Bikes that think they're cars

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They shouldn't be on the road if they can't go the minimum speed. Annoying.

That's not what the law says.

So you're okay with cyclists riding on 495 or 66 or 95 in the lane in front of you?

Those are highways that do have mininum speeds, and bans on bikes. Unlike streets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On highly trafficked trails, I've started "taking the lane" as a pedestrian, and go more towards the center line. I'm fed up with ahole aggressive cyclists passing dangerously close when the trail is busy. The considerate cyclists will not care that I take the lane, and will wait and pass patiently.

Taking the lane would mean walking in the center of the lane, not on the left towards the center line. Just as a cyclist taking the lane on a road should ride in the center of the lane, not on the left edge of the lane.

I do cross the center lane on trails when passing a pedestrian - but if you go TOWARDS the center line (not the center of your lane) you make even that dangerous.

Riding to the left of center is a safety measure frequently used by motorcyclists. It makes it clear to passing drivers that you need to actually use the passing lane to get by and not try to squeeze through. There's nothing wrong with "taking the lane."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On highly trafficked trails, I've started "taking the lane" as a pedestrian, and go more towards the center line. I'm fed up with ahole aggressive cyclists passing dangerously close when the trail is busy. The considerate cyclists will not care that I take the lane, and will wait and pass patiently.

Taking the lane would mean walking in the center of the lane, not on the left towards the center line. Just as a cyclist taking the lane on a road should ride in the center of the lane, not on the left edge of the lane.

I do cross the center lane on trails when passing a pedestrian - but if you go TOWARDS the center line (not the center of your lane) you make even that dangerous.

The trails aren't that wide, so center-left of the right lane, is basically "Taking the lane."

It's not dangerous for anyone, if you pass safely and slowly - ie, don't weave in between people traveling in both lanes. I've found that as a pedestrian, it's far more effective for me to walk center-left concerning deterring cyclists from passing poorly and dangerously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I do cross the center lane on trails when passing a pedestrian - but if you go TOWARDS the center line (not the center of your lane) you make even that dangerous.

Riding to the left of center is a safety measure frequently used by motorcyclists. It makes it clear to passing drivers that you need to actually use the passing lane to get by and not try to squeeze through. There's nothing wrong with "taking the lane."

I take the lane as a bicyclist regularly. I do by riding in the center of a general travel lane, not on the left of it (see for example where a sharrows is generally placed) That makes it impossible to pass me in lane, but also assures me three feet from a car that has passed just across the yellow line. I do not know any cyclists who ride to the left of the center of the general travel lane they are taking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On highly trafficked trails, I've started "taking the lane" as a pedestrian, and go more towards the center line. I'm fed up with ahole aggressive cyclists passing dangerously close when the trail is busy. The considerate cyclists will not care that I take the lane, and will wait and pass patiently.

Taking the lane would mean walking in the center of the lane, not on the left towards the center line. Just as a cyclist taking the lane on a road should ride in the center of the lane, not on the left edge of the lane.

I do cross the center lane on trails when passing a pedestrian - but if you go TOWARDS the center line (not the center of your lane) you make even that dangerous.

The trails aren't that wide, so center-left of the right lane, is basically "Taking the lane."

It's not dangerous for anyone, if you pass safely and slowly - ie, don't weave in between people traveling in both lanes. I've found that as a pedestrian, it's far more effective for me to walk center-left concerning deterring cyclists from passing poorly and dangerously.

Precisely because they are not that wide is why its better to walk in the center of the lane, not on the left side of it. If I pass and am in the center of the lane across the line, there is barely three feet between me and some close to the center line. I am sorry some people thread the needle at speed on a narrow trail, but I don't think your approach is the best, and it certainly is not equivalent to what I do when taking a general travel lane on the road as a cyclist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On highly trafficked trails, I've started "taking the lane" as a pedestrian, and go more towards the center line. I'm fed up with ahole aggressive cyclists passing dangerously close when the trail is busy. The considerate cyclists will not care that I take the lane, and will wait and pass patiently.

Taking the lane would mean walking in the center of the lane, not on the left towards the center line. Just as a cyclist taking the lane on a road should ride in the center of the lane, not on the left edge of the lane.

I do cross the center lane on trails when passing a pedestrian - but if you go TOWARDS the center line (not the center of your lane) you make even that dangerous.

The trails aren't that wide, so center-left of the right lane, is basically "Taking the lane."

It's not dangerous for anyone, if you pass safely and slowly - ie, don't weave in between people traveling in both lanes. I've found that as a pedestrian, it's far more effective for me to walk center-left concerning deterring cyclists from passing poorly and dangerously.

It's not dangerous for anyone, if you pass safely and slowly

If I am passing you across the trail center lane, how slow do I need to go? Note well, when I am riding in a general travel lane, and a car passes me across the yellow line, they do not slow down even to cyclist speed - they pass quickly because they need to get past me before a car heading in the opposite direction comes. The same thing applies on a trail - when I cross the line to pass a walker, I need to get back to the right side before an approaching cyclist comes. If I ride too slowly, on a crowded trail, that is almost impossible. And not necessary, if we have sufficient distance - IE if I go across the center lane to pass, and you walk in or close to the center of your lane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I do cross the center lane on trails when passing a pedestrian - but if you go TOWARDS the center line (not the center of your lane) you make even that dangerous.

Riding to the left of center is a safety measure frequently used by motorcyclists. It makes it clear to passing drivers that you need to actually use the passing lane to get by and not try to squeeze through. There's nothing wrong with "taking the lane."

I take the lane as a bicyclist regularly. I do by riding in the center of a general travel lane, not on the left of it (see for example where a sharrows is generally placed) That makes it impossible to pass me in lane, but also assures me three feet from a car that has passed just across the yellow line. I do not know any cyclists who ride to the left of the center of the general travel lane they are taking.

