I used to ride to work way back when and just started back a couple of months ago. I have a six mile city street ride to work. Half of the commute is on a large road with a lot of room and a sidewalk if I need it. The other half I am forced to use the sidewalk because the street is for all intents a purposes a highway morning and afternoon.

One thing I have observed in my VERY bike friendly city is that car drivers' behaviors haven't changed a lot in 30 years. I say that but gone are the days that cars would intentionally drive us off the road; however, the carelessness hasn't changed at all. Because of that I get into my commuter mindset for the ride.

I am cautiously aggressive. Meaning, I don't bully, I don't cut in front of, don't disobey traffic lights and don't act like an arshole. However, I DO own my space, obey the traffic signs, ride in a predictable manner and hold a straight line, yield to cars when they have the right of way, am highly visible with lights and bright colors, and expect cars to yield to me when I have the right of way.

I constantly scan 360 degrees "looking" for that car to do something stupid, do something careless, not see me even if they are looking right at me. Because of that I rarely have a panic situation but I still have to be careful. I'm at the point in my life that I don't get mad because, well, I'm a motorist to and I also make mistakes and if they do something stupid, I'm ready for it.

I'd like to think that motorists feel safe when they near me and find that I am a courteous rider.

One thing really pi55ed me off this past weekend. I was riding maybe 50 yards behind another rider. He was in his late 50's like me. He approached a 4-way stop sign with cars at every point. He drifted into the intersection without making any attempt to stop, yield or even observe common courtesy for who was next to go. I see this a lot now. An older driver honked at him and this guy gave the motorist the finger, yelled an F word-laced diatribe and just went off. I just shook my head.

I remember the days when cars thought we were prey and preyed upon all of us road riders. This is decades before mountain bikes, bike lanes, etc. An older rider taught me how to ride and the right mindset back then. I feel riders like that guy send us backwards.

What's your commuter mindset? How do ride? What do you look for? How do you react?

my commuter mindset? I ride with my head on a swivel, and always give right of way to cars at intersections. come to think of it, I'm always halfway on the brake approaching intersections. I follow all the same road rules as the cars of course, and I make sure both myself and my bike are visible (to the point I've put reflective tape on the stays of my rack, on my frame, fenders, and at 2 opposing points on my wheels)

Sheer bloody-mindedness.

No, not really. I'm mostly on MUPs and mostly at times of day and year when they're deserted. Lucky! Gonna get crowded again here soon, May brings out the people.

My initial answer to your question about commuter mindset is that I am focused and utilititarian.

I mostly look at the Road surface and maybe about 25-50 feet ahead and at the side, and use right and left rearview eyeglass-mounted mirrors. I have commented about how much more I see on frequent, decade-long commuter routes, when I drive them and look farther afield. In fact, a technique to alleviate boredom on such routine routes is to just raise my head higher and look around. Furthermore, I use commuting as a training opportunity, and I also focus on my riding pace.

I would describe my riding style as utilitarian, but always attuned to safety and courtesy, and even deference to cars and pedestrians. I use the analogy that as an amphibian has properties between fish and reptiles, a cyclist has rights, responsibilities, and privileges between pedestrians and "dinosaurian" vehicles, and I exercise mine responsibly (IMO). For example, I will ride on an unused sidewalk to get around a line of cars, or not entirely stop at an empty intersection.

My mindset is largely the same as yours. I follow the law as far as right of way, ride predictably, etc. If a driver is particularly courteous, I wave and shout "Thank you!"

There are a few things I do to draw attention to my presence. When I take the lane at a stoplight or stop sign and I have to stop, I flap my arms like a large bird. It looks silly, but it accomplishes two things: it makes me more noticeable, and it stretches out my shoulders. The other thing is to sing audibly. Again, silly, but I believe I've caught the attention of drivers who didn't seem to be paying attention to anything. I often get smiles from drivers when I do this.

Of course, I _do_ live in the San Francisco area; so odd behavior is pretty much the norm.

I'm a roadie and a commuter. I don't think my mindset changes much between the two activities. I'm out there to have fun and enjoy some exercise, and when I am commuting I just happen to be going somewhere I have to be by bike. Situational awareness is a good thing to have. Other than that, I have the right to the roads, and any driver who doesn't like it can suck my scranus and write their state representative. I try to ride just like I would drive in terms of my general behavior..things like the laws of physics don't change (stopping distance, especially if riding with other people, friction, or lack there of on wet streets and/or painted lines) and do things like look ahead, plan for my next move/lane change/intersection and know where to go if things get hairy. And just like driving, I try to be proactive rather than reactive. I try to look out for more vulnerable users, like pedestrians. I would say there really isn't anything to it.

