Relax, it's not the end of the world!!

[pepe6599]

Yesterday my girlfriend had a run in town, so I decided I would riding around close to where she was. Anyways I was going the wrong way on the wrong side of the rode and here comes these pack of guys riding towards me, i didn't think anything of it b/c I was about turn into the residental area when a couple of the guys started yelling "WRONG WAY!!! WRONG WAY!!!" Granted I was going the wrong way but gezz they made like the whole world was gonna end. Thats the last time I'm gonna go the wrong way. hehehe

[stacie]

I've been riding on the correct side of the road and approached someone coming in my direction. It can be a bit frightening not knowing what they will do. Will they move to the left or the right? How do I ensure that everyone behind me is aware as well? I don't blame them for being a bit excited. How you ride sends a message to those around you about your predictability. You were clearly saying that you didn't know or care to exhibit safe riding. Try riding in their shoes.

[Grog]

I often do the same as these guys when I see riders going the wrong way because it CAN be the end of the world (your world, or theirs, anyway) if you are nearing an intersection and bikes (or even runners) coming at a good speed on a perpendicular speed make a right turn on you (and in a few other types of circumstances as well). The incoming riders/runners might not be in their right (should have come to a complete stop before turning right...) but it will be the end of someone's world anyway.

As for being loud, well I don't know of many ways to say something to another rider gently or subtly and getting the message across when I'm riding my bike (wind, speed, etc. make it difficult to send anything but bold messages).

Using and sharing the road is all about anticipating the other's conduct.

[DeniseGoldberg]

The vehicle code in all 50 states considers a bicycle to be a vehicle - which means from a legal standpoint you need to ride on the correct side of the road, and that it is illegal to ride the wrong way on a one way street.

But really, legal or not, it's way more important that you act like a vehicle from a safety standpoint. Drivers of motorized vehicles and other cycylists encountering you heading in their direction on the wrong side of the road have no idea how you are going to react when you see them. Will you swerve to the right? To the left?

You titled this post "it's not the end of the world", yet riding on the wrong side of the road or in the wrong direction is an accident waiting to happen. And it could very well be the end of the world for the cyclist riding on the wrong side of the road.

--- Denise

[Starfish]

When I am driving my car, I find it irritating when other car drivers do not just take their right of way, shooing me through as if they are being polite. All it does is slow everyone down and increase accidents.

Same with bikes. Just faster and safer to be predictable.

Also, I am the only cyclist in my family, and I live in a community that has a fair number of anti-cycling drivers. I always groan when I'm driving with family and friends and some cyclist doesn't just act like a car. Those are the cyclists my non-cycling friends use as examples of why bikes shouldn't be on the roads at all.

I consider riding like a car to be good for cycling PR.

[KnottedYet]

My little world nearly ended.

I was riding on the right side of the road and a chickie came at me, going the wrong way on the wrong side of the road. I moved further to my right. (the shoulder of the road) SHE moved further to her LEFT - i.e. DIRECTLY INTO ME!!

I had to do a screeching stop, and held still as she went around me heading face-on to the cars who where also on the correct side of the road going the correct direction.

She could have killed us both.

[emily_in_nc]

My little world nearly ended.

I was riding on the right side of the road and a chickie came at me, going the wrong way on the wrong side of the road. I moved further to my right. (the shoulder of the road) SHE moved further to her LEFT - i.e. DIRECTLY INTO ME!!

I had to do a screeching stop, and held still as she went around me heading face-on to the cars who where also on the correct side of the road going the correct direction.

She could have killed us both.

Knotted, yikes! I suppose she was gone before you could educate her?? It's sad to think that she probably thought YOU were in the wrong!

Emily

[KnottedYet]

I was so stunned, I never said a word! Didn't even yell!

[lizbids]

Yeah, I have a huge problem with people who fly towards me going the wrong way. Even when other cyclists don't look before they change lanes in the park. I calmly and nicely said to a woman in the park on Saturday, "You need to look before you change lanes; I almost hit you, sorry!" and she started SCREAMING on the top of her lungs at me. Makes you wonder why you even try to help.

[SadieKate]

I wish I could get over my constant amazement that people think it is acceptable to ride the wrong way on the street yet they would never dream of driving the wrong way on the road or highway. Yes, it could be the end of the world. A pack of riders crashing at high speed could mean severe and permanent injury, including brain trauma.

[Eden]

mmm glad I'm not the only one. I didn't reply to this when I first saw it as I had a rather visceral reaction that one should NEVER go down a street on the wrong side going the wrong way and especially that one should not make light of it as it is very dangerous. I was in the opposite shoes only a few weeks ago. Some guy was coming down the road towards my team going the wrong direction on our right. I certainly did yell out not only that he was there, but yes that he was going the wrong direction. Good thing I did because some of my teammates behind me could not see him and could easily have collided with him along the very busy road. It would have been bad for everyone.

[SadieKate]

mmm glad I'm not the only one. I didn't reply to this when I first saw it . . . .

Me, too. I was afraid of what my fingers would involuntarily type.

[Crankin]

I always yell out very loudly "You're on the wrong side" when this happens. Last summer it happened when I was on a very large group ride on Cape Cod. Not the best place to ride, but we were in a residential area. It scared me to death.

Robyn

[Pedal Wench]

I was on a small backroad that is a short little circle, but it's one way. There is a fast blind turn that I always stay close to one side because you never know what someone is gonna be stupid - I saw a car once pull out of driveway and start heading the wrong way - I yelled to them, but they didn't speak English. The worst case though was the day I was zipping around the loop and a huge group of cyclists were coming the wrong way. I made sure they knew they were going the wrong way

[mimitabby]

So Pepe,
it's not a big deal, no one was hurt, right? But you probably understand why they were all screaming, and I'll bet you'll think twice before you do it again.