If they're stopped, look down at your bike, do a massive Kramer-shake and say "Oh my GOD!" Then turn to him and say "Nothing gets past you, sir!

The tricky part is making sure you don't hold up traffic if the light changes in the mean time.

If they're moving, ignore them.

Since I am a relatively newbie and I bike in LA, care to point out where?

The only place I ride on the sidewalk is on Sunset Blvd west of the 405. It's scary- no shoulder, only 1 side has a sidewalk, the right sides of the road is unbelievably unrideable.... the cars going 50 miles/hour.... I take the wrong side sidewalk because its dangerous.

I have seen this same thing here in Las Vegas. People riding n the sidewalk or hugging the curb, sharing their lane with traffic, inconsiderate riding practices, etc.

I saw a guy the other day come out of the store and walk over to his bike. He had a really nice Trek, although I'm not sure of the model. He had all the commuter gear: rack, panniers, head/tail lights, computer, helmet, mirrors, etc. And then I watched him get on his bike and ride off.........on the sidewalk.:notamused:

!

winner.

i am new in riding bike on the main road but not new at riding my bike; been on the same thing for 11 years. i ride close to the white line because that's how it is around here. cagers appreciate it as they don't have to wait until traffic clears up on the other side to pass me. no-one wants to get stuck behind a dude riding 10-15 miles an hour when posted speed is 45.

once i get on secondary road with much less traffic, i move closer to the middle. new commuters will tend to hug the white line because that's what they grew up learning from tv and stuffs. so i suggest veterans riders help them out. also, you may not realize it that cagers hate you just as much if not more than new commuters huging the white line; at least with newbies it is easier to pass.

also, biking to work to save money on gas may be a thing of lower class, the same group that buy china-mart bikes. anyone that spend some serious cash on a bike probably ride to work because they get the enjoyment out of being independent from the element.

There are plenty of bad drivers. We should expect that there will be bad bicyclists as well. Now, if you're really so all-powerful that you've been able to train the drivers on your route, you should have no problem knocking some sense into these kids. But beware: they might not actually be trainable.

One of the guys at my old LBS told me that when he was car free in his younger days, there was a woman on his commute who would wave at him every day and offer him rides in foul weather. Other drivers became accustomed to him as well. Whether or not this counts as "training" is up to you, but people can get used to you out there...

One of my co-workers began bike commuting this week. After the initial thrill wore off (for me), I asked her if she had any problems or questions. I am familiar with her route and there are a couple of tricky spots on it. She actually did have some questions about safely getting under the highway, so I told her the best way to do it and I added as an afterthought, "Be sure to ride with traffic." I don't even know why I said it, but she was like, "I'm so glad you said that! I couldn't remember if I should or not."

The point is, sometimes if you haven't been on a bike for awhile--or riding on streets ever--it can be nerve-wracking and you might not remember all the rules or think clearly at first. So if you get a chance, yeah, I'd say something to help them, and you, out.

I'm a Brit living in Chicago and have been bike commuting for about a month now. I can report that pretty much everyone runs reds. I often get left behind at the lights by sweet old ladies on folding shoppers as they jump lights. Mostly this is safe stuff - no traffic on the junction, etc. None the less, I was shocked by the extent of it. Incidently, why doesn't the US use roundabouts instead of millions of lights and all-way stop junctions? These are so disruptive to traffic flow, poor for pollution, etc. While European roundabouts are not perfect, they are a lot better than all-way stops and poorly configured lights.

Thou shalt burn in hell for mentioning what must not be mentioned in this hallowed place!

I know where you are coming from. One of the unintended consequences of getting more people out of their cars and on to bikes is that we end up with more drivers operating their bikes with the same rudeness, impatience and even incompetence that they operated their cars with. What did I label them...COBs? (Cagers On Bikes). :D

It's nice to see so many coming to places like BF to get good advice though.

Maybe I misspoke, it is a bit much to say that I trained my driving commuters, better to say that I've acclimatized them to a predictable and courteous bicycle commuter.

