Is this really how you're supposed to commute?

http://vimeo.com/4664164

I saw this video posted on the commuting board of another forum and was just :eek: Is this really how people commute or ride their bikes in the city? I do not ride in a city, only on suburban/rural roads so I don't have any experience with city biking (and, from the looks of this, I don't want any).

I don't think this guy is really behaving like someone who is obeying the rules of the road here. But I betcha he expects to be treated like a car, right? Do people really consider riding up the street between stopped cars and parked cars (or between stopped cars and the median where there isn't room for a car, but is room for a bike) to be following the rules of the road? Around here, if a motorcyclist did this, he'd get ticketed. It's dangerous and illegal. So why is it ok for a bicyclist to do it? And riding on the double yellow lines the way this guy does? WTF?

Please tell me this isn't the norm. Please?

I don't ride like that in the city. It does seem dangerous (especially riding on the yellow line) because cars that don't see you can turn into you.

I would stay to the right, and I would stop for red lights, but I certainly would have no problem going up to the front of the line of cars.

Of course, I would have stopped at Cafe du Monde for beignets, too. :) yum.

Surely you're not asking this question seriously.

I didn't watch the whole thing, but I think this guy is a moron and he's intentionally doing things to annoy motorists. I see others like him - but not quite as bad - most days of the week. But the vast majority of cyclists around here are much more respectful of traffic rules (although stop signs are pretty universally ignored).

The part that bothers me most is when there are pedestrians crossing at a crosswalk, cars have the decency to stop (for once) and a cyclist just goes through. Issh!

I see people commute like this but it's dangerous and may be illegal depending on where you are. You're right... it's hard for cars to see you... If they expect a bicyclist at all, they're certainly not expecting them from the left. All it takes is someone on the cell phone forgetting to head check before turning. As far as going up to the line, I only do it if it looks like there's enough space to do so. I'm not going to trouble myself only to get passed by the same cars just past the intersection, which can be tricky if it's a narrow road and annoying to drivers.

I guess my rule of thumb is to be as courteous as possible, especially since I'm sure I see many of the same drivers during my daily commute. If I'm predictable and polite, they will hopefully treat me the same.

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Originally Posted by Grog

Surely you're not asking this question seriously.

I didn't watch the whole thing, but I think this guy is a moron and he's intentionally doing things to annoy motorists. I see others like him - but not quite as bad - most days of the week. But the vast majority of cyclists around here are much more respectful of traffic rules (although stop signs are pretty universally ignored).

The part that bothers me most is when there are pedestrians crossing at a crosswalk, cars have the decency to stop (for once) and a cyclist just goes through. Issh!

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I was asking seriously because I was really hoping it wasn't the case. As I said, I don't have any experience with city cycling, so I wasn't sure. Good to know he's just a moron.

Oh, and another reason I asked was because he was getting some people telling him what a great ride he had on the other forum. And they seemed serious.

Just thought I'd let you guys know that when that idiot rode through what looked like water (while passing the car on the right) he was actually riding through horse pee! Serves him right.

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Originally Posted by FlyingScot

Just thought I'd let you guys know that when that idiot rode through what looked like water (while passing the car on the right) he was actually riding through horse pee! Serves him right.

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Hahaha :D

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Originally Posted by Heifzilla

I was asking seriously because I was really hoping it wasn't the case. As I said, I don't have any experience with city cycling, so I wasn't sure. Good to know he's just a moron.

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Sorry if my question was a bit harsh.

I must say that he is just a moron, but it's important to remember that there are people like him on the road. Some ride bikes, and quite a few drive cars, too. And so one has to plan for that when riding, whether in town or on the country side.

I must say though that passing on the right is not a good idea either. If there is a lot of room and/or a bike lane, then fine, move to the front. However, if there isn't, it's a pretty dangerous thing to do, even though it looks so easy and natural on the bike. I know more than one person who was doored from someone getting off the passenger side of a car. There is also the classic "parking on the cyclist" and the typical "right hook." http://www.bicyclesafe.com/ says it all.

this guy is probably a 20 something. He also probably would be a cr@ppy driver in a car or a motorcycle. No, none of us ride like that.

and it's not the norm even among young men with bicycles.
You're right it's more correct to pass on the left but it's illegal to pass where it is not safe. and into oncoming traffic is not safe.

I see quite a few cyclists like him -- and quite a few who are worse. It's just one more thing to watch out for.

Urban cyclists deal with the urine of several species (including human).

Pam

It actually ISN'T illegal everywhere for bikers (motor and/or cycle) to split lanes.
(the red lights he ran however, most definitely illegal).

Dangerous and stupid, well, I won't disagree with you on those counts, personally. Though I will pass on the right hand side if conditions warrant (normally only if I have a bike lane, but not always).

This particular video is pretty tame compared to some of the bike messenger videos I've seen.

Riding on the passenger side of cars as he does is especially stupid.

I have committed this year to ride more mindfully and courteously. I am not sure what brought on this bout of good bike citizenship. I'd like to say it's "maturity", but I was 47 last year, which is pretty mature by age standards alone. I think I am just happier. Which makes me less likely to want to take out my frustrations by riding really fast, no matter where I am.

