maneuvering in city streets

[hawkeyerider]

I just started commuting to work last week and am really enjoying it, although I'm not certain I'm following the proper road etiquette rules in the city streets. People keep telling me to be assertive, which I am, but I'm not sure what to do about the bus lane. In my route, I'm on a one-way street with 2 lanes plus a bus lane on the right. I've ridden in the bus lane but then I get caught behind the bus making stops as well as the nasty fumes. So, then I've ridden in the right lane (but left of the bus lane) but the buses are merging into that lane as well. Is it ok to stay in the right lane (but left of the buses) or should I stay in the bus lane, close to the curb? Or should I pick a different route?!

[PscyclePath]

First, remember the basic rules about riding in and with traffic:

1. Drive on the right side of the roadway; never on the left, and never on the sidewalk.
2. Obey all traffic signs and signals.
3. When you reach a more important or larger road than you are on, yield to crossing traffic.
4. When you intend to change lanes or move laterally on the roadway, yield to traffic in the new lane or line of travel. Never move laterally (sideways) on the roadway without checking behind you first to be sure the way is clear.
5. When approaching an intersection, position yourself with respect to the direction of your destination – Right turners are next to the curb, left turners are near the centerline, straight through drivers are between these positions.
6. Ride in the right-most lane that’s going in the direction you want to go.
7. Between intersections, position yourself according to your speed relative to other traffic. Parked drivers are at the curb, slow drivers are next to them, and fast drivers are near the centerline. Never pass or overtake on the right, generally overtake on the left.

Buses and large trucks pose a special hazard to cyclists. First, because they're so derned big, it takes a long of energy to get them moving, and it takes longer for them to stop when they do decide to do so.

Secondly, they have big blind spots... directly behind them and to their left and right rear quarter. You need to recognize these "NO-Zones" and stay well clear of them. The bus driver can't see you there (presuming that he or she is looking out for cyclists in the first place) and can easily right-hook you. Likewise, a number of cyclists have been killed recently when they were riding along the right hand side of the road or in a bike lane adjacent to a bus stop, and were hit when a bus came barreling in there to the stop. Don't put yourself in a position where you can get squeezed into the gutter, or worse, hit.

So here's some basic precautions. When you're riding around a bus or a big truck, imagine that they're a wild elephant, bent on stomping you into the pavement. Give them plenty of room, learn where their blind spots are, and stay out of those areas.

When you come to a bus that’s nearing or stopped at a bus stop, don’t pass on the right. You might get squeezed into the curb or hit a passenger who's bailing off the bus.

When you pass a bus with its rear end angled out into traffic, pass on the left and look around carefully. Pass the front of the bus with plenty of room in case it pulls out suddenly or pedestrians appear.

Don’t pass a bus to turn right immediately in front of it. Buses sometimes speed up suddenly or start moving before the traffic light turns green.

If there's a specific bus lane and buses are always weaving in and out of it, or pulling over for their stops, scan behind you, signal, and move over into the next rightmost traffic lane. It's much better than continually playing leapfrog with the bus...

Dave Glowacs' little book, Urban Bikers' Tips & Tricks: Low-Tech and No-Tech Ways to Find, Ride, and Keep a Bicycle (Wordspace Press, Chicago, IL, (1997)) has some excellent advice, with diagrams, for dealing with buses and other urban hazards. I don't (officially or at least in the presence of witnesses) use or recommend some of the stuff that Dave has in this book, but it's a really good handbook for city cyclists.

Tom

[hawkeyerider]

Thanks for the lenthy response, Tom. In my route home I sometimes ride on the left side (again, all one-way streets) because I will eventually be turning left in a couple blocks and also to avoid those elephants. Is that still a no-no? Seems safer that way and I'm probably more predictable to drivers.

Thanks!
Rebecca

[PscyclePath]

Thanks for the lenthy response, Tom. In my route home I sometimes ride on the left side (again, all one-way streets) because I will eventually be turning left in a couple blocks and also to avoid those elephants. Is that still a no-no? Seems safer that way and I'm probably more predictable to drivers.

Thanks!
Rebecca

Rebecca:

On a one-way street, you may ride in either the left or the right lane. Remember the rule about speed positioning (stopped vehicles at the curb, slower vehicles to the right, faster vehicles to the left), but if you're setting yourself up for a left turn, or there are hazards in the right lane (like debris, parked cars, or stopped buses) ride as far to the left as you feel you need to be safe.

Give yourself some time to set yourself up and move over to the left lane if you're making a left turn. You should be looking and thinking at least one, preferably two blocks ahead of where you actually are... this gives you a little space to yield to overtaking traffic, signal, and smoothly move to the left turn lane.

It's really bad practice to make a left turn from the far right side of the roadway (e.g., your typical bike lane), because you have to cross all those traffic lanes suddenly to get where you need to be. Look and plan ahead, and give yourself room to be safe.

tom

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

It's really bad practice to make a left turn from the far right side of the roadway (e.g., your typical bike lane), because you have to cross all those traffic lanes suddenly to get where you need to be. Look and plan ahead, and give yourself room to be safe.