Completely innappropriate comment given the perspective and commentary of the OP. There isn't a single word in the post that could be attributed as elitist or 'jerky'. Re-read the post. The process of becoming a good cyclist takes, at least months of experience and this guy has YEARS. There's been a glut of newbie cycle-commuters hitting the nations roadways over the last few months and while each has to find his/her own comfort level in terms of assertion there are no hard and fast rules. It's a process and those that are open to correction from substantially experienced cyclists would be far better served to take their lumps here in cycber-space than out on the road where the lumps are real and, sometimes don't heal at all.

You're, obviously a deeply insecure or inexperienced cyclist who may be better off taking public transportation...thanks for pointing yourself out.

Chip, you phrased it much better than me, COB, I think that's appropriate. Also, I think some folks are a little drunk on the freedom of getting out of their cage and I have to remember to cut them some slack. It's pretty amazing to zoom past the traffic you used to be stuck and fuming in. Plus with summer coming on and gas prices going up for the foreseeable future I should get used to sharing the road with some new faces.

Maybe that's what I should do instead of a "Cyclist pamphlet" is just hand them a card with a link to the Bikeforums and let them glean what they will.

Nashcomm,

I'm glad you understood where I was coming from. I certainly can be an elitist jerk on some topics I just didn't think it was this case this time.

I'm a noob - but while sitting at a redlight the other day I saw a kid heading to class talking on a cell while weaving in between on coming cars at the crosswalk. I couldn't stop staring. :twitchy:

Yesterday I was spinning along in the shoulder of a two lane stretch of road near campus when I saw a guy riding my way against traffic (which included me, of course). I'm sure he could see me shake my head a couple of times and taking a good look in my rear view. He also got to see me find an opening in the passing cars, signal a slow-down, and take the lane so I could safely get around his dumb ass.

While passing him, I called out, "You're supposed to be riding with traffic!"

His answer, in all seriousness and with no sarcasm was, "Yes, sir!"

Maybe I was too heavy-handed, but I was irritated at it (some older guy was doing the same thing at the exact same spot the day before). I dunno, maybe the guy thought I was a jerk. So be it. Either way, I think he got the point.

Tonight on the way to work I pulled up to the front of the line, past about seven cars, and parked in between the straight lane and the right turn lane. Guy in the pickup to my right didn't see me and blew his cig smoke in my face. He didn't see me, and immediately apologized. No problem, I told him. He then asked where I got my ink (tattooed arms). I explained that Johnny Bravo here in town does great work and he should check it out. He then asked where Home Depot was, I directed him, the light turned green and we parted ways.

As long as we're courteous and really understand that in the pecking order of traffic, we're lower than a two ton vehicle, we can all get along. I'm pretty sure the tattoos helped too, if for nothing more than to start a conversation :thumb:

As a new commuter (and not trying to sound like a newbie know-it-all), I concur with Treespeed and understand the frustration. As a motorist I didn't just jump in a car and start driving, I learned how to drive. As a bike commuter I hoped on this forum, asked questions from other commuters and got me some learn'n before I merged with traffic. I think respect of other road users is a prerequisite of a safe commute, whether or not that respect is returned is not the point, I can only control my own actions. I like the "guys you're doing it wrong", and the flier thing, I think that is not only helpful to new commuters but also constructive to your cause, if they flip you the bird and throw the flier back at you .....well....you at least did your part. :)

I was obnoxious on my first few commutes. I've mellowed. Give them time.

They're probably locked in a mentality of trying to literally beat the traffic.

Steve

I totally agree with TreeSpeed- Every day I see the same vehicles pass me at roughly the same time, same place on the road. If I can recognize them, they sure as heck are able to recognize me. I give them the respect they deserve, and they give me the respect and space that I deserve. If a new rider shows up and starts messing things up I would find it very annoying (as would the drivers of the vehicles).