A frustration of city living is that it's hard to find a good stretch of pavement where I can just pour it on and ride as hard as I want. Not that I'm any speed demon, really, but flying on the bike is a great joy. Ne'er the less, this year I vow to respect more rules and ride as if the cars and pedestrians have rights. :o I sound like I've been a complete jerk in the past, which isn't true. But I've done things which, were I the one in the car, and not the one riding the bike,would have really pissed me off. So I vow to ride with the intent of not pissing off drivers or pedestrians.

It's good to be happy!

hey Lise! hit the pavement before 6am I'll bet you'll find plenty of city pavement :rolleyes:

I can't imagine riding in Chicago-- and I live in Downtown St. Louis! It's kind of like 28 Days Later here though... minus the zombies. I work out in the suburbs so I'm never around to see it when it's busy during the weekdays. But, man! When I ride out from my building at 5:30 AM the roads are mine! Allll mine :cool:

It's fantastic. In fact... that reminds me. I should get some sleep before riding to work tomorrow

I thought I recognized this guy.
I saw this posted somewhere recently from him: http://vimeo.com/2626739
He's definitely NOT a bike commuter to emulate.
(The "More" section of his blogs - with other videos - is enough to give you a heart attack!)

He's probably one of those guys that I see around St. Louis that think that their "mad traffic navigating skillz" make them something special. Constantly trying to look cool... maybe impress some ladies.

Yeah he's slightly crazy.

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Originally Posted by Heifzilla

http://vimeo.com/4664164

Please tell me this isn't the norm. Please?

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Probably the simplest way to say it is that BikeForums isn't the best place to go for sound cycling advice. Over there, the more controversial it is, the better the natives like it. JoeyBike has simply been lucky... so far.

Here's a blog that I think is done by the same guy.

Some of what he says makes sense. I see a lot of bikers who stay ahead of traffic by blowing through lights and stop signs, and it does work. I don't personally have nerve enough to do it, and I don't advocate it, but I can see the logic.

As far as riding on the yellow line, we don't have many two-way streets, but again I can see his reasoning as far as getting doored or dealing with pedestrians. I'm not endorsing his methods, and I'm certainly not going to emulate him, but if you ride in a urban area, you should know that cyclists do these things.

Pam

I have read of some movements to allow cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs, and red lights as stop signs. That, I can say, has a certain logic. Patently blowing through stop lights, because you are certain you've timed the gap correctly between cars moving at speed....I find that does not have any logic and is a disaster waiting to happen.

You wouldn't last long riding like that where I live. There are a handful of homicidal drivers that don't like bicycles, but even worse is that there isn't a lot of cycling traffic and the drivers just don't know to look for idiots like that.

I did notice last year when gas was over $3 per gallon that there were a few bikes blowing through red lights. There were also a few fatalities from cyclists blowing red lights. I guess there are a few who aren't smart enough to figure it out but no, it isn't normal to commute like that.

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Originally Posted by FlyingScot

Just thought I'd let you guys know that when that idiot rode through what looked like water (while passing the car on the right) he was actually riding through horse pee! Serves him right.

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No, it's water from the troughs for the mules.

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Originally Posted by dingster1

Yeah he's slightly crazy.

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As is evident if you look at some of his other videos. As I recall he's a pro rider that lives here.

The "King of the Road" video was filmed fairly early in the morning - as evident by minimal pedistrian traffic in the French Quarter, vehciular traffic overall, and the long shadows. Another hour later and he wouldn't be able to pull his weaving through traffic quickly riding stunts. Trust me, his ride home was slower. I try to avoid Canal Street (the one with the buses and all the stop & go traffic) like the plague when I drive down to the Quarter.

But it is a nice video of the city in the early morning. Come visit us! Hurricane season officially starts on Monday June 1st. :D We could go to Pat O'Brian's on Bourbon Street and have a hurricane to drink. :D:cool::D

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Originally Posted by bmccasland

No, it's water from the troughs for the mules.
:D:cool::D

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True, some of it is but there's a lot of urine mixed in there too...I've smelled it all too many times. Yuck!:D

I have relatives there and have visited often enough to drive like a native! As for hurricanes they're just God's way of giving the French Quarter a little washing up. No liquid Hurricanes for me...too sweet! My favorite time is in the morning sitting on Yvette's balcony on Ursulines drinking cafe au lait and watching the nuns from the convent across the street rollerblading in the parking lot. Now that's New Orleans.

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Originally Posted by bmccasland

But it is a nice video of the city in the early morning.

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Hmmm....that's why the roads seemed fairly quiet. I did wonder how this guy would react if he saw three or four delivery bikes bearing down on him.

Seeing this made me want to visit New Orleans -- which I already wanted to do, of course.

Pam

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Originally Posted by Biciclista

hey Lise! hit the pavement before 6am I'll bet you'll find plenty of city pavement :rolleyes:

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You are so right, Mimi, and I have done that. It's beautiful. But one down side of all this happiness is that I'd rather be snuggling with J. at 5:30 AM than flying down Elston. Alas. The trials of joy.

I don't ride like that where I live, but i have read his description of his area and situation, he does have some points. If i lived there, I might *think* about his tactics to deal with it. On the whole though, it's a very specialized way of dealing with a particular set of circumstances. generally, not recommended.