road cyclists riding the wrong way
 

Maybe I need to get my eyesight checked.

So I'm riding- in the direction of auto traffic- down a road next to Almaden Lake in San Jose and, coming in the opposite direction, riding in the door zone, against traffic- is a guy who looks to be in his 50's-60's. That would be unsurprising if it was some old homeless guy on a rickety mountain bike but this guy was wearing a helmet and riding a road bike that looked to be in good condition.

WTF?

Later I'm turning off Tully Road and, hugging the curb going the wrong way, is some 35-45ish white weenie (like me) wearing a helmet and riding a new-looking road bike. He proceeds to make a left hand turn onto Tully, into the bike lane, riding against traffic.

I site their wearing helmets and riding road bikes because usually when you see both, you're looking at someone with some education or intelligence and you see them riding in the direction of auto traffic.

This is my second Spring of road cycling and I didn't seen this last year.

Anyone else seen such a thing? Is this a common occurrence in your area?

Road cycling is like a box of chocolates.

There is one place on my route to school where I ride on the wrong side for a few hundred feet before I can cross over to the correct side. Maybe you just caught them making a strange transition if roads are awkward.

Or maybe they just ride on the wrong side...

I share my experience, strength, and hope with these types:
I instruct verbally,
"YOU'RE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD YA FKING IDIOT", geeze these folks chap my ass and I don't care if their Roadies, homeless, MTBers or little old ladies.......well, with little old ladies I don't say the F word.....well......not as LOUD as normal......digging a hole here aren't I?

Anyway, that's my contribution to cycling safety.:thumb:

I saw someone riding the wrong way today. 45 mph zone, 2 lanes in each direction, divided road, but not highway type. He was on a sweet 70's era Colnago. It looked very well cared for. Idiot.

you're supposed to extract your frame pump and put yourself in the position of jousting.
at which point you're supposed to pull a team cinzano

I see people riding the wrong way on the road all the time. I usually yell, "Heyyouyourridingthewrongwaylet'ssayforexamplethatyourriding20milesperhourwithtrafficandacargoing30m ilesperhourhitsyouit'slikebeinghitat10milesperhourstandingstillbutifyou'reriding20milesperhouragains ttrafficandacargoing30milesanhourhitsyouit'slikebeinghitat50milesperhourstandingstillsobesafeandride withtrafficok?"

But they never seem to listen to me.

The great thing about bicycles is that while riding them, laws no longer apply to you! Whee!

Don't make any assumptions about the skill level of other riders that you see. The number of people on bikes has skyrocketed in the last year or so (at least in Northern California). "Nice bike and helmet" could just mean that the person bought what was recommended to them by an LBS employee.

Also, for some reason, it's "common knowledge" that one should ride facing traffic. Blech.

You should write that on your middle finger so that they can read it at their leisure as you pass.

I'll get a few of these once in a while on my commute from or to work, I always tell them wrong side of the road when I pass them. I also will hold a straight line right at them for the most part they get the message most times. They will be forced to stop hug the curb or move onto the curb or they will move to my left into the lane and pass me as I yell wrong side of the road, I leave the F word out so far!
So far I haven't seen them twice....

I'll have to find a demonstrational video.

I've refrained from such instruction but I may adopt it. If they don't like it, they'll probably not follow me to confront me because then they'll be going the wrong way and they can't see the cars and the cars are gonna kill them :eek::eek::eek:

all you need to know about riding a bike: http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Bike

you've never seen breaking away? wtf is wrong with you? :lol:

Yeah, I see this every day on campus. It drives me insane. I used to try to wave at the offender and raise my voice jst enough to tell them nicely, "Wrong side of the road, bud!" I have since lost patience with these idiots who consistently endanger my safety and now scream at them in the meanest, most hateful voice I can muster, "Get on the right side of the road, a__hole!"

Mac

I've seen it and I remember the Italian guy jamming his pump into Stoler's wheel but I don't remember any jousting.

Not roadies, but I saw a mom with her 1 year old on the front riding against traffic, taking the lane. I stopped and gave her some patient, gentle and admittedly unsolicited advice.

I ride on the wrong side of the road on the bike lane on my way to campus because making a left turn is a b1tch. I'll go to the right side carefully and slowly. I think it is okay to go the wrong way if there is a bike lane, but if it is just a plain street then you definitely have to go with the flow of traffic. When riding the wrong way in a bike lane, I always stay to the right when other bikes are coming at me (which hardly ever happens) so that they know which way to pass.

fyi, I only do this for maybe half a block. Which, I think, is acceptable.

do a hook turn http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hook_turn

I yell at them.

Was he wearing ear buds? I would think the 2 actions would go hand in hand.

Bicycles are toys and belong on the sidewalk.

incorrect!

+1

always ride with traffic. otherwise, you're completely unpredictable and endangering yourself and others. you're going to force someone to move even closer to the curb or parked cars so they can "pass" you on the right?

one more reason i don't use bike lanes...