FLBandit

Twice this week on my way to work (in my truck unfortunately) I've seen a guy on a bicycle. He seems to be headed to work judging by the backpack and such. However, he is riding on the wrong side of the road, facing traffic. I usually go home and get my bike at lunch time and ride to work in the same area (I have to drop my kids at school in the mornings). To me his riding on the wrong side of the road sends a mixed message to motorists, one that could have effects on me as I see many of the same cars on a daily basis. So, should I try to educate him, or leave it to natural selection. I could easily say something from my truck, but I doubt a cyclist would listen to something from a moving vehicle. Opinions wanted, what would you do?

jbone

I would definitely tell him. Just let him know that you are a cyclist yourself and that he is putting himself in danger by riding on the wrong side of the road.

DataJunkie

Flippin people. Make it worse for the rest of us.

I recently saw a person on a bicycle (a recreational rider) with no saftey gear at all.
The moron was going the wrong way in the street, crossed 120th ave across 5 lanes of traffic (busy street), in between lights. Motorists were having to stop in the middle of the street so he could cross. Not to mention the median he had to climb. If the rider had ridden 1000 feet he would have come to a light and could have crossed legally. bleh!

oboeguy

I told a wrong-way commuter once that there were plenty of streets going the right direction. I don't think he liked that. From behind me I heard a whiny "you should keep yer opinions to yerself!". Whatever, dude, get yourself killed, but not while I'm on the same street, taking me with you, thanks.

cedo

I would let it slide. First, in general people who ride in such an unconcerned fashion typically don't have any desire to be "educated." I would be very surprised if he was grateful for your comments or if he changed his behaviour. Second, some motorists might package all cyclists into one bad impression, but you're probably not going to change their minds either, even if you did manage to convince this guy to ride wth traffic.

truman

Been talking to my LBS about holding some classes for would be commuters, to address just such issues. In my distant youth, we were advised to walk and ride against traffic, in safety films at school. Sometimes, that's all the folks have to go on.

Problem is getting the people we're talking about TO the classes...

jnbacon

I see the same thing, and think and feel the same way. But, realistically, I doubt it makes much of difference in how I'm treated by car drivers. It may make them think that bike riders are an unruly lot, following a variety of rule. But in the moment they see me, as long as they understand what I'm doing and where I'm going, they probably couldn't care less about the other guy.

kf5nd

In my darker moments, I feel like giving the snarky, snotty ignoramuses a shove on the shoulder as I pass them... but that would be very bad.

I keep trying to remind myself to be a role model, a teacher, a help, and a guide instead. But it's hard when someone doesn't want to hear it.

greenbreezer

In my area, the wrong-way commuters are typically people who are newly-arrived immigrants from countries which (I assume) don't have bicycling laws. So I'm figuring that they are unaware of our laws. Of the few who have stopped at the curb to let me ride around them, I've stopped to try to educate them, but found they speak little or no English and even though they were polite with me, I don't think they fully understood what I was saying. For them, offering safety classes probably won't help as they wouldn't understand. Unless we offered them in various languages

From my observations, it seems that kids in residential neighborhoods and the newly arrived immigrants in the commute traffic are the ones who ride on the wrong side of the road.

kf5nd

I've taken to greeting every apparently immigrant Hispanic rider I see with "Hola, jefe!" ("hey chief!"... pronunced O-la HEF-ay) They're happy to be acknowledged by a non-Hispanic. That's how you open things up.

If someone comes at you, maybe say:

Esta en la pasilla equivocada - you are in the wrong lane
if passing by quickly, just "pasilla equivocada!" "wrong lane!"

Hola, necesitas luces - Hi, you need lights

Donde esta tu casco ? - Where is your helmet ?

cc_rider

I wouldn't go out of my way to try to "educate" him, but if I was riding the right way as he was passing me the wrong way, I might say something.

Layton

Most wrong-way riders don't know that they're going to be found completely at fault if they're hit by a car, even if it was the car's mistake. Not to mention the increased closure rates...

If you do wind up talking to him, that may be worth mentioning.

Ritehsedad

I guess it depends on the circumstances. On my commute I ride the wrong way over about a 100 yard stretch of a 25 mph road on which I never see more than 2 cars. The alternative is much more dangerous crossing several lanes of high speed commuter traffic and navigating a traffic circle (minimum of 20 cars).

DIVA

Educate? Done that and was given a dirty look or called out of my name. Delivery guys do it all the time and I think, if their tips were confiscated by the NYPD at day's end, they would think twice and ride w/traffic, not against it.

FLBandit

Normally I wouldn't think much of it if I only saw the guy a few times. What caught my attention was that he had all the right gear. He was even running lights. Based on this it seems he may be in it for awhile at least. Think I'll try to catch him in a non-threatning manner and let him know the rules of the road. Maybe I'll even gain a new riding buddy.

soyboy

yes delivery guys should ride on the proper side and only going the correct way on one way streets, and they shouldn't ride on the sidewalk, but it would be rediculous to take away the delivery guy's day of tips, i don't know about you but i've never seen a chinese delivery guy riding a lemond or a Bianchi...

caloso

"!Otro lado!" works too and is easier to yell. I'm actually a bit more sarcastic with the locals, especially if it's some high school or college kid, like "Welcome to America. We ride on the right here, mate!"

cerewa

I yell "other side" at people. Every once in a while, I see someone switch from the left of the road to the right after I tell them this. I won't guarantee that this is because I said so, though.

It's a pain in the rear riding down the bike lane and having a face-off with a bicyclist going the wrong way.

asfried

I agree with your second impulse.

"Think of it as evolution in action."
Larry Niven

DIVA

That's b/c they have jag's in the garage.

dHb

My 78 year old father-in-law bought himself a TREK cruiser and started riding again after a few decades out of the saddle. He insists on riding on the wrong side, so he can see the cars coming at him and take evasive action if required. He also refuses to wear a helmet because he wants to be killed instantly in an accident and not end up a cripple. Logic and reasoning just doesn't work with some people (Weighing 250 pounds and bearing down on them at 35kph while bellowing "you're on the wrong side!!" does seem to have an effect).

kb0tnv

I gave up trying to "educate" people as well. What "authority" do we have? My goal is to make sure I am legal. They rest of the people will have to learn from the "School of Hard Knocks". Sad but true. You get tired of people telling you to "mind your own business" or don't even belive you about what the law is for riding a bike on the road. There are people I do inform but they are people I have conversations with at different times. I give them information in the form of web sites and paper literature. I know it would be nice if everyone had a "clue". Unfortunately biking is coming back in style and the goverment and other groups don't seen to be wanting to "educate" people on a mass level. I know there are some states and advocacy groups trying to get the word out. However if I got a dime for every "wrong way" cyclist I saw...I would be really rich. It is hard to change people.

Keep Cycling,

FBKS-AK

I only ride the wrong way if I have to. When encountering a narrow snow covered
right shoulder, I will cross over and then back again when conditions improve. If
there is oncomming traffic while I am in the left lane, I get off the road. This is mainly
a problem on left hand curves of two lane roads.

Da Tinker

'You are a legal vehicle. Ride like one.'

It may be like trying to hold back the ocean, but I try to educate any errant rider I come across. After all, the longest journey begins with a single step.

Savas

If you find yourself moved to inform the man, perhaps because you might cross paths dangerously as a result of his habit, it might work to have something printed out from this forum that demonstrates the plusses and safety issues. The dude just might read it at his leisure and you'll have gained a "nod when you see him" buddy. Failing that, the dude might think you are a control freak. All you can do is help. It's up to the other person how they comprehend it.