spare_wheel

I split jammed traffic for much of my 5 mile commute and ran every single red light. I also avoided every single bike facility and rode in the big lane because:
1) the bike lanes were full of slow cyclists.
2) it's safer and faster to split jammed traffic.
3) i enjoy whipping by cages stuck in traffic. (i whoop occasionally just to rub it in.)

Most of the 400-500 cars I passed on my way home had likely moved only a bit by the time I poured my first glass of wine.

Sucks to be a cager or VC bike driver.

Redhatter

Heh, I wouldn't be doing that on the road, only takes one driver to suddenly open a door or stick an arm out and you get nailed.

That said, I've done similar… here in Brisbane we have the M3 motorway that starts in the Brisbane CBD and goes all the way south to the Gold Coast when it joins up and becomes the Pacific Highway. Along-side this, is the V1 bikeway, which ends at Eight Mile Plains. I go this way if I'm trying to get to Rochedale or Logan (about 40km ride from my home location).

One afternoon I can recall ripping along this bikeway at ~40km/hr, looked across at the traffic, and it was a carpark. Maybe crawling along at 20km/hr at best. I was chatting with a visually impaired fellow on the radio and made the remark about the traffic and he replied: "And you're not enjoying it one little bit are you? I like it! Happens to a pedestrian sometimes too."

spare_wheel

Been splitting and weaving for decades and I have zero concern about doors or arms...it's lane changes that I look out for.

Jim from Boston

WOW, you guys are really throwing down the gauntlet…splitting...weaving…listening and talking on the radio!

Please don't turn this into a popcorn thread.

I have previously enunciated my major rule for urban commuting, “Like a weapon, always assume a stopped car is loaded (with an occupant ready to exit, from either side). I carefully worded it to include not only riding to the left of parked cars, but also when filtering, or passing stopped cars on the right.

BTW, FYA Jim’s (Universal) Law of the Road is: "No matter how well-paved and lightly traveled a Road is, a vehicle is likely to pass you on the left as you encounter an obstacle on the right."

Redhatter

I don't intend to. I pick my moments: heavy traffic, the radio gets turned down and I leave the PTT button alone. Sometimes it'll even get turned off.

The set-up on my bike means I can use the radio without needing to hold anything, I have buttons for radio control on the handlebars (along with control of indicators) and I use a headset with a boom microphone embedded in the helmet. So no worse a distraction than say riding along side someone and having a chat in person. Sometimes this is fine, other times this is too distracting and I'll either end the conversation or tell them what's happening.

Use of the volume control ("AF gain") is a worthy consideration too -- don't have it up so loud that you cannot hear the traffic. Voice is easier to hear over the top of than music. FM radio is usually less "noisy" than single sideband. That said, due to Cyclone Nathan, I've been listening on 20m SSB a lot lately.

The only time I do any "filtering" to the front would be on one particular stretch before a set of traffic lights. It's a quick change and most of the traffic is turning right while I want to go straight ahead, so I quietly slip along the left side in the gutter.

The anecdote I gave above was not done in traffic, it was done on a dedicated off-road bike path that happens to follow the M3 motorway.

I don't run red lights unless I've been waiting there for a very long time with no traffic.

Yep, except it'd be an obstacle on the left and passing on the right for me as we drive on the left in this country. It's about being aware of your surroundings. Eyesight is paramount for avoiding this problem.

We have a law requiring that motorists give 1m clearance here in Queensland. (Others like Victoria require that you just give "sufficient" clearance, whatever that is.) If I don't see something close to that between the gutter and the cars, I don't go passing them. I definitely do not do it between lanes: only between a lane and the gutter.

It's all about risk assessment.

Jim from Boston

Thanks for your informative reply, including about your communication set-up.

So to make Jim’s Law of the Road truly Universal, how about: "No matter how well-paved and lightly traveled a Road is, an upcoming vehicle is likely to pass you on at least one side, as you encounter an obstacle in front of you.” This would then apply also to those riding in a middle lane on a multi-lane highway (rather than just curbside, or Far Right as Possible) who might have also upcoming traffic on the other side too, i.e. on both sides.