[MENTION=429517]dougmon[/MENTION], more drivers there must have their windows than around here (NC). You would have to shout / sing pretty loudly before a driver with their windows up (and probably radio and/or fan on too).

I'd say my mindset is pretty similar to OP, though I may not be as conscious of such as he seems to be. The guy running the stop sign at the 4-way deserves to get hit or at least have a close call. I wouldn't do that either.

However, I do run through stop signs when there is clearly no cars around such as in neighborhoods.

ppl like that make it dangerous for the rest of us

Well, it is California. Most drivers have their windows down. And to be honest, I wouldn't call what I do singing exactly. It's more like a "whoo-whoooo" noise that you wouldn't normally hear. It does attract attention.

The guy who ran the stop sign at the 4-way is a jerk. I hate it when I see that type of cyclist; it's the ones who behave badly that stick in peoples' minds. I always hope that I'm making a good impression for all cyclists when I wave and say "thanks!" to a courteous driver.

My commute usually starts between 6am and 6:30am and takes me through a lot of residential neighborhoods where no one is up just yet. So I've run a few stop signs; but I do slow down, because there are unpredictable drivers out there.

I don't understand this "commuter mindset" thing. Shouldn't it be "cyclist mindset" or "road cyclist mindset" at least? If I'm riding on the road, I act the same at all times, regardless of whether I'm riding to work, to the store, or just tooling around. I use a helmet mirror and always keep aware of what's happening around me at all times. I maintain an assertive, courteous and predictable lane position in narrow lanes at all times, and use lights at all times day or night (flashing in daylight, solid or pulsing when dark).

I do not filter past stopped traffic, and NEVER, EVER pass on the right of stopped traffic (death wish). Bike lanes be damned, I'm not going to let the paint think for me by passing stopped traffic on the right. At red lights, I stop and wait unless I know for certain the light won't detect me. At stop signs I slow, sometimes very slow to try not to put a foot down, but I still wait my turn to proceed. If no one is around I typically don't stop (stop signs are WAY overused IMHO), but will slow just to be doubly sure it's clear.

I like that phrase. Pretty much sums it up. I guess I ride similar to you. Doesn't mean I don't screw up sometimes though (I'm human afterall) but that's my mindset.

I worked hard for years to get into the "friendly" mindset. Meaning, when a driver honked, I'd wave; or when a driver yelled or gave me the finger, I'd blow kisses. It's been about a year since I moved to a home office, and last night I found out that I've lost this mindset. Typically, I ride right after lunch, when the roads are relatively quiet. But yesterday was busy and I didn't get out until around 3:30, after about 30 miles, I was coming back home right at the peak of rush-hour. At a classic intersection for conflict (used it daily for 5+ years), I had a driver ignore my right-of-way, I started with looking the driver right in the eye with a friendly wave, driver responded with a one-finger salute; and I responded in kind. About one block later it dawned on me, to a couple dozen cars at the intersection, they saw a biker giving an anger finger to a driver, but I doubt any of them saw the driver give me the finger. This was my reminder to get back to my "mindset", always respond to ignorance and anger with smiles and waves.

This reminds me of some advice I read on BikeForums: The closer you get to work, the more friendly you should be because you are more likely to encounter a co-worker, client or Boss.

+1!

True story, a car honked at me right after I left the office, I gave a friendly wave even though I was sure it was an angry driver.... it was was a co-worker saying "hi".

As somebody that has done years of commuting and now a year of bike at non-rush-hour times, there is a difference. Maybe "commuter mindset" isn't correct, maybe it's "rush hour" mindset? Traffic conditions and driver behavior is very different during rush hour. Additionally, commuting is really about A-to-B riding, and other types of road riding tend to be "route" riding. I pick routes that are fun, my old commute route was stressful. For example, the last 2-3 miles to my office was on a 40 mph, 4-lane road with no shoulder, ALWAYS hateful, and I haven't been on that road once since moved to my home office.

My mindset is rather simple--avoid traffic whenever possible.

In the morning, I take a country road for 20 minutes before getting on a paved bike trail, which I ride for about 40 minutes before hopping back on a road for the final 15 minutes, to end the ride. Traffic is light, maybe five cars pass me on the country road. The biggest danger there is cross traffic, especially cars coming out of driveways. They seem to never see me. I anticipate them not seeing me nowadays. The final stretch is city riding. So, I have to be alert. My mindset there is to emulate a nervous squirrel by looking all around every few seconds.

