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: https://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.

They need instruction cuz the cops do nothing.

About 2 weeks ago, 6 cyclists were waiting for the crosswalk signal (MUP forces you to cross there). As the crosswalk lit, I was first to cross. But a station wagon decided to turn RT into us. I nearly was hit and I punched his passenger window and screamed. He kept going and I knew the guy on my right was toast. So I punched his back window harder and screamed even louder and he stopped (wrecked my light and put a gouge in my frame). I took off while about 4 of the remaining cyclists 'gave instruction' to the stopped wagon.

Last week at the same light, the same guy was sitting there. The crosswalk light lit. He recognized me and looked down super guilty AND Waited. I nodded a thank you and took off.

Seriously, this is what you ressurected a four month old thread for? Really?

I will never cease to be amazed at joggers who jog in the street,( is available, and run against traffic, in the traffic lane, (no, they are not running on the side on the shoulder. When I met one like that, and I was in the curb lane, and there was heavy car traffic on my left, and the runner was coming up infront of me, I had to swerve out in car traffic to avoid running head on with the jogger.

Please explain that to me, someone?