If you rode to the left of the lane, drivers would try to pass you on the right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The trails aren't that wide, so center-left of the right lane, is basically "Taking the lane."

It's not dangerous for anyone, if you pass safely and slowly - ie, don't weave in between people traveling in both lanes. I've found that as a pedestrian, it's far more effective for me to walk center-left concerning deterring cyclists from passing poorly and dangerously.

Yeah, I'm agreeing with the other bicycle-rider here. When I pass someone, I slow down, I give my bell a polite ding, and I give the person/people plenty of room. It's harder for me to give you plenty of room when you're walking in the middle of the path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The trails aren't that wide, so center-left of the right lane, is basically "Taking the lane."

It's not dangerous for anyone, if you pass safely and slowly - ie, don't weave in between people traveling in both lanes. I've found that as a pedestrian, it's far more effective for me to walk center-left concerning deterring cyclists from passing poorly and dangerously.

Yeah, I'm agreeing with the other bicycle-rider here. When I pass someone, I slow down, I give my bell a polite ding, and I give the person/people plenty of room. It's harder for me to give you plenty of room when you're walking in the middle of the path.

That's great that you slow down and give a polite ding. Many, many cyclists do not. Many are trying to race as fast as they can and dangerously cut pedestrians off, with zero warning whatsoever. I know what's safer for me, and that consists of staying center-left to avoid a cyclist quickly cutting between me and a person in the other lane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On highly trafficked trails, I've started "taking the lane" as a pedestrian, and go more towards the center line. I'm fed up with ahole aggressive cyclists passing dangerously close when the trail is busy. The considerate cyclists will not care that I take the lane, and will wait and pass patiently.

Taking the lane would mean walking in the center of the lane, not on the left towards the center line. Just as a cyclist taking the lane on a road should ride in the center of the lane, not on the left edge of the lane.

I do cross the center lane on trails when passing a pedestrian - but if you go TOWARDS the center line (not the center of your lane) you make even that dangerous.

The trails aren't that wide, so center-left of the right lane, is basically "Taking the lane."

It's not dangerous for anyone, if you pass safely and slowly - ie, don't weave in between people traveling in both lanes. I've found that as a pedestrian, it's far more effective for me to walk center-left concerning deterring cyclists from passing poorly and dangerously.

It's not dangerous for anyone, if you pass safely and slowly

If I am passing you across the trail center lane, how slow do I need to go? Note well, when I am riding in a general travel lane, and a car passes me across the yellow line, they do not slow down even to cyclist speed - they pass quickly because they need to get past me before a car heading in the opposite direction comes. The same thing applies on a trail - when I cross the line to pass a walker, I need to get back to the right side before an approaching cyclist comes. If I ride too slowly, on a crowded trail, that is almost impossible. And not necessary, if we have sufficient distance - IE if I go across the center lane to pass, and you walk in or close to the center of your lane.

If it's not possible, then you come to a stop. You walk your bike. Trails are crowded and need to be shared by everyone - it doesn't matter if you need to pause your ride for a few seconds. You don't get to weave in between people just because you prefer it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The trails aren't that wide, so center-left of the right lane, is basically "Taking the lane."

It's not dangerous for anyone, if you pass safely and slowly - ie, don't weave in between people traveling in both lanes. I've found that as a pedestrian, it's far more effective for me to walk center-left concerning deterring cyclists from passing poorly and dangerously.

Yeah, I'm agreeing with the other bicycle-rider here. When I pass someone, I slow down, I give my bell a polite ding, and I give the person/people plenty of room. It's harder for me to give you plenty of room when you're walking in the middle of the path.

That's great that you slow down and give a polite ding. Many, many cyclists do not. Many are trying to race as fast as they can and dangerously cut pedestrians off, with zero warning whatsoever. I know what's safer for me, and that consists of staying center-left to avoid a cyclist quickly cutting between me and a person in the other lane.

If you say so, but it doesn't sound to me like something that's safer for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I drive on a two lane road (40 mph speed limit) with bikers that take the lane. What really annoys me is when I change lanes to pass and get back in front of a biker, and then at a red light they zoom up to the front and slow it all down again. When there's a biker on my route it doubles my commute time.

+1 It’s infuriating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drive on a two lane road (40 mph speed limit) with bikers that take the lane. What really annoys me is when I change lanes to pass and get back in front of a biker, and then at a red light they zoom up to the front and slow it all down again. When there's a biker on my route it doubles my commute time.

+1 It’s infuriating.

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drive on a two lane road (40 mph speed limit) with bikers that take the lane. What really annoys me is when I change lanes to pass and get back in front of a biker, and then at a red light they zoom up to the front and slow it all down again. When there's a biker on my route it doubles my commute time.

+1 It’s infuriating.

Consider commuting by bike, so that you, too, can pass a line of cars stopped at a red light.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't care as long as they act like a car in all scenarios. I witnessed an accident the other day where a bike blew through a red light because he thought he had enough time to get through before the other light turned green. He didn't and was clipped by a car. Thankfully they had just started moving when he went through and the bicyclist appeared ok. I stayed behind to make sure the cops knew whose fault it was.

What was your conclusion? Sure, the cyclist ran the light, but the driver who hit the gas when the light turned green also failed to ensure that the intersection was clear before pulling into it. There's some blame to go around in the scenario you described.

OK -- this is what infuriates me the most. The attitude that 'you are a car, I am a bike so I always have right-of-way and if you hit me when I am doing something wrong it is your fault for not giving me precedence in everything because I am better/more environmentally friendly/whatever . . ."