cybor

Good point rkkwan about the 2 or 6 or however many, so long as they're contained in the same lane. Also, hadn't thought about a single lane convoy slowing traffic more than those riding side by side.

karens

I see this "debate" from both sides. I once rode around my neighborhood on my road bike and refuse to do it again. It was too scary to have people driving so crazy around me - veering toward me (one the widest part of the road); turning right in front me (they had the stop sign, not me). All my friends who are serious road bikers have at least one scary story of being hit or wiping out due to a driver.

I much prefer my mountain bike and the dirt trails, anyway. Or I take my road bike to the river drives in Phila. on the weekends when they close two roads along the river to traffic.

But while driving, I've slowly followed a biker on a narrow road. When the road opened to two lanes, this particular biker stayed right where he was, continuing to block me from passing when he clearly had at least 15 feet to move over but chose, for whatever reason, not to do so.

I run facing traffic. I'm too nervous not to.

BayouGal

Is biking safety, etc, included in driver's education courses? If not, it obviously should be.

J_Correa

As a bike commuter, I wish for 2 things:

1. That everybody would be more considerate and follow the rules of the road.

2. That when roads are designed and redesigned, space for cyclists is included in the plan.

seetheworld

Redesigning roads, where possible, sounds like a good idea all around, J_Correa.

beachbum

One would have thought we'd solved this in Oregon by spending millions to create bike lanes on many major roads. But I observe the same things here as many of you; cyclists still ride 2-3 abreast, regardless of whether or not it's outside their lane. And they still blow through red lights and stops signs as if rules don't apply to them. So, whoever recommended licensing for cyclists, I agree. And if you can't pass a rules of the road test, you don't get one. I'm still waiting for the day I see a cyclist getting a traffic ticket.

On the more humorous side, Oregon developers of buildings that encourage/allow public access are also often required to provide parking for bicycles. I'm also still waiting to see a bicycle in the customer bike rack at Costco.

Armani_Rugpilot

Riding so you can see the bicyclists. The goals have been made: You noticed those bicyclists. Many times car drivers are not seeing so crashing and many dead cyclists for this. You can reading the more details here for Hwy 1 and the bay area. Yes tragic.

http://forums.mtbr.com/search.php?searchid=4752113

AR

LoveItaly

Our city has a lot of bike lanes which I think is great. I am all for people using their bikes to get around. But going through red lights or stop signs before stopping is sooooo dangerous and I do wonder what cyclist are thinking (or guess they are not) when they do this, like the fellows I saw yesterday.

I have not experienced cyclist riding side by side thank goodness. I don't know if our city has a law against that or not. We do have a law that they have to wear a protective head helmet I believe.

I just wish cyclist would be aware of the dangers especially with so many bad drivers when they are talking away on their cellphones and don't have a clue as to what is going on around them. A big rant of mine. But as of Jan. 1, 2008 it will be illegal in CA. Drivers will not be able to hold a cell phone and drive unless they are calling 911.

LLindaC

I love California.

sunbum1944

Not only are bikers supposed to ride single file, they are supposed to keep a respectable distance between them so if one person falls, the rider behind wont rear end them.
My former bosses wife was killed this summer by such an incident- one biker fell, biker behind tried to avoid and fell herself- under the wheels of a logging truck. It was very tragic!!

I live in a big biking community and you really see everything here. I see many bikers riding single file and obeying the laws- but I also see bikers
riding on the sidewalks, weaving through traffic and running red lights and I still see many not wearing helmets.

One of my friends actually did get a ticket riding her bike for not coming to a complete stop at the stop sign - its not a common occurance though.

I have also been on the other end of the stick- riding my bike, obeying the rules- a lady pulled out of a driveway, didnt see me and almost hit me, so guess when we live in biking cocommunities we need to learn to respect eeach other and make it a place where we can all enjoy the roadways.

Our city, Eugene, is actually having a city sponsered "Biking and Walking Summit" next weekend for the community to help plan better and biking and walking opportunities in the city.
Sounds like a good start.

beachbum

<<Drivers will not be able to hold a cell phone and drive unless they are calling 911.>>

<<I love California.>>

Then you should love Santa Fe NM, too, LLindaC. Talking on hand-held cell phones while driving is already against the law there.

Now, where were we?

J_Correa

Red light running is one of my pet peeves - from cyclists and drivers. Why in the world is this such a problem? Light turns red, you stop. Simple.

JeffreyJ

From Wikipedia...this may cast some light on why cyclists like to ride in packs.

"The peloton (from French, literally meaning ball and related to the English word platoon), bunch or pack is the large main group in a road bicycle race.
Riders in a group save energy by riding close (drafting or slipstreaming) near (particularly behind) other riders. The peloton travels as an integrated unit, like birds flying in formation, each rider making slight adjustments in response to the riders around them (particularly the one in front of each)."

Sorry for the inconvenience, but since when does one person travelling in an automobile take priority over six people on road bikes? Chill out...they have the same right on the road as your car. 'Share the road' is the law. Live with it. Do you rage about slow farm equipment "clogging the roads"?

