Cyclist Behavior

[DeniseGoldberg]

Cyclists and drivers ignoring the rules of the road both make me very angry.

I live in Massachusetts, which is one of the states that specifies that cyclists must ride single file. I found it interesting that quint41 complained about cyclists riding 2 or 3 abreast, yet when I checked the vehicle code for her state (Connecticut) that it specified that cyclists are allowed to ride 2 abreast.

Cyclists taking up the driving lane by riding in bunches are not riding safely and certainly not sharing the road. Unfortunately I've seen many club riders who seem to think they are exempt from the laws.

Of course, that's not always true. I was doing a ride along the New Hampshire coast last spring when I was passed by two groups of cyclists. The first group was spread across the road, blocking traffic. Bad. The second group was riding two abreast (as is allowed by New Hampshire vehicle code), but as they approached me, they also recognized that there was a car behind them. They immediately fell into a single file, passed me, and allowed the car to pass them before doubling up again. Nice.

But - we do have the right, and we should, take up as much of the road as necessary to be safe. I won't ride on the very edge of the road. I feel that is unsafe both from a road surface point of view and from a motorist point of view. If I'm riding on the edge, motorists don't realize they need to pull out to safely pass me. My tendency is to ride 1/4 to 1/3 of the way into the driving lane. Exception to that is if I'm riding on a road that has paved shoulders. I'm quite happy to ride on the shoulders then. Maybe I shouldn't as a vehicle, but that makes sense to me.

I always stop at stop signs and at lights. And I will not pull out in front of a moving car. (Maybe I'm a little more leary of cars after my non-car-related bicycle crash a few years back, but I don't think so...).

Funny thing is, as I commute to work (in the warmer & lighter parts of the year) and stand waiting for traffic to clear, drivers will often stop for me. I still only proceed if I think it's safe. But given that I live in a state that (seems to be, or) is known for inconsiderate drivers, I find that when I respect the drivers that they also respect me (and my bike).

--- Denise

[sundial]

I've been pondering similar things as I think about a few of our TE members whose lives have been drastically altered due to a traumatic injury. So many members are experienced cyclists who were careful and cautious, yet were involved in serious accidents through no fault of their own. For the rest of us, I wonder: not if, but when?

[mimitabby]

Eden, i agree with you completely

Sundial, the fewer risks you take, the safer you're going to be.
A meteorite could fall on you tomorrow.
So I'm talking about statistics. Ride safely; be alert even when you have the light, even when you're in the crosswalk, on the sidewalk, or in a protected bike lane. Don't assume people can see you.
It IS tough to be vigilant ALL THE TIME, but that's going to help keep you alive. and when you do make mistakes and survive, REMEMBER what you did wrong and make it a learning experience! and we all make mistakes all the time. It's human nature. good luck

[DeniseGoldberg]

I've been pondering similar things as I think about a few of our TE members whose lives have been drastically altered due to a traumatic injury. So many members are experienced cyclists who were careful and cautious, yet were involved in serious accidents through no fault of their own. For the rest of us, I wonder: not if, but when?

That's why they're called accidents...

My crash was not caused by a vehicle, and as far as I know I didn't do anything to cause it either. I believe I caught my tire just right (or I suppose I should say just wrong) in a crack in the road surface. I'll never know, and I've accepted that.

I don't think we should assume that we will all be involved in serious accidents. But I do think that we should be aware of where we are, and be as aware as we can be about things (the road surface, other cyclists, pedestrians, vehicles, animals...) around us.

Don't think "not if, but when?" That kind of attitude will only serve to stop you from participating in an activity that you enjoy. Be safe, be aware, don't stop riding.

--- Denise

[sundial]

Denise, you took a nasty fall. Wow! I'm glad you are ok now. Thanks for sharing your experience and I hope I don't have an encounter like you. If so, I know where to turn for encouragement and advice.

I had a close call this weekend. I was riding in a large group on a familiar route that we have traveled many a time. During the last part of the ride we have to get on a 4 lane highway that has a shoulder [I]most[I]of the way. About a quarter of a mile before the intersection the shoulder ends and we have to ride in the lane until we can turn off the highway onto a 2 lane road back to our destination.

I was pulling a trailer with a tall bicycle flag AND a large caution sign attached to the back of the trailer. I had a rider to the left of me, 2 behind me at a distance and the others were drafting behind them. We all kept an eye on the traffic and all was going well until we saw a semi in the fast lane and a car in our lane, the slow lane.

The truck was being courteous to us but the car with 2 senior citizens wouldn't slow behind us, didn't attempt to move over in the other lane, and just drove alongside the truck, forcing us all off the road (where there is no shoulder). What bothered me the most was how we kept acknowledging to the driver,"Hey, we're here!" and they basically forced us off the road. All they had to do was slow down and switch lanes to get behind the truck. Grrrrrrrrr.

[Eden]

That's exactly the kind of situation where I feel that taking the lane is the best practice. If there had clearly not been enough space and the car driver had not felt that he would be able to squeeze by he probably wouldn't have tried it. I do understand that sometimes this leads to frustrated, irrational drivers, but safety is the main concern and you have the right to be safe. Few people are willing to intentionally run someone over, they may get angry and fume/curse etc, but many are very poor at judging when it is safe to pass. I'd prefer to raise some occasional ire than put myself at the mercy of those who are plain careless.

Accidents where a cyclist is hit from behind are pretty rare (though in this day of distracted cell phone talking/texting drivers there is some cause for concern) - the most common ones are being hit by a car pulling out of a side street or parking lot or being hit by someone passing then turning into you. Both of those type of accidents, as well as being side swiped by someone who is clueless about the width of their car can be made less of a danger by being out further in the travel lane where you are more visible and harder to squeeze by.

[sundial]

Eden, you have a valid point. I do have to say that the people that rode beside me were riding well into the slow lane. They did so intentionally so that drivers would have to be forced to either slow down or switch lanes.

It didn't work this time.