Today I rode just 25 blocks for an errand, and there were at least 3 times when cars or buses passed me extremely closely, in not very slow speed (that's the scaring part). One car nearly touched me, but before I knew it, it was already in front of me. It was a very congested street due to constructions ahead. Even though none of the passing vehicles touched me, they were so close that if I had veered a tiny bit to the left, I would have been hit. I am most concerned about being close-passed by buses, trucks or other long vehicles, because a slight tilt of either the vehicle or myself could cause my being hit by the rear part of the vehicle.

In future, I guess I'd better walk the bike on the sidewalk if the street is so congested.

you didn't say anything about your lane positioning, but you are entitled to safe passes, and often that requires riding far enough out in the lane that passing motorists know they need to change into the next lane to pass you. If you ride at the far right of the lane, many people take that as an invitation to ignore your presence.

I was riding on the right lane of the one-way avenue (2nd Ave. in Manhattan), not the far-left edge, just normally where a bike would ride. The right lane is also bus lane, so sometimes I could have been on the 2nd to the rightmost lane when near a bus stop. I don't remember exactly which lane I was when the passes happened, but either the rightmost lane, or next (and close) to it.

Edit: I remembered that closest pass was by a car (maybe taxi) that went on to make a right turn after passing and getting ahead of me, so it was a near right hook, but the pass happened some distance before the intersection.

Sometimes lane position doesn't matter...

https://youtu.be/2bpiwp167Kg

I've had a few like that. I believe it's a form of road rage. The driver intentionally cuts you off and then slows down enough to get in your way and make you also slow down.

+1

I don't know if they've taken the signs down, but for over 50 years bicycles were supposed to keep Left on one-way NYC avenues. This remains best practice because it eliminates bicycle/bus leapfrog. It also reduces the chances of being doored since you're on the passenger side, and many cars are driver only. Keeping left also has the slight advantage of having you on the driver's side of passing cars. Most drivers are a bit more aware of their car's width on this side. OTOH, the improved width judgement can encourage drivers to pass that much closer.

My advice, unless rules prohibit it, keep left on NYC's avenues.

Thank you---I'll keep this in mind when I ride on the avenues again. I wasn't aware of this practice. In the case of the 2nd avenue, however, there is this dangerous intersection at 59th street, with cars coming down (ususally speeding) from the Queensborough Bridge on the left side, so the right side is definitely better there. Another factor: the on-going subway construction is on the left side of 2nd Avenue.

I pulled up to an intersection just after an SUV did stopped coming from the street from my right. I stopped fully and put my feet down. I waved him on and he shook his head and waved me on. I hesitated and then took off turning left. The SUV went straight and therefore came up behind me. It passed very, very close and just before he did I turned just my HEAD to look over my left shoulder just in time to see the SUV's giant tow mirror pass over my left shoulder. I swerved right and nearly ran into the curb.

I now insist that if I come to an intersection when a car does too from another direction and I will turn past them or pull into the same direction as them. I will typically refuse to go and wave the car to go first. A few times I've had drivers show frustration as I refused to go and shook my head still waving them on. It was just too close for me and they can clear the intersection a whole lot faster than I can so I let them go first.

Taking the lane has it's merits but you will ALWAYS have motorists pull this crap. Just watch yourself and try to anticipate what they are doing and take the necessary action.

There's not much in the way of lane discipline on NYC's avenues. Imagine a race course 4-5 lanes wide, with everybody jockeying for position, trying not to get caught behind a slower car, or trapped against the boards. Cyclists need to stay out beyond door range, but depending on their skill, speed and confidence make lane changes, around double parked cars, cars making left turns, trucks, cabs and jaywalking pedestrians.

When I cycle NYC avenues, I keep left, but shift right one lane every other block to not trapped by cars turning left. NYC streets are mostly one way, alternating every block).

To new commers NYC riding can be very intimidating, but once you have a sense of how things work it's not unreasonable, and I actually find it safer that riding in the burbs. One bright side of NYC riding is that the bike and auto speeds are very closely matched making maneuvering easier. On some avenues, I often found myself being one of the fastest vehicles, and more concerned about sudden stops in front, then being hit from the rear.

Yes, that's a tough area. You can either cross to the right in advance when traffic permits, or use the lights to advantage to work your way through.

My keep left advice is general, and obviously needs to be adjusted according to specific conditions. One nice thing about NYC riding is that you'll never have brake shoes dry out and harden.

+10!!!

The problem I see in this video is that the cyclist allowed the car to pass on the curve. At point 0:30 the car appears in the frame, approximately 30 feet before the curve. The cyclist should have moved to the middle of the lane when it was safe to do to prevent the car passing prior to 0:30.