Tolerence for high traffic volumes

[redrhodie]

You'll do great! Read "The Art of Urban Cycling" by Robert Hurst. It really helped me deal with summer beach/tourist traffic, which is maybe not as bad a city traffic, but it has its moments (I call people leaving the beach "sun drunk")!

[malkin]

Make gradual changes and you'll gradually become more confident.

If you work out a regular route, you may identify bits that are awful, and then you'll figure out ways to avoid riding on the awful bits.

There's one stretch of my short work commute where there are 3 lanes, eastbound (blinded by the sunrise in the morning), 40mph limit (which means everyone drives 50), no shoulder, and one of those wacky, tire grabbing cliffs where the re-re-repavement meets the gutter.

I rode that exactly one time, felt lucky to have survived, and now have a clever way to avoid it.

[Melalvai]

Have you taken Traffic Skills 101? I checked on that site for Indianapolis and there aren't currently any classes scheduled but I see there are 4 certified instructors so you might contact them and ask if they have plans to teach a class.

If there are no classes in your area, the bike league website has some very good resources about best cycling practices. The new "Smart Cycling" book comes with the "Enjoy Your Ride" DVD.

This class boosted my confidence. After taking the class, I felt like I could bike on the interstate if that was legal. (Disclaimer: it actually is legal in Missouri because no alternate routes exist. Nonetheless, I only say I feel like I could do it, I admit I have not attempted it.) More importantly, it gave me the confidence that I DO have a right to the road, so I could cope with the harassment much better. (The way I cope is: I report it. Every time. No matter how small the incident. The difference is I don't get emotional about it.)

In addition to the confidence, it teaches you safer bicycling practices.

[Catrin]

I took the Traffic Skills class last June, and it was quite helpful. I think that I just need to find some way of working more urban riding into my rides - and I have done some of this but not in downtown Indianapolis. Well, not in Indianapolis at all but in a couple of surrounding towns. Not the same thing

Thank you, everyone, for your advice, it helps!

[Trek-chick]

I have roughly 8 miles of my 16 mile commute in heavy traffic. I still breath a sigh of relief once I hit the MUP. But when I ride in traffic, I always wear my bright yellow vest and try to make eye contact with drivers. I also, learned the hard way NOT to let drivers " be good Samaritans and stop, to let me pass".

Car drivers just do not watch traffic from a cyclists point of view. I always give them the right of way. I feel better when the cars are out of my way so to speak.

I always just make sure to constantly be aware of my surroundings and actually found that drivers are far nicer to me as a cyclist than I thought they would be.

Also, it helps to do practice runs of your planned route on a non- work day. I found I needed to change one section that was too crazy for my liking, and you can time yourself too

[Crankin]

When I was commuting, I had to make a major change when I moved; my commute went from 6.7 miles on back roads in rural suburbs to 13.8 miles on more heavily traveled suburban roads, complicated by a traffic circle that didn't allow me to get to work in the most efficient way (you can't ride there or you'll get killed). The first day I commuted, I went a longer way that ended up to be 17.5 miles, including a 3 part hill on the way there. While I sometimes ended up doing the longer ride on the way home, I did not appreciate those hills at 6:00 AM. So, I went out in the car and scouted a new route, that seemed counter intuitive and longer, but it wasn't. There was also a T intersection that scared me; a light on a slight uphill. So, after spending a few weeks driving to a point and parking and riding in about 8 miles, I braved the intersection at 6:15 AM. I found that there were rarely cars in front of me at that time, so I could handle it. A couple of times I had to scoot with my foot across the intersection, but the cars waited. I had to turn left across a fairly busy road, but the heavy traffic was going in the other direction, so there were rarely cars behind me. That's when I got really good at getting out in the lane!
So get out there and explore all of your options. While I absolutely would not ride in Boston (heck, I don't drive there, either), I know I could if I had to.

[PscyclePath]

It's mostly a matter of practice and experience. The Traffic Skills 101 course is a good way to ease yourself out there with a bit of coaching, There's also a Traffic Skills 201 course which looks at more complex situations and a little higher density traffic. Hurst's book is good, as is the new League "Smart Cycling" handbook. The Smart Cycling book also comes with all the training videos used in the TS101 course.

For now, ride where you are comfortable. A little anxiousness is okay, but if you're downright scared, that's a clear sign that you're out of your comfort zone. Practice the basics, and work yourself up to more complex situations when you start to feel more confident about approaching them. Check with one of your local LCIs... I'm sure they'd ride with you a bit to help build up the confidence...

[Biciclista]

btw, I think it's easier to do traffic by yourself, so not having a riding partner is a good thing. the best thing about heavy traffic is: THEY are all slower! YAAAY! sometimes you can actually keep up with traffic. You will find that if you are careful, congestion on a bike can be very pleasant (as opposed to being trapped in a car)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You'll do great! Read "The Art of Urban Cycling" by Robert Hurst. It really helped me deal with summer beach/tourist traffic, which is maybe not as bad a city traffic, but it has its moments (I call people leaving the beach "sun drunk")!

I highly recommend this book too. It totally changed the way I ride in traffic, and I feel way safer and more in control of my own wellbeing. It's largely about recognizing dangerous situations before you get into them, and choosing a safer alternative for yourself. Lots of stuff I had never thought about before, and stuff that seems counter-intuitive until you really think about it.

