Bike lane etiquette

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Stephen on March 11, 2009 at 9:14am

Jason, you're not wrong to assume, as a 4 month in commuter cyclist, your commuting utopia... I used to think there was a certain general love between us all and the method of transport... but nah. Cyclists are as diverse in attitude, awareness and ability as motorists. I like to ride to a certain standard... I still do, despite many that don't. I let other cyclists know I'm passing before I do... I rarely get the same courtesy when being overtaken. I try to obey all road rules when on the road. Cyclists that go through red lights at intersections, pedestrian crossings and tram stops give us all a bad name... so does lack of lights and helmet...
My peeve is the unknown/unintroduced/unwanted drafter.
All I can offer Jason, is to lead by example and offer guidance to the misguided when given the opportunity.

Permalink Reply by jason on March 11, 2009 at 10:10am

Thanks Stephen. I had a feeling I was having unreasonable expectations of my fellow cyclists. I agree that breaking road rules gives us all a bad name, and I try to uphold them at all times. For some reason, I did have a strange vision of cyclist unification, that we all look out for each other, but I am beginning to realise my folly. Thanks for the response. I'd love to hear some more thoughts too.

Permalink Reply by Adrian Tritschler on March 11, 2009 at 10:41am

The people around you who ride bikes are the same as the people around you who walk and the people around you who drive cars. Some are polite intelligent road users, some are dangers to themselves and others. Vic road laws state that riders must ride "as far to the left as is practicable", to some riders that is 5cm from the kerb and car doors, to other riders that's completely outside the potential reach of a suddenly flung open car door.

Permalink Reply by jason on March 11, 2009 at 11:28am

Hi guys, thanks for your input. I am also acutely aware of the old car door opening fiasco, which is one reason I am always checking behind me to know weather I can swing out onto the road if needed. I still tend to ride closer to the parked cars than the moving ones, but also pay close attention to riders in front and behind me. I also find it very useful if a rider in front signals debris etc on the road - a habit I have picked up. Basically I was just hoping to start a discussion about these issues, and what people think are the most important aspects of commuting on a bicycle. Obviously safety is a major issue, and I think that communication and sharing ideas will help all of us understand what happens on the roads.

Permalink Reply by Cory on March 11, 2009 at 11:38am

Another one is 'keeping a line'. You see a lot of people weaving in and out, which in affect 'hides' you from oncoming motorists (and cyclists for that matter) only for them to pop out into the bike lane.

I'm like Sonya, I tend to favour the right of the lane, but also so I can be seen by cars. I also have a rear-view mirror, so I head to the left to allow others to pass, if it is safe to do so.

Permalink Reply by Jaeger on March 28, 2009 at 8:45pm

Hi Jason. Regarding the keeping to the left in a lane suggestion, I would say you are not right to assume. Similar to the situation with cars in car lanes, one lane is for one vehicle. If you want to overtake another car when driving, you move to the lane on the right - you don't expect the other car to squeeze to the left side of its lane so you can sneak past. There is no relevant difference when overtaking on a bike.

As others have mentioned above, car doors opening into cyclists is a very serious risk, and therefore no cyclist who values their health and well-being should ride on the left side of an on-road bike lane.

I also get frustrated at times by cyclists who run red lights. My favourite way to understand why this is such a bad thing is the idea of red-light-running as an activity that breaks the social contract between cyclists and motorists. When motorists see some cyclists run red lights, their natural reaction is to pay all cyclists less respect.

The fine for running red lights (2 fine units = $220) would presumably be a sufficient incentive to correct behaviour if it were enforced occasionally. I've only ever heard of one cyclists who got one fine for running a red light..

Permalink Reply by Stephen on March 29, 2009 at 6:46am

"When motorists see some cyclists run red lights, their natural reaction is to pay all cyclists less respect." Couldn't agree more; and the same exists for pedestrians and tram users. We all get tarred with the same brush.

Permalink Reply by jason on March 30, 2009 at 10:54am

Hi Jaeger,

You have a very good point about the overtaking - not squeezing left to let another car pass - idea. Something that sprang to mind though was that in car lanes, there is a designated speed limit, so other cars can have certain expectations of ability to travel, and reducing bottlenecks. In bike lanes, cyclists seem to travel anywhere between 5 - 40 kph, sometimes causing bottlenecks. I totally agree about being very wary about the car door risk, it is very real. My original post was more about communication and co-operation on the roads. I would never expect any other cyclist to put themselves at risk, by any means.

And I also completely agree with you and Stephen about the red light runners giving others a bad name.

Thanks again for you feedback.

