Tolerence for high traffic volumes

[Mr. Bloom]

Is this Gunnar a roadie? Would you consider getting a commuter to commute?

[Catrin]

Is this Gunnar a roadie? Would you consider getting a commuter to commute?

I would use my LHT for commuting - she can handle anything! She is a bomb-proof comfy tank

The Gunnar is based on a cyclocross frame and will be my go-fast bike, but I don't think I would want to use her as a commuter. There is no way I could afford another bike this year...

[OakLeaf]

Procedural question:

on a multi-lane highway, there's likely to be a considerable distance between the traffic lane and the crosswalk. When you do choose to walk the intersection, how do you get from one to the other - and how do you re-join traffic once you've reached the other side? It just seems dangerous, to me - particularly (presumably) re-joining traffic from a wheelchair cut facing perpendicular to traffic.

[PamNY]

Procedural question:

on a multi-lane highway, there's likely to be a considerable distance between the traffic lane and the crosswalk. When you do choose to walk the intersection, how do you get from one to the other - and how do you re-join traffic once you've reached the other side? It just seems dangerous, to me - particularly (presumably) re-joining traffic from a wheelchair cut facing perpendicular to traffic.

I've only done it in the city, where there's sidewalk. I move to the right just before the intersection. To rejoin traffic, I walk the bike into the street and wait till it's clear. I'm usually crossing a multi-lane road on a smaller street, not rejoining a multi-lane road.

I do it only in really odd situations -- in one case, the bike lane (on the right) just goes away and a lot of cars are turning right. I have no idea what bikes are legally supposed to do. I guess taking the lane would be legal, but New York drivers are not expecting that.

What most cyclists do -- and it's probably illegal -- is go into the crosswalk before the light changes (a time-honored New York custom) to get ahead of the cars, but this particular intersection has heavy pedestrian traffic.

[Catrin]

Procedural question:

on a multi-lane highway, there's likely to be a considerable distance between the traffic lane and the crosswalk. When you do choose to walk the intersection, how do you get from one to the other - and how do you re-join traffic once you've reached the other side? It just seems dangerous, to me - particularly (presumably) re-joining traffic from a wheelchair cut facing perpendicular to traffic.

Where I ride there are no sidewalks or cross-walks...

[PamNY]

Where I ride there are no sidewalks or cross-walks...

Catrin, so isn't it fairly easy to pull over, cross as a pedestrian, and then rejoin traffic? In case I ride in the country...

[Catrin]

Catrin, so isn't it fairly easy to pull over, cross as a pedestrian, and then rejoin traffic? In case I ride in the country...

There actually isn't any place to pull over, not really. The one intersection that intimidates me the most actually does have a bike lane - and the only thing to the right of THAT is a turning lane, so I just stay where I am. For the other few lights I deal with I can see them far enough away that I can finesse it - slow down enough so that it is green when I get there, that sort of thing.

I think much of this is simply due to not really having to deal with lights, or really stopping at all. Even on my 50-70 mile routes from last summer, the vast majority of them have no more than 2 stop lights (if that many), and not many more stop-signs. You know, I just realized that...

[indysteel]

There actually isn't any place to pull over, not really. The one intersection that intimidates me the most actually does have a bike lane - and the only thing to the right of THAT is a turning lane, so I just stay where I am. For the other few lights I deal with I can see them far enough away that I can finesse it - slow down enough so that it is green when I get there, that sort of thing.

I think much of this is simply due to not really having to deal with lights, or really stopping at all. Even on my 50-70 mile routes from last summer, the vast majority of them have no more than 2 stop lights (if that many), and not many more stop-signs. You know, I just realized that...

I'm assuming the light bulb moment you just had is that the vast majority of your rides don't provide much of an opportunity for you to practice stopping and starting and that works, in some respects, to your detriment in terms of improving your handling skills.

I'm going to stick with my previous advice. Stopping and starting is a skill you should work on and feel confident about. If your current routes don't require much stopping, then go to a parking lot and practice. Ideally, though, put yourself in some real-world situations. In my experience, there are areas of Boone County and western Hamilton County that provide a good mix of true country roads and "city-lite" streets that aren't not terribly busy that do you require you to stop for lights and stop signs. And challenge yourself not to "finesse" your approach to red lights.

[PamNY]

I think much of this is simply due to not really having to deal with lights, or really stopping at all. Even on my 50-70 mile routes from last summer, the vast majority of them have no more than 2 stop lights (if that many), and not many more stop-signs. You know, I just realized that...

I practiced stopping and starting in a park so much that another biker asked me if I was okay. I guess he thought I couldn't make the bike go very far...