Lane Control Survey

[OakLeaf]

We all know it's safest to take the lane, let's help prove it! http://iamtraffic.org/advocacy-focus-areas/evaluation/i-am-traffic-bicyclist-lane-control-survey/

[ny biker]

I'd like to help them but I would be guessing wildly on my answers.

[Crankin]

I guessed wildly. I know I didn't take the lane for the first couple of years I rode, so I estimated that and the mileage they were asking about.

[OakLeaf]

Yeah, I guessed pretty broadly too. My mileage has always been wildly different year to year so coming up with an average, I just picked something in the middle, and then from ages 16-30 I didn't track mileage at all but probably had a lot of years over 5,000 miles. They ask whether you even bother to track your mileage so I think they're okay with approximations - mainly I think they want to get at do you ride a lot or just a little, and what's your experience when you take the lane.

I had to kind of fudge on the accidents too (explained it more in the comments section) - I had two wrecks avoiding cars, but never made contact. Lowsided in gravel missing someone who tried to left-hook me as a kid, and then the recent one when I faceplanted after our group was deliberately brake-checked. The kind of thing motorcyclists mean when they use that idiotic phrase "I had to lay it down," which really means that they ran out of skills after avoiding the car and didn't have enough skill to stay upright. :rolleyes: