An instance of taking the lane...
#1
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From: Monterey Bay area, California
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An instance of taking the lane...
Taking the lane is highly subjective in my opinion, depending on the conditions, but this part of the road called for such an action, and it gave me the space I needed. More commentary under the video.
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What do you call a cyclist who sells potpourri on the road? A pedaling petal-peddler.
What do you call a cyclist who sells potpourri on the road? A pedaling petal-peddler.
#2
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From: Copenhagen
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In that spot, with that kinda-door-zone bike lane, had you been going 20 mph, I'd have taken the lane too. At the slow speed you were going, there really was no need to, IMO.
#4
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From: Far beyond the pale horizon.
(That was exciting.)
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He is riding a really wide "bicycle".
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Last edited by njkayaker; 10-19-12 at 06:23 AM.
#6
genec
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And that wasn't taking the lane? Frankly I also thought he could move over just a touch more, but when I take a lane, I never ride in the middle... the possibly of grease and oil there is just too high. Motorcyclists are taught never to ride in the middle, but instead on one tire track or the other.
#7
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From: Monterey Bay area, California
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Main reason I went out that far was because of the wide trailer and truck parked next to the bike lane. I think most of the drivers knew why I was out there, so they didn't have an issue with me. The second white truck driver yelled for me to get out of the road, which was silly... I was not in the best of moods at the time and told him to shut up. He didn't hear me anyway. Most of the time I just wave, because 99% of the time they are yelling a compliment of my rig. Which is nice...
Traffic was slow in this video clip, given the light had just changed, but sometimes they blow past me at 35 to 40 mph. Given that I am on a trike that is stable at slow speeds, it wouldn't be so much a problem as with a bicycle that can wobble and possibly fall over at low speeds, going uphill, under load, being passed relatively close. Depending on the road situation (quite varied around here), I will tolerate it if need be. Riding on highway 1, for example, I have to put up with the heavy and rather fast traffic on a narrow shoulder.
And yes, my trike's width, including the trailer's track, is 33". So from the camera's POV I'm in the right tire track, but my left wheel is over halfway across the lane. I just got tired of people squeezing past me at that section when I was stuck in that position with no place to go... so this time I thought I'd see if I could improve the situation. I signaled, edged out into the right tire track, and watched people use the other lane to pass.
Once I get past that congestion, I can get back in the bike lane, because farther up the road the speed limit increases and when it hits the edge of town, it goes up to 55 mph, and the bike lane turns into a nice bike path seperated from the road by verge and a fence).
Another minor detail; the rider is a she, (me) and in her early 50s.
Traffic was slow in this video clip, given the light had just changed, but sometimes they blow past me at 35 to 40 mph. Given that I am on a trike that is stable at slow speeds, it wouldn't be so much a problem as with a bicycle that can wobble and possibly fall over at low speeds, going uphill, under load, being passed relatively close. Depending on the road situation (quite varied around here), I will tolerate it if need be. Riding on highway 1, for example, I have to put up with the heavy and rather fast traffic on a narrow shoulder.
And yes, my trike's width, including the trailer's track, is 33". So from the camera's POV I'm in the right tire track, but my left wheel is over halfway across the lane. I just got tired of people squeezing past me at that section when I was stuck in that position with no place to go... so this time I thought I'd see if I could improve the situation. I signaled, edged out into the right tire track, and watched people use the other lane to pass.
Once I get past that congestion, I can get back in the bike lane, because farther up the road the speed limit increases and when it hits the edge of town, it goes up to 55 mph, and the bike lane turns into a nice bike path seperated from the road by verge and a fence).
Another minor detail; the rider is a she, (me) and in her early 50s.
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What do you call a cyclist who sells potpourri on the road? A pedaling petal-peddler.
What do you call a cyclist who sells potpourri on the road? A pedaling petal-peddler.
#9
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From: Monterey Bay area, California
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Especially since they are giving me silly advice, given the only place I can go is up.
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What do you call a cyclist who sells potpourri on the road? A pedaling petal-peddler.
What do you call a cyclist who sells potpourri on the road? A pedaling petal-peddler.
#10
aka Tom Reingold




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The drivers in that video are quite considerate!
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#11
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From: Monterey Bay area, California
Bikes: Terratrike Tour, recumbent tadpole tricycle.
They are quite bike-friendly in this area.
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What do you call a cyclist who sells potpourri on the road? A pedaling petal-peddler.
What do you call a cyclist who sells potpourri on the road? A pedaling petal-peddler.
#12
24-Speed Machine

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From: Wash. Grove, MD
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#13
Been Around Awhile

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From: Burlington Iowa
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Keep yelling "clever" comments/combacks at motorists who already have displayed hostility towards you, and one day you might be delayed goings towards your destination.
#14
genec
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#15
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From: North Port, FL
+1
Why try to bother sociopaths?
It reminds me of the father at the gas station that told a fellow motorist not to smoke while pumping gas.
He wife / kids watched him burn. He could have simply driven away / called authorities.
#18
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From: Green Valley AZ
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To my eyes the OP was avoiding the door zone but not giving a clear signal that the lane was too narrow for safe sharing.
It may be just semantics, but I avoid ideas of "lane control" or "taking the lane." All I can do is show by my position whether or not the lane can be safely shared.
It may be just semantics, but I avoid ideas of "lane control" or "taking the lane." All I can do is show by my position whether or not the lane can be safely shared.
#19
24-Speed Machine

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From: Wash. Grove, MD
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Personally, In the situation you remember, I agree with the father. I would have been more vocal. Because, Even gasoline vapors can cause an explosion with the right ignition source.
#20
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From: Monterey Bay area, California
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Actually I was signalling. That is why the cars behind me were starting to change lanes. I clipped the rest of the video, where I had to remain out in the lane for a while longer, and I took up half the road, until the parked cars thinned out and I could go back to riding in the bike lane without any problems with obstructions.
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What do you call a cyclist who sells potpourri on the road? A pedaling petal-peddler.
What do you call a cyclist who sells potpourri on the road? A pedaling petal-peddler.
#21
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From: Lancaster, PA, USA
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It looks like the bike lane is wide enough to have a car door open and you still in the bike lane, but I have to admit that I have little experience with parked cars (my commute takes me through light suburbs and rural areas with few parked cars).
#22
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From: Monterey Bay area, California
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Yes, most of the time there is space if I have my left tire right on the fog line. In this case, I was passing a wide trailer and dually in the parking zone. Often there are semis and trailers, trailers with machinery and RVs parked along there. No space for me. I ride in many kinds of road conditions around here, I'll take what space I need to be as visible as possible, and people can pass me when they are able.
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What do you call a cyclist who sells potpourri on the road? A pedaling petal-peddler.
What do you call a cyclist who sells potpourri on the road? A pedaling petal-peddler.
#23
24-Speed Machine

Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Wash. Grove, MD
Bikes: 2003 Specialized Allez 24-Speed Road Bike
Today, I was 'taking the lane' to/from, a doctor's appointment. Two motorists' honked at me(one of them was having a love affair with her horn....yes looking behind me, I did see a woman in the drivers' seat), and another motorist told me to get off the road. I told them all rather loudly to 'shut up!!!!'. I never gave up the lane to any motorists'.
#25
Been Around Awhile

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From: Burlington Iowa
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Today, I was 'taking the lane' to/from, a doctor's appointment. Two motorists' honked at me(one of them was having a love affair with her horn....yes looking behind me, I did see a woman in the drivers' seat), and another motorist told me to get off the road. I told them all rather loudly to 'shut up!!!!'. I never gave up the lane to any motorists'.





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