I took the lane, but it scared people

[PamNY]

I was stopped at a traffic light today when a woman (I think a tourist) ran up to me and said "Watch out! There's a big bus right behind you!" The light changed, so we didn't chat, but I think she was quite sincere.

It really is an awful intersection, and one of the few places where I do take the lane for reasons too complicated to go into. I appreciated her concern, but I have been chuckling all afternoon. Maybe she's from a country where cycling is a bit more civilized than it is in NYC. Around here there's always a big bus behind me.

Pam

[Eden]

Personally I prefer having a big bus behind me over having one 2 inches off my right elbow...... (or breathing their fumes for that matter)

[OakLeaf]

It's supposed to scare people. Into not hitting you.

[Zen]

Oh, she's probably just somebody's mother

if they didn't run over this guy

they won't run over you either. as long as you're highly visible, anyway.

[Miranda]

She probably didn't realize that bikes could do that. This is something my new riding partner is very good at. Me, not so good at. In the country, it just scares the he$$ outta me. Like the car *still* trys to pass on the left with your arm stuck out turning left. Or some ya-hoo behind that one. Went to Chicago with a GF. Omg, the bike lane... what a beautiful thing! I'd take the lane in the big city with a bus behind me anyday versus in Mayberry with country road rage idiots. Ghee.

[msincredible]

Sounds much more civilized than the response I commonly hear, "Get on the f...ing sidewalk!"

[tctrek]

Sounds much more civilized than the response I commonly hear, "Get on the f...ing sidewalk!"

DH and I frequently take the lane at big intersections (as a means of survival!).. last weekend a pickup truck full of bubbas behind us screaming out the windows "That's what sidewalks are for!".

But I'm out there in my neon green jersey, with lights flashing on my seatpost, reflective tape everywhere.. if they hit me, they better have a really good story for why they didn't see me

[cylegoddess]

What scared me, is reclining bike in bus lane/cycle lane. The guy had two blinky lights and a small flag but was so low that any bus could have squashed him literally , flat.

[OakLeaf]

You know, I've been riding a lot lately with one or two people on recumbents, and they're not as low as they look. When I'm in my shallow drops, my head is pretty much at the exact same level as theirs.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Doesn't matter what you do on a bike- it's going to either 'scare' or p*ss off somebody somewhere. Don't pay any attention to people who don't even ride bikes and have no clue- just do what's safe.

[Biciclista]

all recumbents aren't the same level! i know what she means! scares me too.
But I agree with Lisa. Do what's safe. if people around you are frightened, smile and wave at them.

[OnTerryOh]

Doesn't matter what you do on a bike- it's going to either 'scare' or p*ss off somebody somewhere. Don't pay any attention to people who don't even ride bikes and have no clue- just do what's safe.

This is good advice and will avoid angry exchanges that might turn dangerous.

I'm curious -- what do you do or say in your mind to stop from responding to a hostile driver/pedestrian?

Thank you.

[PamNY]

Um, I posted about this incident because I thought it was funny. It never crossed my mind that it would be viewed otherwise. If you will note in my original post I said, "I have been chuckling all afternoon."

Pam

[Biciclista]

heh, you post here and the thread takes on a life of its own!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Um, I posted about this incident because I thought it was funny. It never crossed my mind that it would be viewed otherwise. If you will note in my original post I said, "I have been chuckling all afternoon."

Well it is funny! Especially to seasoned riders. But it's a subject worthy of discussion too, it's something that can make new riders hesitant. Well worth talking about.