Permalink Reply by RobE on March 30, 2009 at 11:59am

The road rules require all vehicles ( bicycles are vehicles) to be driven ( & " ridden" is driven in my book) in accordance with the prevailing conditions, the speed limit is a maximum, not a minimum. Congestion, weather, road surfaces, mixed mode on road users are all conditions to be observed.... and when I see bumper huggers trying to push drivers along at or above the posted speed limit maximum or riders coming up fast and demanding you move over in crowded conditions, I feel they are not " driving according to the conditions"...
courtesy, common sense and allowing time for travel is vital to safe on road use by all...

most problems, incidents and issues arise because some one is not following one of those basic elements of safe road use and they then create issues for others.... The "I'm in a hurry" is no excuse .. nobody else is in that persons hurry, and thus that person needs to take a look at themself and why they are in " their hurry" - running late, just being agro, just having issues that they allow to flow onto their road use behaviour is an infection we see in every case where an incident, crash or scare happens....remember and this applies to everyone, nobody else is in your hurry, so why expect them to do more than be reasonable, courteous and legal, should they place themselves at risk because some else has a " hurry" going on in their head. ?

Slow down, be predictable, be legal and be visible, (it's not utopian), it is what the traffic rules require of us!
Enforcement is only of any benefit when it is carried out, but the more who do the right thing, the higher the probability that those who infringe will change their tune and also be responsible safer road users...basic etiquette for on road use is unwritten, but when the rules also compliment it with specifics, we expect them to be followed.
Road users, accept the need to be responsible, courteous, timely and have the proper skill set before... and then follow that through and also "drive according to conditions" folks and the road will be a safer place for all.

Permalink Reply by TimM on April 2, 2009 at 12:35pm

Hello, and welcome.
Thought id put my two bobs worth in,
Id consider myself to be a fast rider, i generally only get pased when crossing rough ground (since i get shaken to bits on my road bike if i try to keep pace!)
When riding in a bike lane on road i ALWAYS ride on the right hand side and hug the right line, i do this for two main reasons, firstly being closer to the traffic (although a risk) makes cars more aware of your presence and wont merge into you as frequently, secondly (and i learned this when i got my motor bike licence) it gives me a 'buffer zone' so if a mad taxi driver does merge into my lane i have somewhere to move into, where as if i hugged the kerb the next step will generally be slamming into a bus shelter, sign post, rubbish can or some unfortunate pedestrian. Plus riding on the outside avoids ending up on someones lap as they open there car door.
I must admit i can 'swerve' along a path, but 95% of the time this is because im trying to save my tyres and backside from landing in a pot hole or hitting an unexpected hump in the road, road bikes arnt very forgiving (as most know!) I personally think 'swerving' without reason is a function of your riding style and speed at which you are traveling, (not picking on mountain bikes at all!!) BUT when you find a mountain bike climbing up a hill the extreme pedal mashing causes the bike to swerve and sway all over! road bikes suffer from the same thing, but i find it to be more prodomenent on heavier bikes. I think its just someonething that needs to be accepeted.
My number one gribe when commuting is when on a bike specific path, people who dont merge behind there mate when crusing down the path, although i know 3 bikes can fit comfortably down the paths, its good to know that they have acknowledged your oncoming!!! (rather than being clobered by an unexpected swerve!)

Cheers

Permalink Reply by jason on May 1, 2009 at 1:49pm

Thanks for all of your feedback. I (as OP) have definitely rethought certain practices/expectations on the road. I have been more than convinced of the need to ride more on the outer of a bike lane than on the inside, this definitely seems to help increase visibility to motorists. Thanks.

I don't tend to agree with the "not everyone is in your hurry" response though. Just because somebody is a faster rider, doesn't mean that they are in a necessarily in a hurry. Perhaps sometimes this is the case, and there are definitely reckless cyclists on the road, but as a generalisation, I believe this is dismissive and unhelpful. In my opinion I would argue that those cyclists who run red lights, mount footpaths to avoid red lights, and fail to give way at tram stops are the ones who could be seen as being "in a hurry." And more often than not, these are the same cyclists who road-rule obeying people, like myself, regularly overtake, or are stuck behind further down the road. This also happens when people edge past you at a red light, eager to take off first, but then lack the common courtesy to give way to other cyclists. Please don't get me wrong, safety is a major concern, particularly now that riding home from work is in the twilight/dark, but I believe courtesy should be given to all cyclists. I will give way and let someone pass if it is safe to do so, why should I seen to be inconsiderate to expect the same.

Also, on a safety issue, I often find myself feeling unsafe riding behind a slow cyclist. I find I cannot see the road ahead, and am less able to predict motorist/pedestrian activity. I understand that all cyclists ride differently and I appreciate that, but I will always try to get in front of someone who I believe compromises my own safety on the road.

I hope this isn't taken as being provocative or unthoughtful. As I have said several times, I think that open communication is beneficial, particularly as we are all on the road together. Thanks.

Permalink Reply by Cory on May 1, 2009 at 2:32pm

I certainly agree with you on your points of speed. You generally have your 'natural comfortable speed' for the conditions. If I approach a slower rider, I just do the same I would in a car... check if I can overtake, then take the (car) lane and go around. If I can't overtake, then I have to wait until I can. (Just like in a car).

Unsafe behind a slower cyclist? You should maintain a safe braking distance behind any vehicle.

But yeah - most (almost all?) of the time all is :D on my commutes. ALMOST makes coming to work worthwhile.

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