Cyclist Behavior

[OakLeaf]

There's a difference between blowing a light or stop sign, versus doing a California stop (roll-through).

When the intersection has good visibility, two-wheeled vehicles are safer rolling through. Why? We are dynamically stable but statically unstable. As soon as we come to a complete stop and put that foot down, our world of options shrinks dramatically. If something's coming toward us, there's nothing we can do but lurch forward, slowly. Not zip out of the way, not swerve to one side or the other. (Not sure whether that's true when doing a track stand... since I have never been able to do one )

Cops will ticket us for California stops. Per the letter of the law, in most jurisdictions they're right, and I never argue with a ticket that I deserved (not that I've had any on the velo, touch wood). But I don't hesitate (for example) to exceed the speed limit in my car when *not* speeding puts me at risk of being rear-ended, and the same is true of rolling through stoplights at less than walking speed on my moto or velo. Sometimes I'll drag a toe for the sake of appearances.

When a whole group goes through a light rather than get separated, that's a little tougher. IMO they've got to take their cue from the cross traffic. If the pack is pretty tight, drivers will almost always yield to us and let us take the light. But if not, you're right, once the light's turned red, someone in that pack needs to take the responsibility to stop and split the pack.... and if the only people with maps are in the lead pack, *they* have the responsibility to take it easy until the rest can catch back up.

[boy in a kilt]

There are safety precautions that, should you choose to ignore, Evolution will probable take over quite soon. When a cop asks how much you've had to drink, the right answer is not "A sh**load." Riding in the dark with no lights of any sort probably puts you at the head of this line too.

At the other extreme, there are precautions people take for events that are highly unlikely. Someone once asked me what plan I had if an earthquake happened while I happened to be climbing a steep pitch of rock. The answer is I don't even think about it because if that happens, god is mad at me personally.

The key is what category one chooses to put things in. I'm starting to think that the precautions one takes while riding a bike is somehow related to one's tolerance for chaos.

The hypothesis isn't very mature yet.

[KnottedYet]

I had a very odd group cycling and stop sign experience.

There was a group of about 4 of us riding fairly spread out (over maybe a block). We came to a 4 way stop. The cars saw bikes coming and ALL held still even though they had right of way. The ride leader blew thru the stop sign, didn't even slow.

The cars held still.

Rider #2 blew thru.

The cars held still.

Rider #3 blew thru.

The cars held still.

Here comes Knot.... STOPS as the law REQUIRES at the STOP SIGN.
Smiles and waves at all the very patient and kind cars.

Counts 3 cars going 3 ways, then it's Knot's turn to go thru the intersection.
Smiles and waves and mouths "Thank you" at the 3 new cars waiting their turn and goes thru the intersection legally.

Ride leader decides Knot must be scared of cars, and drops back to give a pep talk about fear of traffic.

Uh, no... just following the law!

Now, if we'd stopped at the stop sign and tightened up our group, I would have felt that all 4 of us should go thru at once when it was our turn. But we were spread out. And the ride leader didn't even stop at the sign.

[Mr. Bloom]

Knotted, you did the absolute right thing.

I still continue to:

• stop at stops where there are cars
• nod a "thank you" to the cars as I pass through

I continue to be amazed by the IU students that blow through stops, don't wear helmets, ride on sidewalks, ride with dogs in their lap (or on a leash)...hmmm....these kids are the future of America!

[lyca]

I continue to be amazed by the IU students that blow through stops, don't wear helmets, ride on sidewalks, ride with dogs in their lap

I see the same thing at UofM and it boggles my mind. I'm sure it's the same on every campus, too, which is scary! Yesterday evening I was passed on the right by a bike going down a somewhat steep hill. It scared me that I didn't see him AT ALL before he passed, and I could have easily hit him if I had to park or turn or just move to the right a little!

It was dark, he had no helmet, and then he completely blew through a stoplight at the bottom of the hill. Luckily there were no cars coming when he made that left hand turn on red.

Boggles my mind, I tell you!

[lph]

I stop at red lights for three reasons:
- 1, because I might hit someone or be hit by someone,
- 2, because it demonstrates to the driver next to me or behind me that I'm following the rules too - thereby also diminishing the chance that he decides to "teach that damned biker a lesson" down the next stretch of road we have to share
- 3, because it's the law.

If there are no cars around in any direction, eliminating 1. and 2., I'll slow down and run the red light. I'm not THAT law-abiding, and I don't see how following the law in that particular circumstance is going to help anybody. This includes all red lights, also "just" pedestrian crossings.

I take the lane whenever I have to. I try to show that I am aware of traffic behind me, and move purposefully in to the side as soon as I feel it's safe to do so. I have stopped a few times to let a truck or a bus pass going uphill, either because it's having trouble passing or because I just feel safer standing still than pedaling very slowly with something that big breathing down my neck.

Bus drivers and taxi drivers are probably the ones around here who hate cyclists the most, so I try to make a huge point out of giving them room and getting out of their way if they're coming up behind me in a hurry, even though I'm allowed to be there.

[sundial]

Good for you, Knot. I would have done the same thing.

[Deborajen]

I agree that following traffic laws is just as important for cyclists as it is for drivers - for everyone's safety. One thing that's always gotten me, though, is why cyclists seem to flat out refuse to walk their bikes across an intersection when the law requires it. In Kansas, if you're riding with traffic like a car, it isn't necessary to walk across an intersection. However, if you're using a bike path that's separated from the road (ie., a wide, glorified sidewalk - which we have a few of around here), when crossing an intersection, where bikes travel with pedestrians, the law says to walk the bike across. Usually I avoid those bike paths like the plague. The driveways, turn lanes, and the fact that the paths are usually only on one side of the road make me really uncomfortable. But they're along heavily traveled streets that I don't want to ride on, either, so they're the lesser of the evils when I'm in the area.--

At intersections, I've seen cyclists just blow right across without even looking for turning cars, etc. - They're in a bike lane, right? Yikes! Drivers don't and can't always see the cyclist coming, especially when the cyclist is riding in the direction "on the left side" of car traffic, and turning cars frankly don't know what to expect even if they do see the bike. I'll admit I don't always walk my bike across but when I have, it's surprising how patient the drivers become - even though they have to wait longer. It makes the cyclist's intentions more predictable to drivers but, boy, we cyclists sure do resist taking that step.

Deb

[Aint Doody]

We have one lady in our group when we do group rides that rides about the same speed as I do. Consequently I'm more often than not riding with her. What she does that absolutely unglues me is ride almost on top of the center line. I've spoken to her about it; I've fussed at her about it. Others in our club have commented to her about this. She continues to do this.

Last week-end we were on a country road and there she was on the yellow line as we approached a blind curve in the road. There was a truck coming in the opposite direction also on the yellow line. I yelled. After we got past all this, I told her again that I did not want to have to scrape her up off the pavement. She admitted that she'd had a close call. Her rationale is that she doesn't want to ride too close to the edge because she might get a flat. I've asked her how long she's had this bicycle and how many flats she's had--in 4 years she's had 2 flats! I've had that many flats in an hour.

I've also explained that our laws in OR say that a cyclist must ride as far to the right as practical. I don't know....maybe she has a death wish. Any suggestions? I really like her and enjoy her company when she's not scaring the doo-doo out of me.