Is this really how you're supposed to commute?

[Heifzilla]

http://vimeo.com/4664164

I saw this video posted on the commuting board of another forum and was just 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?

[bikecanada]

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.

[tulip]

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.

[Reesha]

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.

[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!

[Heifzilla]

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 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.

[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.

[Heifzilla]

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.

Hahaha

[Grog]

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.

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.

[Biciclista]

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.

[PscyclePath]

http://vimeo.com/4664164

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

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.

[PamNY]

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

[7rider]

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.

[Deborajen]

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.