My point is (and I do have one) that one has to have an awareness of what's behind, often in surprise circumstances requiring quick avoidance, and I'm a mirror advocate; I wear two, left and right, but let's not go there either.

PS: Can you give any further details, e.g. names and/or pictures of your communication set-up? I'm a radio talk show fan, and that's how I got my screen name here on BF.

revcp 

I get on my bike at home and ride, sometimes the 8.5 mile route, sometimes the 6 mile route, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, usually in dry weather, occasionally wet. After a while I get to work. Late afternoon or early evening I reverse the process. The next day I do it all again.

Jim from Boston

Sounds like a typical Minnesotan commute...you betcha'.

Redhatter

Yep, as am I I don't wear them though, they're mounted on the handlebars.

The only bike that I ride which doesn't have them is the folding one, and that's mainly because I suspect they'd interfere with its ability to fold. It's only used for commuting between the bike shop and home though, mostly on footpaths and back streets for about 5km, so risk is very small.

If I'm travelling ANY distance at all, I'd recommend people have at least one mirror, ideally two. Some argue that one mirror on the right side (left for the Americans) is sufficient -- but that won't tell you what's coming up if you're going around a corner.

We're really getting off-topic for this thread, so I think we might move this discussion away to a different thread. ;-)

revcp 

Yeah, and I'm originally from Missouri, the land of Mark Twain. When I moved up here 30 years ago I thought it peculiar that people spoke as if they'd been allotted a finite number of words at birth. Guess I've succumbed.

Jim from Boston

To quote (allegedly) Mark Twain "If I had more time, I would have written a shorter note.".

spare_wheel

Having literally split past hundreds of thousands of cars I can't remember the last time someone exited a vehicle in the middle of multiple lanes of traffic. Joey will back me up on this but for those of us who split/filter almost every commute this never happens. And if it does happen it's because someone is doing it wrong (e.g. splitting on the far right or left).

Jim from Boston

Thanks for the reply, and the link to the bike pictures; that’s an amazing “cockpit.” Don’t worry about going off topic; after all, I’m the OP, and I think our fellow cycle commuters would be interested (but don’t feel obligated). noglider asked to see more too, on that thread.

BTW, you’re the second cyclist I have encountered who uses left and right mirrors; me on my eyeglasses, you on the handlebars, and 10 Wheels on each glove. I coined the term “biretroculist.”

As I was looking up 10 Wheel’s post, I noted that you had also posted to that thread, ”Wind Noise’, immediately before his I cited, though your post was more on topic re wind noise.

Redhatter

Yep, further down in that thread I posted some photos (a quick one done in the morning, and a better quality shot done that afternoon). I didn't go as far as unloading the whole rig and spreading it over the driveway.


I see a lot in Brisbane who have dual mirrors. I'm surprised they haven't made it law as it is for motorcycles.

Ohh, and regarding the radio set-up, I've created a new thread here.

Jim from Boston

I anticipate that an occupant from any stopped car might exit from the left or right. Notably I may filter through cars stopped at a traffic light on a road with three or more lanes. I can imagine a passenger saying to the driver, "Well since you're stopped here, I might as well get out..." After all this is Boston, known for its scofflaws.

revcp 

My favorite: "In the beginning God created man in his image. We've been returning the favor ever since."

spare_wheel

Very few peds will exit a car in the middle of moving traffic and then attempt to cross several lanes of moving traffic. Obviously when traffic is completely stopped more caution is warranted..

