Why do cyclists cut to the front of the line at stop signs and red lights?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Link to summary of dc bike laws explaining that this is legal is on page 3 of this thread.

Interesting, so the law says that riding in the middle of the lane is what is actually illegal. I'm fine with that. I just don't think you should be able to pass me at a stoplight, and then go in front of me and slow me down, repeatedly. The law doesn't seem to think so either.

Bikes are allowed to pass on left or right. And when cars are stopped. Motorists have to share the road and deal with it.

So, I don't follow you.

Yep, by it appears they are not allowed to ride in the middle of the lane, absent special circumstances. My experience is with bikers who ride in the middle of the lane so you can't pass them, and then pass you on the right if you ever get ahead. I knew this was illegal I just was confused about which part.

What you are describing is annoying but not illegal. Riding in the middle of the lane to avoid getting hit at an intersection is illegal. But a bike making you pass them repeatedly is bad form and annoying, I agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Link to summary of dc bike laws explaining that this is legal is on page 3 of this thread.

Interesting, so the law says that riding in the middle of the lane is what is actually illegal. I'm fine with that. I just don't think you should be able to pass me at a stoplight, and then go in front of me and slow me down, repeatedly. The law doesn't seem to think so either.

Bikes are allowed to pass on left or right. And when cars are stopped. Motorists have to share the road and deal with it.

So, I don't follow you.

Yep, by it appears they are not allowed to ride in the middle of the lane, absent special circumstances. My experience is with bikers who ride in the middle of the lane so you can't pass them, and then pass you on the right if you ever get ahead. I knew this was illegal I just was confused about which part.

What you are describing is annoying but not illegal. Riding in the middle of the lane to avoid getting hit at an intersection is illegal. But a bike making you pass them repeatedly is bad form and annoying, I agree.

Sorry NOT illegal to take the lane at intersections or to avoid being passed without enough room for safety

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Link to summary of dc bike laws explaining that this is legal is on page 3 of this thread.

Interesting, so the law says that riding in the middle of the lane is what is actually illegal. I'm fine with that. I just don't think you should be able to pass me at a stoplight, and then go in front of me and slow me down, repeatedly. The law doesn't seem to think so either.

Bikes are allowed to pass on left or right. And when cars are stopped. Motorists have to share the road and deal with it.

So, I don't follow you.

Yep, by it appears they are not allowed to ride in the middle of the lane, absent special circumstances. My experience is with bikers who ride in the middle of the lane so you can't pass them, and then pass you on the right if you ever get ahead. I knew this was illegal I just was confused about which part.

What you are describing is annoying but not illegal. Riding in the middle of the lane to avoid getting hit at an intersection is illegal. But a bike making you pass them repeatedly is bad form and annoying, I agree.

In addition, an uneven road which hardly bothers a driver could be very unsafe for a cyclist. Cyclists are allowed to ride anywhere they need to in the lane.

[Anonymous]

If you pass cars at a light then you need to go the speed limit the rest of the way and not shut down the flow of traffic by going 10 mph.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you pass cars at a light then you need to go the speed limit the rest of the way and not shut down the flow of traffic by going 10 mph.

That would be polite.

But it's not legally required.

Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you pass cars at a light then you need to go the speed limit the rest of the way and not shut down the flow of traffic by going 10 mph.

That would be polite.

But it's not legally required.

Sorry.

Ha! It would also be pretty superheroish if I could go from 0 to 35 mph on my bike as fast as a car can.

But, frustrated driver, think about this: the reason you are actually slowed down is because of traffic lights, not me and my bike. Otherwise, you'd pass me once and then go on your merry way. Instead, you speed along to the next corner and stop, and I catch up to you and pass you as you wait for the light to change, then you pass me again, etc. etc. I am not the reason you are going slow--it's the fact you're driving in a city. I'm just the evidence that shows you how slow you're going, and that makes you mad. You're welcome for the insight into your psyche.

[Anonymous]

Very enlightening how many drivers are happy to demonstrate their ignorance of the law and ridiculous biases against bicyclists.

For what it's worth, I wait in line with the cars unless it looks like it's going to be multiple light cycles to get through. Then I'll cut up to the front. I also shift left of someone behind me if signaling for a right turn on red.

Common courtesy people...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you pass cars at a light then you need to go the speed limit the rest of the way and not shut down the flow of traffic by going 10 mph.