I ride city streets in Phoenix frequently, always in single file and never more than two feet from the shoulder. It amazes me how inconsiderate, and sometimes downright stupid, many drivers can be. I've been hit twice, through absolutely no fault of my own, by boneheaded drivers who couldn't or wouldn't take the time to watch the road. Some drivers are just hostile to cyclists, period...many's the time I've had some clown get on my eight o'clock and lean on his horn, for amusement, apparently.

<grin> OK, that's my rant. Phoenix DOES need more bike lanes! Am I the only one who sees the irony in the city begging people to carpool, and fretting over its citizens' health? Seems like there's a pretty simple answer...yet they won't add bike lanes to any of the major thoroughfares.

Incidentally, I ALWAYS stop at red lights....although I've been known to blow stop signs if there's no other traffic.

JJ5

This is a central problem to biking and traffic in general, where I live. In my area of IL and in the entire Chicagoland South and SW region the car/truck traffic is so dense that you are literally taking your life in your hands to use the regular streets/roads, now.

We have immense numbers of bike paths, and one runs all the way from Joliet area to the Lake Michigan beachfront. And others go burb to burb or village to village or burb to city etc.

But this is another problem. Now there are groups forming at the rest stops, and they are talking/ complaining about the dog walkers and runners. It's nearly as bad as with cars. They ARE bike paths, but are being used more and more for other purposes. If you think bikers or drivers don't know, or follow the rules- well this problem is becoming humongous. By me it is getting to be skaters/bikers against the world. For their own lives, they almost have to be.

A good friend's coworker (woman in her mid-30's) and on one of the paths I use the most- WITH a helmet on- comes over the hill and down into a bunch of moms walking all abreast with toddlers- holding their hands across the entire path. Stopping not to run them over, she was thrown over the handlebars onto her head. She is now a parapelegic.

Her life, her kids' lives- forever changed. And not in a good way.

Please know the rules on the bike paths as well. THEY ARE LIKE streets, with moving traffic.

JeffreyJ

"A good friend's coworker (woman in her mid-30's) and on one of the paths I use the most- WITH a helmet on- comes over the hill and down into a bunch of moms walking all abreast with toddlers- holding their hands across the entire path. Stopping not to run them over, she was thrown over the handlebars onto her head. She is now a parapelegic.

Her life, her kids' lives- forever changed. And not in a good way."

Uf dah. Not a pretty picture. Yup, being a parapelegic seldom changes one's life in good way.

A bike lane is exactly that. It's not a jogging lane or a parking space. Many's the car I'ved dodged around, many's the time I've had to veer around, sometimes into the traffic, a Scottsdale mommy jogging in the bike lane, her headphones blaring, pushing her toddler around in one of those little runner's strollers. And when one reminds the woman, with all courtesy, that she oughta be on the SIDEWALK, it is suggested very tartly and succinctly to go about one's own business.

But in the interests of fairness, and in all respect, doesn't it seem that perhaps your friend's coworker may have been going a bit fast? Reasonable and prudent speed, on a road bike or in a car, in an urban environment means maintaining the ability to stop within a few feet.

joelst

I can't stand it when a cyclist rides in the middle of the road and there is a sidewalk right there! That drives me insane! Why can't they ride on the side walk, it's what the sidewalk is for. I think it is dangerous for cyclist to ride on the road with cars, I have to slam on my brakes or swerve to miss them. Ugh, just get on the sidewalk.

Suki

My husband is an avid cyclist who does obey the rules of the road. When I presented this question to him, he had a response similar to Jeffrey's: We have as much right to the use of the road as the cars. People need to be a little more courteous about sharing the road all the way around.

TheWeasel

"Why can't they ride on the side walk, it's what the sidewalk is for."

This has to be a joke, or else it's just a really dumb statement. The sidewalk is for pedestrians, not bikes.

embarcadero1

They are using the road for transportation, just like you.

Who said that cars have preferential access to the country's roadways? Especially on HWY 1, which is principally for sightseeing, you have no right to expect that just because you're in a car you're special. You're not.

Get out of your SUV and join them - or give up.

JeffreyJ

" can't stand it when a cyclist rides in the middle of the road and there is a sidewalk right there! That drives me insane! Why can't they ride on the side walk, it's what the sidewalk is for. I think it is dangerous for cyclist to ride on the road with cars, I have to slam on my brakes or swerve to miss them. Ugh, just get on the sidewalk."

Ummm...well, sorry to disappoint, but it's illegal to do so. Cyclists aren't supposed to be there, although that's a rule honored in the breech more than anything. Sidewalks are for pedestrians, who have every right not to be run over by cyclists.

Darn right it's dangerous to ride on the street with traffic, if other drivers think as you do...and many do. But others have a right to the road that's equal to yours, unless you're driving an ambulance. Chill out and be a little patient. You'll come to a place where you can safely pass the rider.