Crack Monkey

Quick noob question, as I'm planning to start commuting by bike in the next week or so...

When on a standard one-lane-each-direction road, with no shoulder, where should one place their bicycle? This is a semi-urban, 30mph roadway, on which I can maintain about 20mph, busy, but not crowded.

I tend to ride about 1/3 of the way into the lane. My thinking is that by doing so, cars have to make a conscious choice to pass, and cross over the centerline to do so. I figured if I rode along the edge, cars would try to pass staying in the lane, which brings them closer to me and more likely to bump me into the weeds. Am I wrong?

If there is a paved shoulder, I tend to ride on the edge of the travel lane, thinking I can always bail into the shoulder if needed. And I try to avoid higher speed and super-busy roads, as they make me nervous on the bike.

Also, most of commute is on a paved trail that runs alongside a major commuter road. They're seperated by grass (not a bike lane, but a true path). But, there are several major intersections along the way. What do you do to get the attention of motorists so they don't run you over - they tend to always be looking away from me and towards oncoming traffic as they try to make right turns into the main road.

n4zou

Check your local regulations. Generally you have as much right to use the road as any other vehicle. Most states want you to ride as close to the white line in the right lane as safely possible. Even if you did have a shoulder available you should still ride on the road surface as shoulders may have tire damaging objects littering them or have uneven surfaces causing you to fall into traffic.

idcruiserman

I would ride as close to the right edge as possible.

I am in the same situation with the MUP. There's not much you can do but be more visible (lights, high viz clothing). I try to time the crosses with oncoming cars, so the right turners have to wait. Not the safest thing in the world . . .

bsut

I start around the 1/3 mark or the right tire track. If you're still getting too many close passes, move left to halfway between the tire tracks. If you're still getting too many close passes, move into the left tire track. Somewhere between the middle and the left tire track, overtaking cars will stop trying to share your lane or straddling the line, and will shift to a complete lane change to overtake. That's your sweet spot.

You didn't mention your location. In California (and in many other states whose laws are similar) cyclists aren't required to hug the edge. Instead, in substandard width lanes (defined as "too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane") and any other situation for safety, we leave the edge as needed. The basic principle is "first come first served", so the vehicle in front (that's you) has right of way, and is therefore responsible for exercising judgement to decide whether the lane is wide enough to share.

You can't. You have to watch out for them. This is one of the problems with sidepaths: They add complexity at intersections - both geometrically (the lines of sight you noted) and by mixing different sets of operating rules. If you were on the road, driving your bicycle as a vehicle, you'd actually be safer because you'd already be part of the flow of traffic. The vast majority of collisions happen at intersections where travel paths cross, not in overtaking situations mid-block. Why increase the chances of something happening at the intersection?

Crack Monkey

This is one of the problems with sidepaths: They add complexity at intersections - both geometrically (the lines of sight you noted) and by mixing different sets of operating rules. If you were on the road, driving your bicycle as a vehicle, you'd actually be safer [/QUOTE]

I wish that were an option, but the road with the path is a major dual carriageway, with speeds in excess of 60mph (posted 55). The speed differential spooks me out.

I'll have to check the laws in VA, but so far, I've only had one jackass honk at me for taking too much space on the single-lane road. And the other side of the road has a shoulder, so there's really plenty of room for people to swing over and pass, even with oncoming traffic.

noisebeam

I think your plan plus bsuts comments are good.

My advice is to use a rear view mirror. That way you can glance at it occasionally and know if a faster vehicle is approaching. If there is an they don't seem to notice you (indicated by slowing, moving a bit left and other signs you will learn to pick up) then you can give a slow signal, see if they respond to it and if not you can then move right as a 'comfortable' (vs. panic) bail out to ensure safe passing clearance. Thats the other nice thing about riding centerish, you have all that extra room on your right to work with.

Al

jabowker

I think you are approaching lane postion correctly. For a roadway with one normal width lane in each direction your positioning works best in my experience and is what is recommended by the best resources I have read. That position will vary somewhat as lane width increases and depending on what you have happening to the right of the lane.

As for your side-path question the safest and most legal approach is to treat it as a minor roadway that gives up right-of-way at all intersections (including driveways). There is an implied stop sign at every intersection even if there is not one physically there. It should be remembered though that on side-paths and MUPs peds almost always have right-of-way as well, even on paths that are designated bikeways.

JeffS

Why are you trying to force a car completely into the other lane to pass? That's what... eight+ feet of clearance? You wouldn't give a car that much room if you were passing it on your bike - or in another car for that matter.

I personally don't want to disrupt traffic that much. If there's a curb, I use about a foot of asphault. If there's no curb I'm typically on the white line, or just to the left. Obviously, this changes with the road and traffic. I have two roads in town where they've divided the road into more lanes than it was originally built for. One they turned four into five, and the other they turned five into seven. They paved over the drain pan, all the way to the curb. On these roads, I take 1/3 of the lane - primarily because the drain grates are below the road level (from all the paving) and I can't run over them.

Do what makes you feel safe, but I just think there's a line between being assertive, and being inconsiderate.

noisebeam

If there is very little oncoming traffic with long sightlines, I don't think it is inconsiderate to strongly encourage passing vehicles to use the full adjacent lane. They would/should if passing another car or motorcycle.

I actually think it is inconsiderate when drivers pass with a safe and or legal 3-4ft if they could easily pass with greater distance. With no other vehicles in sight and sightlines are good, whats the issue with using full opposing lane to pass?

Also if oncoming traffic is present or sightlines are bad, then a driver can not pass whether using full lane or partial.

If oncoming traffic is moderate, having a passing motorist use partial oncoming lane may let them squeeze by in a shorter gap than if using full lane, but to me that requires more agressive and risk taking driving on the driver doing the passing.

Obviously use ones judgement for every specific case, but don't call asking a driver to merge a few feet extra to the left in safe conditions 'inconsiderate'

Generally in these situations I'll move right as the car begins to pass anyway (assuming other roadway/traffic conditions are safe)

Al

bsut

If the lane is wide enough to share safely, I ride far enough right so it's easy for a car to pass me. That's being considerate.

If the lane isn't wide enough to share safely (a "substandard width lane"), I ride far enough left so it's clear I'm not offering to share my lane. That's being safe, and safety trumps courtesy or convenience.

In either case, since I have the right of way, it's my judgement call whether the lane is of substandard width. The useful and shareable width is affected by intersections, parking, surface condition, lighting, lots of stuff. Since I have a better view and a better understanding of my needs than the guy behind me, the decision to share or not is up to me.

Crack Monkey

Thanks for the input guys. I think I've got most of what I need, mentally and gear-wise, to get this bike commute thing going.