The afternoon commute is almost all bike trail. It's a different trail from the one I hook up to in the morning. I start out by riding about 10 minutes on a sidewalk and some road. But, before I know it, I am on the trail, which I then ride for 1-1/2 hours until I get home. My mindset there is that I'd rather ride a half hour longer than take the shorter route and deal with afternoon traffic on those roads.

as i've gotten older, and especially since my commute became radically shorter (from 15 miles one-way down to just 5 miles one-way), my riding attitude has drastically mellowed.

when i was young and single, i was a much more reckless bastard obsessed with making good time because my daily commute was so long, and i rode hard, at times really hard. i took stupid, needless risks at times. but now my commute is so freaking short, and i have a wife and kids who NEED me to stay alive, so now i just casually ride with safety and caution first and foremost in my mind. "making good time" no longer registers with me on my commutes. i do not time my commutes, or ride with a computer, or use strava, or anything else like that. i just ride, stay alert, and enjoy my short little jaunts to work and back without worrying about anything else, stress-free. i like it a lot.

I really like the original post and very much agree. If I wouldn't do it in a car, why would I do it on a bike? Blowing a stop sign is just stupid (when there are others there). My driving tends to be pretty much by the book (in most cases). I like to stop (fully stop) at the white line where you are supposed to stop - things like that. Drivers that drift through an intersection and only stop if a car is coming (in the middle of the pedestrian crossing) really annoy me. All this is just to say that I bike like I drive - or I drive like I bike. At a 4 way stop - I come to a full stop and take my turn accordingly. When it is a red light, I stop. Simple stuff. I obey rules out there on my bike better than any of the other drivers I see. I agree that riders that scoff at rules are a huge problem and make it difficult for all cyclists. There is a lot of disdain towards cyclists that I see - but I sure hope I am not the one causing it.

Commuting is by nature different than recreational riding. For one, when commuting we have to go from point A (home) to point B (work) regardless of where point B happens to be located. When rec riding, I never purposely go into a city and ride on busy streets.

I don't think so. I am older than yourself... and my memories seem to remain intact. I don't recall the era of which you speak. When cars used their AI wit to prey on humans. And I most certainly do not remember humans discarding their love of humanity. In all of human history... it has never been legal or acceptable to prey on road cyclists.

However... their was a period when cyclists thought it was their right to exercise their freedom of speech (expression) by flipping-off the motoring public (AKA giving "the bird"). Of course... many cyclists not wishing to be entangled in conflict.... restricted their obscene gestures to grandmothers or women with small children. In my recollections this began the them-against-us mentality... that endured for decades.

Obeying traffic laws.... staying within the letter of the law.... does not make anyone good at sharing the road.

My mindset? Use the mirror, expect the unexpected, and pedal defensively. And take the lane when needed. I bike what is safest for me, not necessarily what are the rules made for cars and not bikes. Filter to the front ( allowed by law here in MA) Texters in cars are a horrible menace to everyone and many people do it. Expect cars to run red lights, a common occurrence. Ipod zombies on the MUP, good luck with that. And I detest wheel suckers, get off my a$$. And pedal dirt when you can, commute by mt bike anyone? On singletrack.

It shouldn't matter. Any public street can and will have motor traffic at times. I see no difference at all in how one should ride and behave whether commuting or just rec riding.

I personally DO NOT intentionally seek out 2-lane country roads because of generally higher speeds, no shoulder, and more difficulty for motorists to pass. Unfortunately that's the only choice I have for my commute, so I take the route of 2-lane roads with the lowest traffic volume. For rec riding I ride around my town, or even venture up into Memphis. I find it far LESS stressful to ride in the city than to ride out in the country, personally, because in the city there is generally plenty of space for motorists to pass easily.

I thought filtering was technically allowed only in CA, only because it's not specifically illegal in their statutes?

Aside from that, unless traffic is in a gridlock situation, why would you want the potentially distracted drivers who passed you previously to be behind you once again? Wouldn't it be better to let them go on ahead and you not have to deal with them again?

I resort to my “amphibian” (scofflaw) tendencies for that very reason, to avoid traffic. Further applying my zoologic analogy, the vulnerable amphibians (cyclists) survived to evolve to the higher mammals by avoiding being trampled by the dinosaurs (autos) who eventually died out.

My mindset is the same as when I drive: 1. be aware of your surroundings at all times; 2) anticipate problems; 3) take evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision. My immediate is smaller when I'm riding, but all else is the same.