[Catrin]

btw, I think it's easier to do traffic by yourself, so not having a riding partner is a good thing. the best thing about heavy traffic is: THEY are all slower! YAAAY! sometimes you can actually keep up with traffic. You will find that if you are careful, congestion on a bike can be very pleasant (as opposed to being trapped in a car)

I am fortunate because I never actually SEE congestion - I walk in my office long before most people leave home. This is certainly good to think about though - especially if I decide to change my working hours for the summer

......Take some of your fuel cost savings and invest in LOTS of bright lights and reflective tape...and set an example for folks who under-illuminate themselves.

ETA: In looking at the map, it seems that you're well situated with Lanes that can at least get you across the river to one of the greenways...May not be the straightest route, but would keep you out of a lot of the riskier "downtown fringe" where the traffic is less disciplined and faster moving.

I believe that, if you're visible, predictable, courteous, and assertive, you should have no problem...but comfort grows with time and experience.

Yeah, it is the experience that I am lacking. I rode like a wild woman last summer, but on country roads. Dealing with huge farm equipment and the occasional car full of rednecks shouting complimentary things at me is a different thing than downtown traffic. I can't hear what they are saying anyway so I choose to believe they are compliments and I smile at them

The only part I am really concerned about is getting across the actual downtown to the White River trail - I am on the opposite side of downtown from it. There is a poorly designed bike lane or two... There is another bike/ped facility under construction but I don't think the northern bit is complete. There is a bit of a dicey neighborhood to ride through from 30th to get to Guion Rd (for those in the area) - but the last half of the ride wouldn't be much of a problem - at least I don't think so

Out of curiosity...how long is your current commute by car?

It takes me about 20-25 minutes from my front door to my office door - that includes a 2 block walk from the garage. There isn't much traffic at 5:30 am nor at 3:30 pm.... It would take longer to ride it - I can't ride that fast

I highly recommend this book too. It totally changed the way I ride in traffic, and I feel way safer and more in control of my own wellbeing. It's largely about recognizing dangerous situations before you get into them, and choosing a safer alternative for yourself. Lots of stuff I had never thought about before, and stuff that seems counter-intuitive until you really think about it.

Thanks for the book recommendation, I will check it out! Eventually I do want to try this - with only 14 miles to go it seems a shame not to try it out. Even if I only did it once or twice a week, it would certainly be a good thing!

[PamNY]

Catrin, I don't know if this is relevant in your situation, but I was a much happier cyclist when I started walking the bike through a couple of difficult intersections.

I don't usually do it, but it was liberating for me to decide I could choose.
Good luck with your commute.

[Catrin]

Catrin, I don't know if this is relevant in your situation, but I was a much happier cyclist when I started walking the bike through a couple of difficult intersections.

I don't usually do it, but it was liberating for me to decide I could choose.
Good luck with your commute.

I am glad to hear that others do this as well I tend to do this if I have to stop for a red light as it does still take me a couple of seconds to get started - I figure this is less frustrating for the drivers behind me.

Right now I am just getting my bike legs back after my injuries, I will try this it will be later in the spring.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Pam- great advice.
I will just hop off my bike and WALK across an intersection if it seems too dangerous. Pedestrians seem to get a lot more respect from cars, and you are more visible walking across on a crosswalk with the light in your favor. Temporarily transforming into a pedestrian is a great tool in our bags of tricks!

[indysteel]

I agree that walking your bike through a dangerous intersection is a useful tool, but what Catrin said--that she does this when stopped at red lights generally--does give me a bit of pause. If, objectivley, she's having trouble getting started from a stopped position, e.g., at a red light, then it might be useful to work on that skill before trying to commute or ride in urban traffic. It's not really desirable to walk your bike through every intersection at which you get stopped after all, at least not in my opinion.

If she just has the perception that she's slow to start and annoying to traffic, then it might just be a confidence thing, but that's something you definitely need in order to deal with traffic effectively, too. Riding in traffic does take a certain mindset--not overconfidence mind you, but a healthy degree of assertiveness. For instance, when I'm going through an intersection with traffic behind me, I figure they're just going to have to deal with the slight delay. I'll get out of there way when it's safe for me to do so. If they're annoyed, then oh well.

Catrin, just to be clear, I'm not trying to make you feel bad for walking your bike through intersections; I just want to encourage you to continue working on your handling skills so that, objectively, you're a better cyclist and so that you feel more confident. I certainly don't want to sound unsupportive, as I think the progress you've made in just over a year's time is quite admirable.

I would add that I tend to think some of your bike handling issues are going to be easier to resolve when you get the Gunnar. It's likely going to be substantially lighter and more nimble than your LHT. Not that the LHT isn't a great bike, but I think it takes a bit more finesse to handle it.

[Catrin]

Good points Indy, and at this point I am unsure if it is a confidence thing or if I am really a little slow at starting at intersections. I AM trying new ways of starting my bike as the seat-post is higher and is going to get higher than it is.

I had no problem at intersections when my saddle was much, much too low I am now working on the starting thing again, but I can't go back to the old way as I do not want more injuries. This is the primary reason why I want to put off any commuting experiments until late spring or very early summer. This is not a problem with my lightly-traveled country roads, but urban roads are a different animal.