Bicycle Lanes
Wayne
areas) their own bike lane. However, I assumed that the bike lane to
the right of traffic would be used for bikes traveling in the same
direction as vehicle traffic. This apparently is not the case. More
often I see cyclists using the lane going towards traffic. Does this
make sense?
I do want to tell you a story of a guy going against the flow of
traffic and on meeting another cyclists going with the flow was forced
to go into the oncoming vehicle lane. Sheesh, what if there was a
vehicle coming. Luckily, I was able to take the empty adjoining lane.
Wayne
Stephen Sprunk
> Cyclists that share the road with motor vehicles now have (in some
> areas) their own bike lane. However, I assumed that the bike lane to
> the right of traffic would be used for bikes traveling in the same
> direction as vehicle traffic. This apparently is not the case. More
> often I see cyclists using the lane going towards traffic. Does this
> make sense?
The problem is that pedestrians are taught that, if they are walking on
the road (as opposed to a sidewalk), they are supposed to walk _against_
the flow of traffic so that they can see oncoming traffic and, if
necessary, step off the road for safety.
In contrast, cyclists are expected to travel _with_ the flow of traffic,
presumably because there is less of a speed difference, and in many
places this is even marked with directional arrows in the bike lanes.
However, some cyclists ignore this and do like pedestrians do. This not
only conflicts with cyclists going the correct direction, which may
cause one or the other to veer into traffic, it also increases the speed
of any collisions with oncoming motor vehicles. In at least some
states, this is a citeable offense, though rarely enforced.
S
--
Stephen Sprunk "God does not play dice." --Albert Einstein
CCIE #3723 "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the
K5SSS dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking
Martin Edwards
> Wayne wrote:
>> Cyclists that share the road with motor vehicles now have (in some
>> areas) their own bike lane. However, I assumed that the bike lane to
>> the right of traffic would be used for bikes traveling in the same
>> direction as vehicle traffic. This apparently is not the case. More
>> often I see cyclists using the lane going towards traffic. Does this
>> make sense?
>
> The problem is that pedestrians are taught that, if they are walking on
> the road (as opposed to a sidewalk), they are supposed to walk _against_
> the flow of traffic so that they can see oncoming traffic and, if
> necessary, step off the road for safety.
>
> In contrast, cyclists are expected to travel _with_ the flow of traffic,
> presumably because there is less of a speed difference, and in many
> places this is even marked with directional arrows in the bike lanes.
> However, some cyclists ignore this and do like pedestrians do. This not
> only conflicts with cyclists going the correct direction, which may
> cause one or the other to veer into traffic, it also increases the speed
> of any collisions with oncoming motor vehicles. In at least some
> states, this is a citeable offense, though rarely enforced.
>
> S
>
carried out what we were taught on the road were constantly hooted at by
motorists for being in their way.
--
As through this world I've rambled, I've met plenty of funny men,
Some rob you with a sixgun, some with a fountain pen.
Woody Guthrie
Stephen Sprunk
> Stephen Sprunk wrote:
>> In contrast, cyclists are expected to travel _with_ the flow of traffic,
>> presumably because there is less of a speed difference, and in many
>> places this is even marked with directional arrows in the bike lanes.
>> However, some cyclists ignore this and do like pedestrians do. This not
>> only conflicts with cyclists going the correct direction, which may
>> cause one or the other to veer into traffic, it also increases the speed
>> of any collisions with oncoming motor vehicles. In at least some
>> states, this is a citeable offense, though rarely enforced.
>
> carried out what we were taught on the road were constantly hooted at by
> motorists for being in their way.
Did you have dedicated, marked bicycle lanes back then? If so, and you
actually used them, how were you in motorists' way?
Miles Bader
> Did you have dedicated, marked bicycle lanes back then? If so, and you
> actually used them, how were you in motorists' way?
Dunno about Martin, but to make a left turn on a bicycle (in the U.S.;
right turn in U.K.), you have to take possession of the ("car") lane,
even if there's a dedicated bicycle lane on the edge of the road.
This is a common time for morons to start hooting ("Get on the
sidewalk!" etc), especially if they're in a car following you.
[Of course in such situations, there's a perverse pleasure in simply
silently following the correct procedure, as one's mere presence seems
to drive such idiots crazy...]
-Miles
--
Zeal, n. A certain nervous disorder afflicting the young and inexperienced.
Martin Edwards
> Martin Edwards wrote:
>> Stephen Sprunk wrote:
>>> In contrast, cyclists are expected to travel _with_ the flow of traffic,
>>> presumably because there is less of a speed difference, and in many
>>> places this is even marked with directional arrows in the bike lanes.
>>> However, some cyclists ignore this and do like pedestrians do. This not
>>> only conflicts with cyclists going the correct direction, which may
>>> cause one or the other to veer into traffic, it also increases the speed
>>> of any collisions with oncoming motor vehicles. In at least some
>>> states, this is a citeable offense, though rarely enforced.
