Originally Posted by spunkyj

CB HI, do you really just stick out your left hand and have cars yield to you so that you can merge? Please tell me your secret, as I usually have to wait some time for an opening.

And as for beating the cyclist across the intersection, I did clearly write that the cyclist was jumping the light--i.e. proceeding before the green. Otherwise, your suggestion is right on.

Originally Posted by CB HI

When you put your hand out, hold it facing backwards in a semi-stop type signal and be assertive in moving into the lane. I have a merge that I have to do this on during my daily commute. It is rare that a motorist refuses to let me in (most often it is a cabbie or these odd trolley buses.

If you do need more of a gap, there is usually one motorist who is looking at their cell phone and slow to realize the light has turned green, leaving a pretty good gap.

Originally Posted by spunkyj

CB HI, I think you are probably a bit more assertive/aggressive than I am personally comfortable with on my ride. I do have a forced merge on my commute and motorists typically do let me in there, but I find motorists less willing to make space when they see that cyclists have their own lane. Also, I will not try to merge if it depends on the motorist seeing me and having to slow down; by default I assume that drivers do not see me, and aren't paying attention. Essentially, every time we merge with car traffic we put ourselves at a bit more risk than we would otherwise. So, if I do pass a slower cyclist I'd prefer to only have to do it once.

Originally Posted by Daves_Not_Here

It appears that this situation was impossible for you and there is nothing that anybody can suggest that would have worked. What are you going to do if you encounter that situation again?

Originally Posted by Doohickie

I just love Canadians. No really, I do. That reflexive politeness is something the world could use more of.

Originally Posted by Bikepacker67

Heh.

I love my adopted brethren, but it's sorta funny hanging around folks that are so damn proud of being humble (and NOT Americans).
I know for a fact that they're better educated than the average US'er, so I know they see the irony, which makes it all the more funny...


Ohh, and they brawl like Irishmen/Scotsman supposedly do.
Don't be mistaking beavers as toothless.

Originally Posted by charbucks

do you mean that more Canadians pursue higher education, or that Canadians have a more effective public school system?

Originally Posted by Daves_Not_Here

I thought it would be educational to describe actual examples of cyclist mistakes and misbehavior that we observe. My thought is that we can learn from the mistakes of others (although perhaps not as quickly as from our own mistakes). For example, seeing a wrong-way rider T-bone a turning car made a believer out of me.

Why not describe motorist mistakes and misbehavior? Answer: we already do that here, and non-cycling motorists don't read this forum anyway.

OK, I'll go first --

Saturday, October 1, riding southbound on PCH going into Newport Beach from Huntington Beach, I'm riding solo but there are about 6 of us that have coagulated into an informal group in the bike lane.

Motorist passes us on our left, plenty of clearance, proceeds about 100 ft ahead, puts on her signal to turn right, pulls across the dashed line into the bike lane and slows down. However, rather than immediately turning right out of the lane, she comes to a complete stop blocking the bike lane because there's a pedestrian on the corner stepping off into the crosswalk.

While we cyclists are not nearly sideswiped or brake-checked, we have to either stop or move to the left to pass. For me it's a non-event because I've already checked and moved into the empty lane to our left, but it would have been just as easy to stop. I think I said, "we're clear".

However, the leader slows way down, passes within inches, shouting profanity, and flips off the driver, an older woman, really getting in her face. By that time, I'm 20 yards ahead coasting, looking back at the scene. The guy catches up back up with me fuming, and I say something like, "hey man, what's the problem, it's not like she cut us off." The G-rated summary of his response was that motorists should not be pulling into and stopping in the bike lane when there are cyclists there.

-- here is street view of the lane and intersection.

https://g.co/maps/37uhm

I'm thinking there were 2 cyclist mistakes here:
1. Motorist had the right of way to pull into the bike lane at the dashed lines to turn right with plenty of clearance (as described in this scenario)
2. Cyclist did not make friends and influence people by cussing out a driver who was yielding to a pedestrian.