brbbiking

You guys ever experience this? For some reason, cars on a particular road, which tends to get backed up, sit partially in the bike lane. I have to go really slow to go around some (if I can), and also to be able to stop if they decide to creep further into the bike lane.

I thought maybe they were doing it in order to see ahead (nothing really interesting, really -- it's always backed up), but it's at locations that would give no benefit since it would be at the wrong angle of a curve to see ahead. I will, once in a while, knock on their window to ask them to move over, but I think it would take me a lifetime to "train" all of them.

Oh well, just complaining/venting.

CliffordK

Is it a bike lane or a road shoulder?

Fortunately I don't spend a lot of time riding in traffic jams.

The worst thing is road construction signs that are inevitably put in bike lanes, shoulders, whatnot.

brbbiking

It's explicitly a bike lane. It's cool usually though, passing everyone stuck in traffic!

SactoDoug

I have seen people driving in the bike lane for over a mile!

Yes, every now and then I see people in the bike lane during stop and go traffic. I assume it is because they plan to eventually make a right hand turn. I pass them on the right if I can or I just go past them on the left if I can't. If I get to an intersection and there are a bunch of people turning right and blocking the bike lane, I get to the left of them and wait for the light to turn green.

TransitBiker

No. There are no bike lanes here, and i don't want them here.

- Andy

katsrevenge

This is why there should be a curb.. keep them out.

Wish we had a few more bike lanes here.

acidfast7

never

DunderXIII

It happens to me quite often actually (well, maybe not but I remember !!). I know its probably not true but I feel that some people really can't stand that you're faster on a bike so they try to stop you in some stupid manner. Quote Nelson: *Ha Ha*!

justblues

Several years ago I was visiting my son at a university in a town far from home. I took him out to eat. I turned the rental car into a nice wide paved drive that looked like it led into the Olive Garden parking lot. The drive kept getting narrower and narrower until it dawned on me that it wasn't a drive at all but rather a dedicated bike path. I was embarrassed and relieved that there were no bicyclists using it at the time.

yankeefan

Happens to me everyday in NYC. Whenever there is a traffic jam (basically 99% of the time) cars try to squeeze into the bike lane only to realize that the bike lane cannot accommodate a motor vehicle and end up camping out there...blocking my route. Its really dumb but anyone who attempts to drive a car in NYC during rush hour isn't very smart to begin with.

pdlamb

There was a spot in Colorado -- Frisco, maybe? -- where the bike path also turned out to be a driveway access road for a spell. I got off that ASAP and rode on the road.

tarwheel 

This is one reason why I have reservations about bike lanes as they are usually constructed in the US. My city has only a few roads with bike lanes. One of them goes through a housing project, and every time I ride on that street there are several cars parked (with nobody in them) in the bike lane. As a bike lane, it is totally useless but apparently the nearby residents are making good use of it for free parking.

One of the busiest roads on my regular commute route had bike lanes added to it on both sides when it was recently repaved. I was initially encouraged by the addition of bike lanes because the road is so heavily traveled in the afternoons. However, it has not turned out as well as I had hoped. First, a lot more gravel and glass accumulates along the side of the road since the lane was added. Second, for some stupid reason the city discontinued the lane about 50 yards before and after each red light. As soon as the lane markings end, many drivers immediately shift to their right, even though their car lanes are plenty wide enough to stay in their position. Third, some drivers actually cross into the bike lane as if it was merely a line marking the road shoulder. Finally, as the OP mentioned, some drivers are just jerks and block the lane when traffic backs up at red lights. In sum, I am not convinced that adding the bike lane has done anything to improve the safety of cyclists along that road.

jdswitters

dont see it much out here but every once in a while, when I'm on a my fat bike, I am so tempted...

kickstart

Other than momentarily blocking a bike lane and/or crosswalk at an intersection or driveway when traffic is heavy, I don't see people blocking the bike lanes where I ride. Intentionally blocking one because a driver is jealous? Sounds like overactive imaginations to me.

ThermionicScott 

This doesn't happen to me a whole lot (I mostly have to watch out when there is parking on the other side of the bike lane and an SUV is parked somewhere in between), but I feel like "I drove in the bike lane like a dumbass" stickers could be justified.

scroca

What's wrong with that guy's brakes?

acidfast7

Nothing, just standard rim MAGURA hydraulic rim brakes

cbike

Yep, the local buses drive on the bike lane to avoid hitting cyclists when turning right. It's mandated that the driver do so. If traffic backs up that means these buses block the bike lane for no reason. I totally understand their worries about turning right and hitting a cyclist that doesn't pay attention. My conclusion is that bike lanes suck as well and the only somewhat safe place for bikes is in the road with cars.

squegeeboo

Assuming there isn't a dedicated right turn lane to the right of the bike lane, that's where the cars turning right should be, they're not blocking it.

kickstart

I like bike lanes, but I understand that they're just a lane, not some magic safe zone.

spivonious

Bike lanes make no sense in cities, where traffic speed is often the same or slightly higher as a bicyclist.

I do wish we had more bike lanes on arterials, where traffic is often 3-4x the speed of a bicyclist.

With all of that said, I haven't seen cars blocking the bike lane because we have none around here. I do see cars blocking lanes where roads go from two to one lane to prevent other drivers from "cheating" (even though a proper zipper merge is the most efficient).

SactoDoug

I didn't say there was anything wrong with what they are doing. If they get there first, they block it as they turn. If I get there first, I am in the lane and they have to wait unless I move out of the way so they can turn. If there is no car to my left, I will move over so cars can turn.

I think you are arguing symantics. The fact is that they are physically in the bike lane so it is blocked. If I am physically in the bike lane, I am blocking it from their use. Either situation can be legal.

kickstart

I've noticed the same thing in Seattle, door zone bike lanes on roads that don't even need bike lanes. Then one gets in the outlying areas and higher speed arterials have nothing, not even a shoulder.

treadtread

I've had a truck deliberately block the bike lane when he saw me passing everyone on the right (in the bike lane). Some people are just grouchy. I jumped on the sidewalk, went around him and kept going. No interaction or eye contact, just keep going ..

Cyclosaurus

I have to deal with cars parked/standing in the bike lane all the time on a few-mile long stretch on Madison St on the west side of Chicago. It's pretty annoying but because it's not protected in any way it's expected. In downtown Chicago they often put the bike lane between street parking and the curb.