>> Back in the 1950s we had cycling proficiency courses. Those of us who
>> carried out what we were taught on the road were constantly hooted at by
>> motorists for being in their way.
>
> Did you have dedicated, marked bicycle lanes back then? If so, and you
> actually used them, how were you in motorists' way?
>
> S
>
an inferior form of road user which was in their way.
Martin Edwards
> Stephen Sprunk <ste...@sprunk.org> writes:
>> Did you have dedicated, marked bicycle lanes back then? If so, and you
>> actually used them, how were you in motorists' way?
>
> Dunno about Martin, but to make a left turn on a bicycle (in the U.S.;
> right turn in U.K.), you have to take possession of the ("car") lane,
> even if there's a dedicated bicycle lane on the edge of the road.
>
> This is a common time for morons to start hooting ("Get on the
> sidewalk!" etc), especially if they're in a car following you.
>
> [Of course in such situations, there's a perverse pleasure in simply
> silently following the correct procedure, as one's mere presence seems
> to drive such idiots crazy...]
>
> -Miles
>
just not to be there. I was once, in the situation you describe, asked
what I was trying to do. It was obvious what I was trying to do.
Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.
Tadej Brezina
Yes, this is something I have observed around my place (Vienna) too. The
people cycling on sidewalks and those cycling on the wrong side in
counterflow direction are increasing in number. Haven't found out yet,
why people do that. Obvious seems the lack of cycling skills, but the
details?
Too I'm wondering how to design a research project, to get to the gist
of the matter in this topic.
Tadej
--
�It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary
depends upon his not understanding it.�
<Upton Sinclair in The Jungle>
--
(Laptop brezta)
Free Lunch
Tadej Brezina <tadej_...@gmx.at> wrote in
<4af9b1d1$0$1555$91ce...@newsreader03.highway.telekom.at>:
>Wayne schrieb:
>> Cyclists that share the road with motor vehicles now have (in some
>> areas) their own bike lane. However, I assumed that the bike lane to
>> the right of traffic would be used for bikes traveling in the same
>> direction as vehicle traffic. This apparently is not the case. More
>> often I see cyclists using the lane going towards traffic. Does this
>> make sense?
>>
>> I do want to tell you a story of a guy going against the flow of
>> traffic and on meeting another cyclists going with the flow was forced
>> to go into the oncoming vehicle lane. Sheesh, what if there was a
>> vehicle coming. Luckily, I was able to take the empty adjoining lane.
>
>Yes, this is something I have observed around my place (Vienna) too. The
>people cycling on sidewalks and those cycling on the wrong side in
>counterflow direction are increasing in number. Haven't found out yet,
>why people do that. Obvious seems the lack of cycling skills, but the
>details?
>Too I'm wondering how to design a research project, to get to the gist
>of the matter in this topic.
I see that when people think that visibility is more important than
following the rules. Knowing that you were in the right isn't much help
in the ER or ICU.
>
>Tadej
>--
>�It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary
>depends upon his not understanding it.�
Miles Bader
> Yes, this is something I have observed around my place (Vienna) too. The
> people cycling on sidewalks and those cycling on the wrong side in
> counterflow direction are increasing in number. Haven't found out yet,
> why people do that. Obvious seems the lack of cycling skills, but the
> details?
> Too I'm wondering how to design a research project, to get to the gist
> of the matter in this topic.
I'm American, and was raised to always ride on the road with traffic, as
if I were a car.
Where I live (near Tokyo) there's _tons_ of bicycle traffic (far, far,
far, more than any other place I've ever lived), and bicycle riders are
typically very blasé about where they ride -- they'll ride on the
sidewalk or the road, whatever, and often not in a straight line...
[Still always with traffic AFAICT though.]
In general, their behavior seems pretty practical: most bicycle use is
very local (home to train station or local store typically), riders
don't ride particularly fast, and they often have kids, luggage, or
friends hanging off the bike. If the sidewalk is wide or uncrowded, and
the road busy, they'll ride on the sidewalk to avoid messing with
traffic (since they're going fairly slowly, they don't have many
problems avoiding pedestrians). If the sidewalk is crowded and narrow,
or the road quiet, they'll often ride on the road instead (it's usually
a better surface after all). Someone riding especially fast will ride
usually ride on the road.
As bicycles share attributes with both pedestrians (extremely
maneuverable and able to stop quickly, especially when going slowly, and
very quick acceleration), and with cars (can go quite fast, with the
accompanying problems with reaction time, when pushed, better on smooth
surfaces, etc). So exactly _how_ you ride seems quite germane to
_where_ you ride, and how you ride seems related to what role the
bicycle is playing.
-miles
--
Electricity, n. The cause of all natural phenomena not known to be caused by
something else.