nola2172

So this morning on the way in to work, I was riding down a fairly busy (and high speed) road on which I usually ride in the fairly generous shoulder. About halfway down to where I turn onto the bike path, I saw someone else on a bike coming right at me in the same shoulder. I did what I usually do in this case, which is check for traffic, get out into the lane, get by the other person, and then move back over.

I wish this was just an occasional problem, but unfortuantly, it seems that the significant majority of bikes I see on this road are in fact on the wrong side and riding against traffic. I have not yet said anything to any of them about this, but I have been tempted to do so. I wondered how often everyone else sees this, and if you do, do you do anything other than just go around?

bdcheung

i'm always up for a little game of chicken

thirdin77

There seems to be no solution to this though you don't have to merge out into the lane, you can just "share" the shoulder with the wrong way cyclist. They will often move closer to the curb if you move about two feet from the curb, you passing on their right and them passing on yours. That may be the best compromise.

imi

uh I would not do this (if I've understood you correctly)... If you're on the same path or shoulder respect the usual rule of right-hand traffic and pass on your right hand side as you would if it was a two way bike path... anything else is totally confusing...
However, someone on the wrong side of the road would probably not want to do this so I too would get into the car lane and keep as much distance between me and them as possible!

truman

I'd tend to try to pass to my right of the oncoming cyclist. The decision would be made in light of the rest of circumstances though.

uke

I almost hit one while driving at night once. He didn't have lights, either.

adaminlc

I say something. I tried what was described above once, but the rider coming at me didn't seem to understand what was going on and followed me over. Usually someone dumb enough to ride on the wrong side of the road isn't smart enough to know the other general rules of the road. I have on more than one occasioin tried to stop and educate these people. My other favorite are the people who ride on the sidewalk next to the bike lane or the bike path. I attempt to educate them as well. Mostly they just give me confused looks. Hopefully they figure it out some day.

JR97

here's what I say..." ".

I really don't want one or more stops on my commute to educate someone. Most of the culprits I see on the wrong side or sidewalk aren't cyclists in any sense of the word. They're just cruising on their x-mart bikes enjoying the ride and I'm content letting them enjoy their ride.

As far as having to play chicken, I move to the right and let them pass closer to traffic since they have a better sight line. I'll slow down if necessary but I do try and get to the right soon enough so that there's no question of what my line of travel is.

DataJunkie

Duh... ride around them and shove them off of their bike while passing.

jdmitch

Is it more appropriate to shove'em or cleat'em?

Seriously, though, I'd probably stop and mention to them that they're going the wrong way. If they're on the sidewalk, though, no reason to bother.

neilfein

To avoid the game of accidental chicken, I signal to them which way they should move, also pointing to myself and indicating where I'll move. It's not my job to educate idiots.

lil brown bat

This is how the Andrea Doria sank. Just sayin'.

pityr

I avoid them in the safest manner that I can come up with. There isn't any point to saying anything.

caloso

I'll usually sit up and give them the WTF?!? gesture. Then shake my head disappointedly, take the lane, and go by.

making

jousting?

EKW in DC

lmao

Nate1952

They are the ones who feel they need to see what's coming, so I do my best to force them out into the traffic lane.

There's no point in saying anything. To a man, they universally believe that they are the ones obeying the law, and doing the "practical" thing.

The part I don't understand: how you can ride on the shoulder of a road - motorized vehicles rolling toward you at about 40 MPH - without peeing your pants. Theoretically, you can see what's coming ... but it's coming pretty damn fast.

making

Yea, I dont wanna see those cars coming right at me. I perfer they sneak up behind me.

imi

Bike Ninja!

IbikezLA

Did someone mention jousting?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1K5FFqZaOY

tadawdy

Unfortunately, the people (and they're not cyclists by any stretch) I've encountered around here who ride on the wrong side of the road are the type who know but do not care that they are doing something wrong. It may actually be the reason they're doing it. If you stopped to "educate" them, they would probably not take it very well. These are the people the police should ticket.

daredevil

with frame pumps! That's it!

aley

Be sure to pass to the right of them, so that when you shove them off the bike they land in traffic.

AlmostTrick

I met a couple of these wrong way riders just this week. Since I default to somewhere near the center of the lane, and they always seem to be just inches away from the edge or curb, it has never been a problem for me. It seems that neither of us would dare ride in the space the other is using. hahaha.

Stray8

I ignore them. I would pass on my right and have them commit to their right and make their pass closer to (for them) oncoming car traffic. Since they are going the wrong way anyway, they have already accepted the risk.

Btw, I would bet that the road is level or downgrade in their direction of travel...typically nobody rides uphill against traffic on purpose unless there is no option.

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