My only suggestion to you TreeSpeed. If and when you decide to advise these presumably new cyclists of the rules and etiquette of cycle commuting, ask them if you can give them some advice-don't just start telling them what they should or shouldn't be doing or they will take offense and not listen. The things you point out to them could save their lives (or yours)

I think it's a bit of a stretch to talk about "erasing years of built up goodwill". It's not like saving S&H Green Stamps -- you don't know that you've even got "years of built up goodwill", for all you know all those motorists are driving by you thinking, "God that guy is annoying, why doesn't he just get on the sidewalk?" And it's also not like you know that it's been "erased", and that every motorist who encountered those two is now thinking, "^!#$% bikers!". Your whole use of the phrase makes it sound like you believe that you're the angel and those two cyclists are the devil, and furthermore, you believe that drivers see it that way too. Ride your ride and let the rest slide.

Very interesting thread. I realized while reading it that I pretty mcuh assume that I am anonymous on my commute. That is I think it doesn't really matter what I do because its not as if people see me specifically and form a view of me specifically. Howevr I am beginning to think that that is not true for a couple of reasons. One is that I had a verbal altercation with a nutso driver and then saw him a couple days later. Second is that logically I will see the same people if I ride at the same time which I usually do. Third I realize that I have a wife and kids and that it is more important that I get home safe then I be a one man defender of all cyclist rights. So I think I am going to try to be more courteous and less of a hardass. On the other hand You gotta give the newbs some slack. They may just need some time, some conditioning and some close calls to change their behavior. I just hope its close calls and not getting run over.

Some good stuff here. I just started commuting yesterday to my first job (it's only 2miles) so I'm still learning (working my way up to my other job across town). The main road I ride on to get to work is very hilly with a good amount of traffic so I usually ride the line since I'll be speeding up and slowing down very often, but I'm not afraid to take the lane if I have a left turn coming up. Other than that, I follow all the rules I would in a car.

I really tried to do my research before I started this as to not screw it up and I think it has helped. I'm also the only commuter in my area (that I know of, haven't seen any more yet) so I'm just kinda wingin' it hoping I'm doing it right. I would hope that if I was to meet another commuter that they would point out my mistakes.

-Jeff

My favorite BF post of all time was a response to this very question. I can't find the post but here's how it went.

Lady in car: You're not a car!
Cyclist: You're right, I'm a motorcycle.
Lady (looking at bicycle): Where's your engine?
Cyclist: You're talking to it.

Hey Treespeed,
Maybe the best thing you could hand out is actually a link to the Bikeforums.net commuting forum. I have a lot of years on the road but I actually credit this forum for providing the best bang for the buck in terms of cycling education.

Also, providing the link does not seem preachy at all. Rather, it can come off as a "hey, welcome to the club...here is a forum where hundreds of commuters from all over the world talk about all things commuting related. It is a wealth of information".

In fact, you might write just that....the education part will take care of itself once the newbie comes on here.

Last year during a commute home I tried to politely offer some advice to a noob commuter after he ran a red, then took the lane and held up the entire line of cars behind. It did no good -- he thought I was an ass. Since then, I just myob and let the noobs look like boobs.

I can usually spot a "noob" by the telltale double chin and pot belly: http://tinyurl.com/6ynj6m

I wouldn't try to educate the new motorists on my route in etiquette, and I wouldn't start dispensing my *advice* to other cyclists. Unless they asked, I suppose.

Bike commuters are not all members of some club. Another cyclist is just yet another road user, and I'll adjust to any additional hazards they present accordingly.

I'm thinking that there needs to be more community education on the issue.

I've done many incorrect things over the years, due to my own ignorance. In some cases, police officers and judges have "trained" me. I guess that's better than being trained by an angry or unobservant motorist.

Reading in BF has been helpful. I am finding that my observance of some written and unwritten rules gets more respect from motorists. And when I violate the rules (yes, I do that, too sometimes, based on calculated judgement), I am highly aware of the risks, highly observant of motorists, and highly willing to yield.

I also had a strong impulse to educate some Mormon boys a while back. They were so good, with their helmets and lights. Yet, they were going up the wrong side of the street, one on sidewalks and one in the bike lane. When I told them I worried that they would get killed, they didn't seem to understand why. (I was also a little irritated that they were blocking up the bike lane that I was traveling down by riding directly opposite me.) ...I'm thinking that some classes for college students and missionaries would help a lot of folks in this metro area.