I was out for a ride yesterday afternoon, and was riding on the left side of the main travel lane, getting ready to make a left turn about a block ahead. A truck pulled up behind me, tooted it's horn and then pulled next to me on the right. The guy said, "I ride a bike on the road all the time, buddy. Get to the side of the road!" He passed me (on the right) and I made my left turn without incident. There were no other cars around, and the most I could have done was slow him down for 30 seconds.

A few months ago, I had another driver tell me that the bike lane was "over there", on the other side of the lane that he was in. I have no problem using a bike lane when it's safe, but I'm not willing to merge in front of fast moving traffic to get there.

Does anyone else get unwanted advice on the road? How do you handle it?

I was riding home on a side street and talking with a coworker a while back. We were riding side by side when I heard a car approaching from behind. I look behind and drop back into a single file line to let the driver pass more easily. He decides to roll down the window and yell, "Yer s'posed to ride on the side. Stay on the side!" I yelled back, "Which side you you prefer?" Then I became a jerk and darted over to the other side of the road and asked if this was better.

Usually I use my dripping with contempt voice and say, "Who are you, the bike police?"

yeah, get it all the time. sometimes they try the "I'm a cyclist too gambit" before they play the small-minded "ragin' cager" game.

I had a couple with bikes on their roof rack SCREAMING at me out their windows when I used a green arrow for transit to move ahead of a block long pinch point ahead of the long line of cars. I ride the intersection a lot and have determined the best expediency for all is to use the transit green on my bike; these ragin' cagers must've felt I was violating some sensibilities only they in their car could decipher about one of my regular pinch points in the city.

Yeah, I get it sometimes. The road is no place to engage in a debate regarding traffic rules and practices, so the best response is ignoring the morons. Sometimes I'll yell something like "Learn the law, [optional expletive]." Probably makes no difference, but makes me feel a little better.

I do the same as you, but they are correct. You're supposed to stay to the right, but it's more dangerous when preparing to make a left turn.

My understanding, and practice, is that it is generally legal to take the lane and move to the left when attempting to make a left turn. Go over and ask "Advocacy and Safety" and you will get endless pages of responses on the matter.

You have no clue but speak as if you know something. It's a shame.

+10

I'm pretty confused by cruiserman's comment, but I get the sneaking suspicion that he likes to lecture cyclists when he's driving.

I've been tempted to yell at cyclists who take up the whole travel lane by riding abreast on a moderately busy road with a wide lane that goes uphill. So, it's slow going and no passing. There's plenty of room to ride single file on the side and let motorists pass in the same lane with plenty of clearance, but they are too busy chatting to each other in full OCP attire to notice the parade of pissed off cars behind them. Some people are inconsiderate whether they are on a bike or in a car.

I usually follow the law, so I'm riding on the right most side of the road. In this case, the only people who get pissed get pissed because I'm riding a bicycle and I'm "in their way."

Why, yes. I have. I blogged about it last August HERE. I've pasted the relevant bit below.

"Side note...

This morning T. and I had an altercation with a car. We were riding two abreast on a country lane. A car comes up behind and toots his horn. You know, the friendly beep, beep to let you know he's there. I'm in the lane so I move over to the side. Mister car guy feels the need to then blow by us and pass on a blind corner where, it turns out, an oncoming car is. Mister car guy then cuts us off, pulls ahead a bit, stops, gets out and asks us to stop. He then lectures us about riding two abreast on the road. Bear in mind that in Oregon a bike can take the lane, the whole lane. We try to keep out of the way, and normally check for traffic behind us. Usually there is no traffic since it is early in the morning. This guy as much as admits to 'road rage' while lecturing us, especially when we point out is illegal driving (passing on a blind corner, passing on a double yellow). I just don't get it. We got out of his way as soon as we were aware of his presence behind us. He was inconvenienced for maybe 3 seconds, and then stops us for 5 minutes. To top it off, this guy claims to be a cyclist. Here's his licence plate: 604 CMM. If you live in Corvallis and see this guy, go ahead and show him he's 'number one' with the universal gesture. Thankyou."

Sometimes I say, "I'm right where I'm supposed to be, " but traffic is not the place for reasoned argument.

How about:
Idiot Driver: "I ride a bike on the road all the time, buddy. Get to the side of the road!"
Cyclist: "I drive a car on the road all the time, buddy. Get over to the next lane!"

Of course, this whole thing reminds me about what I call the "Two Golden Myths of Cycling in Traffic":

1. No cyclist shall slow down a car;
2. No car shall slow down a cyclist.

does being sworn at count.

Besides roadies telling me to get out of the way, I have never had problems with motorists telling me what to do.

Yeah, I don't think a driver has ever spoken to me while riding

i try to improve the image of cyclists everywhere

and usually give em one of these...

No need to suggest that the OP subject his/her self to that kind of torture!

In a nutshell - most state laws regarding bicycles state that we should 'ride as far to the right as practicable'. Some states have specific exceptions, including making left turns, avoiding debris, etc., while others merely suggest possible exceptions, giving greater lattitude to the judgement of the cyclist. A few states require you to use a bike lane if one is available. Bottom line, ride where you feel the safest and most comfortable and don't let the words of some busy-body in a car bother you.

Sure, I've gotten advice.

Regarding the advice you got--I wonder if the driver knew you were going to turn left. If he didn't, then I can see his concern (but not him stopping you).

Sometimes I look for opportunities in traffic to take the lane yet I'm not quite up at the turn. It's just best for me and traffic to do so when the stars are aligned. A "turning left" motion comes here, and again when I turn at the intersection. The driver might not know what you're doing.

Someone always posts these two responses;

If they are young, "God Bless You!"
If they are old, "Are you interested in a timeshare?"

I kinda like "Have you found Jeeeezus friend?"

All I know is that as long as I am still able to ride my bike, I ain't NEVER moving back to such an uncivilized country as the USA. Down here, I am treated with respect and consideration (true, it might because they assume I might be nuts...) and have NEVER had a person yell something at me from a car.

I do get a lot of smiles and hola Don Fred though.

I have to deal with cows, chickens, muddy roads, roads that look like a rocky river bottom, poisonous snakes (only one so far), dogs (usually not bad) and of course rain. I will take it all over inconsiderate cagers.

How in the world are we in the USA (I am a citizen) going to ever learn to reduce our dependancy on foreign oil if we don't respect those who aren't guzzling it? Perhaps if GWB wants to make an impact, how about saying those who willfully choose to use a bike instead of a monster SUV are patriots.

I won't tell if you won't that we are just having fun...

Most of the time people stop to lecture me it's becasue they think I shouldn't be out with such and ugly mug. "You're scaring the children," they say. Or, "Please use a full face mask, Frankenstein." Or my favorite, "How do you expect me to eat this porkchop buscuit after what I've just seen?"

meh, at least God loves me.

I've been in enough "debates" with motorists who want to "communicate" with you about the rules of the road. My conclusion is that it's useless to even try.

Smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave...

Perhaps, but I have read the law.

No, I don't lecture anyone, including drivers.