Todzilla

Pretty close to ideal. I live on three acres in the sticks, I encounter two stop lights the whole way, otherwise, it is 10 miles each way of rolling hills and bucolic splendor. Horses grazing in fields, chickens, goats. I have one bridge that spans the convergence of the two busiest Interstates in my state (I-40 and I-85), so it feels surreal to float above 10 lanes of whiteknuckle traffic trying to vie for supremacy, while I glide through nature. Nearly my whole route in on County bike routes too, so the motorists are pretty familiar with my kind and are mostly respectful.

slight elevation loss going to work, gain coming back (perfect really!), although I go mostly east in the morning, west in the evening and sun-blindness can freak me out a bit.

noglider 

Great description, @Todzilla.

esmith2039

Uphill... long downhill!!!.. uphill.. uphill.. downhill.. uphill arrive at work. Leaving start at the last uphill and say the opposite. Would be a breeze without all the hills but hey it's great exercise!

tclune

When I retired, I moved to Northampton -- in part because of the bike trails. I live about 2/3 mi from the trail, which I ride to my retirement job (about 2.5 miles slightly downhill) four times a week. It is only in the very dead of winter that I have to ride in the dark. The trail is plowed during the winter, although it tends to develop a bit of smooth ice before spring comes along -- but nothing that presents any problem for studded snows. The trail is wooded enough that I have seen families of black bears and occasional deer on my ride. In nice weather, I can ride the trails 10 miles east into Amherst or a similar distance south into Easthampton. More adventurous folk have ridden mostly along bike paths as far as New Haven, Ct, which is only about 80 mi and mostly downhill -- but the paths are not continuous and the way is poorly marked. Maybe one of these days...

Professor Pedal

Route: 12 miles total, 6 each way. Major roads, side streets, and state trail.
Road Conditions: A few miles get a little tricky with potholes and debris, but otherwise not bad. Winter gets nasty.
Traffic: It's pretty crazy for a few miles, but I fortunately can avoid the rush hour craziness most of the way.
Environment: Urban with all four seasons in full splendor. Too cold, just right, too hot, just right, repeat.
Hills: Milwaukee has surprised me. There are more than I expected. Going is better than coming.
Frequency: 3-5 days a week. I chickened out for a lot this winter, though.
Departure Time: Depends on the day, but usually 7am.
Bike: Usually my Trek Allant or Cannondale Synapse.
Bike Name: Depends on whether or not it's cooperating.
Cargo: MacBook and various papers for whatever classes I teach that day. Sometimes a change of clothes.
Illumination: Headlight and rear blinker.
Helmet or Mirror: I wear a helmet when I ride the Synapse. I own no mirrors.
Destination: Work, gym, and church.
Parking: In my office or locked to a tree.
Cleanup: Wash up in the sink.
Amenities: Showers are available, but I don't get too sweaty.
Departure Time: It depends on the day, but usually 2-4pm.
Alternate Transportation: Ford F150.

Phloom

Route: 7.5 kilometres one way
Bike: 2001 Peugoet PX 3200 (Mountain bike made in Canada by ProCycle) with road slicks and plastic fenders.
Destination:
Alternative Transportation: Bus or car

50voltphantom

Title: South Dakota paved backroads

Route: 9.5 miles/19 miles round-trip (~30 min in, ~35 coming home depending on conditions/energy)
Road conditions / surfaces: 3' Shoulder of two-lane roads with rumble strips and paved roads in town.
Traffic: Moderate outside of town, busier during mornings in town
Environment: wide open country, small town streets
Hills: somewhat hilly, 317 ft climb coming in, 441 ft going home (brutal if windy)
Frequency: 1-2 days when schedule allows.
Departure time: 6-7am

Bike:….
Bike name: Surly Steamroller - fairweather only
Cargo: Phone, wallet, keys. (all other items are stored at work ahead of time)
Helmet / Mirror: Yes/No

Destination:
Parking: In my office
Cleanup: Shower facilities
Amenities: Gas station nearby
Departure time: 4:30

Alternative Transportation: Car

ChicagoDan

This seems as good a place as any for my first post. I've been lurking for the past couple of weeks.


Route 5 Miles from home to commuter train then 1 Mile from train to office. Train ride is about 25 milesBike:…. 2015 Breezer Uptown 8 on home end/ Divvy bike share on work endDestination:Alternative Transportation:….Car to either office or train station.