fishymamba

+1, probably because we don't have any streets like that here. I would probably avoid roads like that completely if I could. Too much traffic, and too many parked cars, and narrow lanes.

dynodonn 

I wasn't worried about if the motorists did or did not know that they were being filmed, but since the film was edited, I was curious to see if the same interaction between the motorists and the cyclists was the same on the video outtakes.

It could be that this video is sort of like an infomercial, accentuating the positive, minimizing or eliminating the negative, or basically "sugarcoating".

Bekologist

you think?

Most every dual pursuit 'lane control' video sugarcoats to the EXTREME.

there's a 'bicycle driving' video from that Caffery woman in florida. she tried to put a positive spin on one video that captured a uniformed bike cop riding along getting harassed by motorists.

despite the inevitable traffic friction, riding assertively yet courteously is the best method of riding in traffic. However, riding in traffic, especially solo, is not as copacetic as any of the videos I've seen that illustrate how to control the lane.

Dunbar

I agree, since I ride for fun I would simply choose a different route. I do take the lane like that but only when there's not a lot of traffic and the cars have plenty of time to see me and change lanes. Often times they are going 30mph faster than me too and it doesn't scare me since I can monitor them in my mirror. My fear on a busy street like in the video would be the the cars being held up who can't see that there's a cyclist ahead. As soon as the first car changes lanes you get a cascade of traffic wanting to speed up and fill the gap.

melonious

It looks really fun though but on the other hand, I am afraid I might hurt myself.


I live in SoCal too, what other routes are there?

genec

+100 That's pretty much telling it like it is.

genec

Exactly! I guess there is more than one road to someplace if you happen to be east of the Mississippi.

Those folks out east just don't understand that in the west, sometimes the ONLY road to a place is an interstate freeway.. or something nearly equivalent.

Commodus

I ride as shown in the video every day. What other way is there?

genec

In bike lanes; on bike paths; in wide outside lanes; as a ninja; on the sidewalk; counterflow; as a curbhugger.

That is at least 7 different ways. Or any of the above, including vehicular, may be combined, as needed.

Oh yeah and there is the JoeyBike method... which is pretty much "messenger." (so there are 8 "other ways..." that I can think of...

Bekologist

I would LOVE to see some dual pursuit videos of riders operating on high speed arterial roads that include bikelanes.

bored117 

Never been honked while taking lane where it is safer to do so. Been honked few times while on bike lane... figures...

Bekologist

Now THAT'S funny.

Fundamentally it is impossible to trust accounts of never being honked at while taking the lane.

Northwestrider

+1

weshigh

What part of SoCal do you live in? I also live in SoCal and ride plenty of streets like that..

melonious

Oh god, Just went to ride my bike for barely half a mile and I was exhausted...

Stealthammer

I don't see anything out of line in this video and consider the question presented in this thread's title to be laughable.

ClimbTheHill

The question is not laughable. Most people never consider bikes as actual vehicles, so it can be a little strange seeing a bicycle operate as a vehicle.

When I took up cycling as my main form of transportation two years ago, it took some getting used to, to ride the way they do in these videos.

To the original question. I ride as a vehicular cyclists, and I have only been honked at once in 2 years. I ride in Atlanta, which is not exactly a bike-friendly area with ideal roads. But when I ride predictably and confidently (as in these videos) I get very positive responses from the cars around me. For a little more detailed version of these videos, check out these three videos, Cyclists Eye View 1-3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFjCza5e1kw They really helped when I was starting out.

Stealthammer

I have been riding for over 40 years in many different cities around the country, and I have been carfree for 22 out of the last 27 years, so this is just normal defensive riding to me as I am sure it is many others here. I do realize though that many riders never stray off of MUPs, side streets, or streets with bike lanes, but on uncontrolled urban roads this is simply how it is done. No offense intended.

Antaresia

I'm getting tired of swearing at cars who think there is enough room to pass me when there isn't. Apparently waiting 5 seconds to clear oncoming traffic & cement barriers is too much for some jerks. Let them honk.

I also got doored a few days ago, I pulled to the right to let some cars pass and just...stayed there a little to long. I try my best to ride in the middle of the lane, if not the road (on the narrow, low-traffic, lot's of parked car roads, anyway).

Learning lessons the hard way sucks, but I'm a better rider now. It's your choice if you want to learn the hard way too, I don't recommend it. Take the lane.

bhop

Those types of roads are the best from my experience. Two lanes, not much in the way of hills so it's easier to ride fast. I find that motorists seem less annoyed on those compared to smaller one lane roads where they can get 'stuck' behind you.

CB HI

Who is hogging the road?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bikeyface/6589917227/

Monster Pete

I've been honked a couple of times for exercising my right of way at a junction, but never for taking the lane safely.

hardpatz

I agree that this video is optimistic and yes, polyannaish. At the very least I would describe riding like this as being uncomfortable, even without aggressive motorists (anyone who claims never to have been beeped at is likely riding on a deserted road or does not commute in car traffic).

The discomfort caused --constant alertness, looking for doors, hyper-vigilance) helps explain why riding a bike has such a dismal ride share anywhere where there is not separation between cars and bikes. It may be safe as a fact, but it feels acutely unsafe. How many seniors, woman and children would ride like this? Probably one in 1000.

I took one of these courses when on the West Coast and then moved to Toronto Canada. Tried these methods for a couple of weeks on the way to school in downtown rush-hour traffic and was beeped at, sworn at and even had one woman ask me if "I wanted her to kill me". After that I did what the rest of Toronto's fairly large (by North American standards) biking population and stuck to routes with bike lanes or better yet quiet neighborhoods without many cars. If I had to ride in fast moving heavy traffic I did so only for short distances or, yes, on the side walk.

These methods are useful (especially not getting doored) but shouldn't be necessary if you take your time and plan your route as a bike, and not a car.

Chris516

In my opinion, I could care less if I get honked at. Motorists' honk at each other all the time. I have gotten used to the possibility that some motorist will honk.

If I am 'taking the lane', I am stopped at a traffic light, and I don't notice that traffic light has gone from red to green, I definitely appreciate the reminder to pay attention to the traffic light.