Bike lane etiquette

[verticaldoug]

YieldSSS.jpg

Someone already wrote this, but in general, this is a good sign and should be just common sense.

In many cases, cyclists can be nastier than motorist to others. In London, I will occasionally inline skate on the quieter roads for a workout if I do not have my bike. I've spoken to the police regarding this, and according to them, I am self propelled so as long as I follow the rules of the road I am no different than a cyclist. The drivers leave me alone, but I routinely get screamed at by cyclists to get off the road etc. . . To their credit, cyclists have yet to throw anything at me.....

so my advice is don't be a self absorbed asshole.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by Ken Robb

I take the right side of the lane and let the people going the wrong way look at the traffic heading for them and decide where they want to position themselves. I'm not about to swerve left into traffic that I can't see to accommodate them.

Same here..lotsa runners on the shoulders or bike lanes..I move right, let them face traffic....the butt heads that run with traffic, then I gotta go into traffic, cuz they don't know I'm behind them..whole pack of Chinese women pro runners here most of the year and they run in this little gaggle, with traffic, filling up the shoulder or bike path..when you mention they ought to go over to the other side they give you this 'thousand yard stare'...

[PQJ]

LegendRider,

You're talking about Columns Drive, right? For some reason, it seems to attract a disproportionately high number of asshole runners and triathletes who, when running, seem to forget that, for at least one leg of the tri, they're (quasi) cyclists, too. For whatever reason, many of them seem to want to play chicken with cyclists. You're not the problem, they are.

[gdw]

"whole pack of Chinese women pro runners here most of the year and they run in this little gaggle, with traffic, filling up the shoulder or bike path..when you mention they ought to go over to the other side they give you this 'thousand yard stare'..."

They are Japanese and most of them don't speak English.

[LegendRider]

Originally Posted by PQJ

LegendRider,

You're talking about Columns Drive, right? For some reason, it seems to attract a disproportionately high number of asshole runners and triathletes who, when running, seem to forget that, for at least one leg of the tri, they're (quasi) cyclists, too. For whatever reason, many of them seem to want to play chicken with cyclists. You're not the problem, they are.

Yep, Columns. I normally avoid it, but because I live nearby, I occasionally ride there. Ironically, the trail runners at Sope Creek are very gracious with respect to mountain bikers in my experience.

[cp43]

Originally Posted by LegendRider

To clarify, the wrong way users are runners not cyclists.

Runners/walkers on the road should be going against traffic.

We don't have bike lanes in my area, so I'm not sure about the etiquette in that situation. But around here, with no bike lane, I move towards the middle or the road and let walkers/runners stay near the shoulder.

Chris

[Ti Designs]

There's one rule that covers most of these types of questions:

Try not to be a self-centered a$$hole.

Any questions?

[Saint Vitus]

Originally Posted by rustychisel

In the case of the OP, who specifically mentions a 'bike path' that makes things more difficult, but I still maintain that such paths are no place to 'race' or train to race; they're just too dangerous. Odd really, because that only leaves the open roads, but they're far safer.

Responding late in the game but... I'm not going to argue hierarchical epistemological road/path/lane usage rights or perceptions, it's a bike lane on the shoulder of a road, not a MUP and he specifically wrote bike lane. I use them all the time here, and here in SoCal they are usually marked as such (not sure about HotLanta but I'd guess as much). On mixed use paths such as MUPs the obvious should entail, as should something marked "Bike Lane".

[OtayBW]

Originally Posted by Ti Designs

There's one rule that covers most of these types of questions:

Try not to be a self-centered a$$hole.

Any questions?

To whom are you addressing this comment?
Nevermind.

[shovelhd]

Originally Posted by Ti Designs

There's one rule that covers most of these types of questions:

Try not to be a self-centered a$$hole.

Any questions?

That pretty much goes for everything in life.

It's all about sharing, and it goes both ways. The runners that get my blood pressure up are the groups that run two or three wide on the shoulder forcing me into the travel lane. We make eye contact but they aren't budging. Can't disrupt their coffee clatch or detract from their iPod experience. I will check my six and point my way into traffic but it is totally unnecessary. See comment above.

[gdw]

Interesting thread. It's amusing and also sad to see how some folks are offended by noncyclists using the road for recreation.

PS - Never had a negative experience with a runner on the roads or bikepaths in the 19 years I've lived in Boulder. They tend to be much nicer than the average road cyclist in this outdoor mecca.

[aramis]

Originally Posted by gdw

Interesting thread. It's amusing and also sad to see how some folks are offended by noncyclists using the road for recreation.

PS - Never had a negative experience with a runner on the roads or bikepaths in the 19 years I've lived in Boulder. They tend to be much nicer than the average road cyclist in this outdoor mecca.

Pretty much. If there is a runner in the bike lane, I look into the road to make sire it's clear and go around them giving plenty of space.

If you're riding through a congested area, there might be some guy on a beach cruiser going 5mph, or runners, or squirrels or trash or glass or whatever.. you just need to go around.

My solution is to avoid congested areas, it makes for much better riding.

[rain dogs]

only rule of thumb you need:

Always yield to the slower mover

-You're faster, don't sweat the 5 seconds you lose yielding.
-If you still want to go faster... go where you don't have to yield and go fast there (cars to highways, bikes to the road, runners to tracks etc.)

Always yield to the slower mover. It's respectful.

[victoryfactory]

Originally Posted by rain dogs

only rule of thumb you need:

Always yield to the slower mover

-You're faster, don't sweat the 5 seconds you lose yielding.
-If you still want to go faster... go where you don't have to yield and go fast there (cars to highways, bikes to the road, runners to tracks etc.)

Always yield to the slower mover. It's respectful.

I respectfully disagree. I see this exactly the other way.
When walking I yield to runners bikes and cars
When running I yield to bikes and cars
When cycling I yield to cars.
The law of the sea.... the least maneuverable craft gets the right of way

btw
When running against traffic I always move out of the bike lane into
the traffic lane if the coast is clear giving the approaching cyclist
a definitive signal that I'm paying attention and that he can have the
lane. I think this should be practiced by more runners. it's much easier
than expecting the cyclist to move into the traffic lane to avoid a runner who
has a clear view of the road. This is a common courtesy in some areas and
completely unknown in others.
VF

[palincss]

Originally Posted by victoryfactory

I respectfully disagree. I see this exactly the other way.
When walking I yield to runners bikes and cars
When running I yield to bikes and cars
When cycling I yield to cars.
The law of the sea.... the least maneuverable craft gets the right of way

btw
When running against traffic I always move out of the bike lane into
the traffic lane if the coast is clear giving the approaching cyclist
a definitive signal that I'm paying attention and that he can have the
lane. I think this should be practiced by more runners. it's much easier
than expecting the cyclist to move into the traffic lane to avoid a runner who
has a clear view of the road. This is a common courtesy in some areas and
completely unknown in others.
VF

As far as our local trails are concerned you are wrong. Here's a typical yield sign:



Cyclists yield to everyone; pedestrians yield to horses. The law of the sea is fine as far as it goes, but it does not extend to trails on land.