Am I being a jerk when I let "salmon" know that they're riding on the wrong side of the road?

It seems like every day on my commute, I call out to people that are riding the wrong direction in the bike lane. I'm not yelling at them, I'm simply saying "You're on the Wrong Side of the Road" in a voice loud enough for them to hear me.

About 80%-90% of my commute has a bike lane, and my typical stance is to move to the right-side (door zone...I know, I know) of the bike lane, which basically forces the "Salmon" to either enter oncoming traffic or get on the sidewalk. I do this because I can't see cars coming from behind, and I don't know whether or not it's safe to take the lane. I'm a pretty big guy (6'2" / 270lb), so I haven't had anyone "play chicken" with me yet.

The usual response is that they simply ignore me. Some acknowledge me, but do nothing about it. Some are just plain rude.

I usually say something. I don't think it's rude, you're giving them the benefit of the doubt by assuming they just don't know they're going the wrong way. In actuality, many of them probably don't care, but you're trying to help them and everyone else by informing them. I do it too. Usually I'm ignored, occasionally I get a "thanks," and every once in a while someone curses me out. Oh well.

Wrong way bikers are scarce enough around here that I figure they'll figure it out eventually. If I open myself up to coaching every biker who doesn't follow every rule I think they should I'll start yakking at clowns w/ flashing headlights on bike trails at eye level and none of that will lead to anything productive.

In my city, Columbus, people are really bad about wobbling up a 3 or 4 lane one way. There's nothing more frustrating than flying up the street, out of the door zone, when you encounter somebody leisurely rolling against traffic, towards you. I can't imagine riding towards traffic, that would scare the poop out of me!

Also, to chance casting too wide a net, it's usually people who look like they got their bike out of a dumpster and don't mind riding on a flat. I think this is part of the problem with biking becoming more welcoming and easy to start. It's great, don't get me wrong, but many people just get a cheap beater from a second or third hand store and think they know how to ride in traffic. Education! Education! Educaaaaaaaaation!

Every time I see a Salmon, I can't help but imagine someone in a vehicle making a right turn, and not looking right (and why should they?). Also, they can't see stoplights - especially on one-way streets...not that they pay much attention to them, anyways.

i salmon once a month for about a block. lots of 1way streets around here make it sort of inevitable but I try to keep it to a minimum. I come across salmoners more frequently and can see how you'd be motivated to say something riding past one. but I dont bc it would be hypocritical .

If they are in my way, I tell them to get on the right side of the road. If they aren't in my way, I just ignore them and sometimes even wave to them. Dammit Jim, I'm a nurse, not a nanny!

I almost always say something. Some people seem to think that as long as they're in a bike lane it doesn't matter which direction they go. This is particularly perplexing on one-way streets since the next street over is usually a one-way in the other direction with a bike lane.

I'd be tempted to play chicken but I always seem to encounter them when I'm on my good bike.

Unless it's a kid, I usually tell them it's wrong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d0X7...hannel&list=UL

I don't scold cars or bikes,that's what cops are for.....If the cops don't do their job,the problem will normally fix itself,at least as far as bikes go.

With the exception of one ninja salmon on my ride in, I haven't had a problem with it yet. Kids playing chicken with me on the MUPs are another story. In that case, I know I'll win, so I just hold my line until they swerve. Everyone else -- those on the other side of the street -- should know better and I'm not going to waste my breath trying to remind them.

I do what the OP does. Position myself to force em onto the outer part of the bike lane to face oncoming traffic. Our bike lanes here have very clear arrow marks to advise nimrods which direction to ride.

If we are both riding slowly, I might tell them it's illegal. The cops around here do like to ticket cyclists, so that might be doing them a favor. After they get done forcing you to contribute to charities, tickets are expensive.

I'm very afraid of salmons at one point on my ride. I cross a one-way street where the salmons are going downhill. I've never had a conflict, but that is just a matter of luck.

Just this week I was driving downtown heading home and was on a 4 lane one-way street and this guy on a bike calmly rode coming right at us and went through cars in the middle lanes. I think other drivers looked as dumbfounded as I was. I'ver never seen anything like it before.

I often do. I know sometimes I sound like a dick when I do but oh well. If I say "Wrong side, bro." in just the right chipper voice I don't sound like too much a dick, at least to me anyways.

We have a long narrow bridge sidewalk on which MANY cyclists salmon, often northbound folks taking the southbound side because it's wider. I often play chicken with those people. Now, that's REALLY being a dick.

I don't mind if they salmon on the bridge as long as they stop and pull between the girders so that I can pass.

I have wondered the same myself. I is a pet peeve of mine but I never say anything. I just don't get how people can persist in it when the lanes are so clearly marked with arraows. I think it is people who do what they have been taught and really don't give it much thought.

Most people don't like being told what to do, even if they're behaving unsafely. I agree with you, though, that salmon are not just dangerous to themselves, but they put the rest of us at risk, too.

One thing does come to mind, though: people from Mexico sometiimes 'salmon' because, apparently, that's what people are taught to do there. So in some cases it may be a cultural thing.

I was talking to my mother about my new riding hobby and I told her I was riding down the road to the gym the other day. We are talking about my route and she says, well why weren't you riding on the left side(into traffic)? I asked why I should do that? She replies, "So they can see you coming." I just face palmed.

It's not worth the effort.

And, if someone told me I was doing something wrong, I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of letting them know that they changed my behavior (especially, if shouted from a bike.) However, I would change my behavior next time and I always try to do things the right way from the beginning.

I should also point that here, bicycles are allowed to go in the opposite direction of the vehicular traffic on one way streets. It's actually painted on the street surface to let the drivers know as well.

actually here's a german study (in english)

https://www.bikexprt.com/research/con...ngerichtet.htm

that demonstrates that counterflow (bikes against traffic) on a one way street had no net negative effect.

in also, gives one insight into the german psyche to hyper-analyze everything before making a decision.

the pictures alone are cool (the data sets are even better!)

Here they tend to force me out into traffic! I try to stay as close to the curb as I can and maintain my temper. I have had people stop head on, eye to eye, start yelling at me.

Yesterday on my commute home, there was yet another salmon on a 2-way road with bike lanes on both sides. I hugged the door zone and let him know well in advance that he was going the wrong way. He said something in Vietnamese, and didn't look too happy that he had to get forced into the oncoming traffic. But at least he can see the cars coming at him, right?

Sometimes being a Clydesdale has its advantages...especially when you're moving at ~17mph.

You are not a jerk but you are wasting your breath. They ride that way because they believe it is correct. A muggle like you is not going to persuade them that they are wrong.

I just pull towards traffic and let them have the gutter. I fear the drivers less (and there's less speed differential) than trying to joust with a salmon trying to get them to go between me and traffic.

Take the lane. Salmon should be treated as an obstacle on the side of the road, and you ride around them. Trying to 'argue' with them and convince them that they should go between you and traffic is a waste of time.

"You're going the wrong way!"

After yelling that to somebody once it instantly reminded me of that scene in Planes, Trains & Automobiles. lol