How I wish all cyclists would know and understand this one concept fully, if nothing else. Every day I see bicyclists setting themselves up in very dangerous situations by doing just that.

[SouthernBelle]

The route you take in a car may not be the best bike route. My bicycle route is totally different from the route I take in a car. It's about a mile longer but there is room for cars to go around me and better sight distances.

So you might want to take a look at alternative routes, side streets, bike paths etc.

[hawkeyerider]

Thank you!

I'm feeling more comfortable every day with this and am really enjoying my commute.

[lovelylibrarian]

Do you all use hand signals when you turn? (I mean the directional ones--not the nasty ones ) I'm wondering if that would help or confuse drivers more.

[PscyclePath]

Do you all use hand signals when you turn? (I mean the directional ones--not the nasty ones ) I'm wondering if that would help or confuse drivers more.

Yes. Most state laws require that you signal your intent to turn or to slow down,and prescribe a hand signal for each.

Communicating with drivers on the roads and streets is an important part of negotiating trafic, helps your being perceived as predictable, and lessens the chance that someone will turn into you or fail to yield appropriately. Not only the sign language of hand signals, but your body language as well can communicate your intent... for example, scanning to your rear should indicate that you're about to change lanes, or at least that you're aware that someone may be behind you...

[indigoiis]

I signal to drivers behind me, ahead of me at side streets, and ones making left turns from opposite lanes.

If I am going straight through a blinking yellow light, I stick my arm out forward. Since I have no turn signals, these people don't know and may try to get in front to turn right.

I also "ask" drivers to come out in a lane. I look behind me, point at the lane with a "n'est ce pas?" look on my face, and try to make some kind of eye contact. If the car slows, I come out carefully and then give a thumbs up and a wave.

Even though we look down our nose at the lowly automobile drivers trapped in their steel and plastic prisons, we can pretend that we are appreciative of their sharing their roads with us.

[hawkeyerider]

Yes, I always use hand signals and am good about giving other cues if I'm about to switch lanes. So far I haven't gotten any horns or obscene gestures!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

For the most part, car drivers greatly appreciate it when we give big obvious hand signals letting them know our intentions beforehand. At a stop light, when everyone is waiting for the green light, I look all around me and make a BIG signal letting everyone know which way I'm going to go on the green light (and of course i'm in the left part of the lane if I'm planning on making a left). If I plan to go straight I make a big pointing straight ahead gesture with my whole arm, twice. I see so many drivers nodding and smiling when they see my turn signaling. It's so much safer to be visible and make big gestures.

[GLC1968]

I don't know why this never occurred to me before, but indicating that I'm going straight with the whole arm is a GREAT idea!! I have been almost hit 4 times in the past week because of cars turning into me or cutting me off at intersections (where there are no lights). This is partly due to those 'wrong way' cyclists getting in the way, but I think that had I thought to clearly indicate that I was continuing in the straight ahead direction, it would have helped at least half of the incidents.

Is it me, or is it getting MORE dangerous out there lately? I don't know why I'm all of a sudden having so many near misses on the same roads and intersections I've been riding for months with no problems.

[Melalvai]

Is it me, or is it getting MORE dangerous out there lately? I don't know why I'm all of a sudden having so many near misses on the same roads and intersections I've been riding for months with no problems.

Traffic has been better here. Of course this is a college town in summer. But with 6% drop in miles driven I don't see how it could be anything but better.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I don't know why this never occurred to me before, but indicating that I'm going straight with the whole arm is a GREAT idea!! I have been almost hit 4 times in the past week because of cars turning into me or cutting me off at intersections (where there are no lights). This is partly due to those 'wrong way' cyclists getting in the way, but I think that had I thought to clearly indicate that I was continuing in the straight ahead direction, it would have helped at least half of the incidents.

If you like that idea, then by all means go all the way like I do and TAKE THE LANE just like a car at the intersection if you mean to go straight.
I carefully maneuver into the middle of the lane as I am approaching an intersection, and I wait my turn in the line just like a car. As the light turns green or as I'm coming into the crossing, I am in the middle of the lane and i make my big clear pointing ahead signals for all to see as I'm coming through the intersection. (sort of like the charge of the Light Brigade in slow motion). You'd be amazed at how cars suddenly treat you like any other car. They don't drive around you, try to turn around you, or ignore you. I've never been honked at or cursed at for doing this- only smiled at by grateful drivers who don't have to guess what the biker is going to do.
As soon as I am clear of the intersction I swing back to the right edge of the lane or the shoulder to allow cars to pass me again. Works like a charm, and everyone seems happy. Car drivers LIKE knowing what cyclists are planning to do. It's safer and more courteous to let them all know clearly ahead of time and during any tricky situation like a traffic turn.

(don't let this get you offguard though....you should still EXPECT cars to do something stupid at any second, or not to see you. Anticipate the worst and you will always be prepared for anything.)