That would be polite.

But it's not legally required.

Sorry.

Ha! It would also be pretty superheroish if I could go from 0 to 35 mph on my bike as fast as a car can.

But, frustrated driver, think about this: the reason you are actually slowed down is because of traffic lights, not me and my bike. Otherwise, you'd pass me once and then go on your merry way. Instead, you speed along to the next corner and stop, and I catch up to you and pass you as you wait for the light to change, then you pass me again, etc. etc. I am not the reason you are going slow--it's the fact you're driving in a city. I'm just the evidence that shows you how slow you're going, and that makes you mad. You're welcome for the insight into your psyche.

NP here. I actually don't tend to pass the same cyclists over and over. I pass some who are going 15 mph in a 25 mph zone and rush hour, and then encounter different ones at red lights. As long as I am going straight, I don't mind the ones who actually stop at the light (rather than running it). I know I can accelerate faster than they can, so I won't end up stuck behind them again. .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you pass cars at a light then you need to go the speed limit the rest of the way and not shut down the flow of traffic by going 10 mph.

That would be polite.

But it's not legally required.

Sorry.

Ha! It would also be pretty superheroish if I could go from 0 to 35 mph on my bike as fast as a car can.

But, frustrated driver, think about this: the reason you are actually slowed down is because of traffic lights, not me and my bike. Otherwise, you'd pass me once and then go on your merry way. Instead, you speed along to the next corner and stop, and I catch up to you and pass you as you wait for the light to change, then you pass me again, etc. etc. I am not the reason you are going slow--it's the fact you're driving in a city. I'm just the evidence that shows you how slow you're going, and that makes you mad. You're welcome for the insight into your psyche.

Good God a fucking billion times this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do it because I feel more visible there. Cars pass me regardless. I worry about cars turning right at the intersection not seeing me otherwise.

But do you realize how dangerous and scary it is for cars while you are weaving in and out to get to the head of the line? Cars sometimes make lane changes while waiting at a red light or a right turn and don't notice when you suddenly get in their blind spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do it because I feel more visible there. Cars pass me regardless. I worry about cars turning right at the intersection not seeing me otherwise.

But do you realize how dangerous and scary it is for cars while you are weaving in and out to get to the head of the line? Cars sometimes make lane changes while waiting at a red light or a right turn and don't notice when you suddenly get in their blind spot.

If there is a line of cars waiting at a red light -- which is the circumstance we're talking about -- the drivers should not be making lane changes, because there is no room for the drivers to make lane changes.

And no driver should ever turn right from any lane other than the right-most lane, unless that lane is specifically marked for right turns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do it because I feel more visible there. Cars pass me regardless. I worry about cars turning right at the intersection not seeing me otherwise.

But do you realize how dangerous and scary it is for cars while you are weaving in and out to get to the head of the line? Cars sometimes make lane changes while waiting at a red light or a right turn and don't notice when you suddenly get in their blind spot.

Foot on the brake until you check blind spot.

Ya know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do it because I feel more visible there. Cars pass me regardless. I worry about cars turning right at the intersection not seeing me otherwise.

But do you realize how dangerous and scary it is for cars while you are weaving in and out to get to the head of the line? Cars sometimes make lane changes while waiting at a red light or a right turn and don't notice when you suddenly get in their blind spot.

Foot on the brake until you check blind spot.

Ya know?

It's called a blind spot because you can't see what's in it.

Ya know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do it because I feel more visible there. Cars pass me regardless. I worry about cars turning right at the intersection not seeing me otherwise.

But do you realize how dangerous and scary it is for cars while you are weaving in and out to get to the head of the line? Cars sometimes make lane changes while waiting at a red light or a right turn and don't notice when you suddenly get in their blind spot.

Foot on the brake until you check blind spot.

Ya know?

It's called a blind spot because you can't see what's in it.

Ya know?

No, it's called the blind spot because you can't see what's in it IN YOUR CAR'S MIRRORS. Which is why you always need to turn your head, in addition to checking your car's mirrors. I hope that you do that when you're driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do it at long red lights because I don't like breathing the exhaust from cars and buses. If I'm at the front, I don't get as much of it. When the light turns green, however, I don't make people pass me on the other side. I slow down and let them pass before I jump back on the road.

This makes sense.