|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Waiting in traffic lines.
Marz wrote:
When driving to work the other day (sorry, yes driving, cycling is not really an option right now) I noticed the one cycling commuter ( a very rare sight in Houston) and was surprised to see him wait in line with traffic at the lights. For me, one of the reasons I did ride to work is to avoid getting stuck in traffic lines and my question is, do other folks wait in line or do you ride through stationary traffic? laters, Marz If the cars are all waiting on a straight section of road, I pass them. Gridlock is their problem, not mine. If I am going to make a right turn, I will still ride past, but be VERY cautious at the turn. In the US (that is, driving on the right side of the road) most drivers don't bother to look to their right before turning--they are only looking straight or left. Getting turned on is a real possibility, and the few times I've come closest to being run over, this was the scenario (a car turning right without looking right first, or using their turn signal). If I am gong to make a left turn, I will pull up in the right side of the left-turn lane, right behind the first car, to wait. The second car is paying attention to what's in front of them, and (I think) is more likely to notice me. ----- Splitting lanes makes the most sense when making a left-hand turn at a multi-lane stoplight, yet 1) it's illegal in the state I live in, and 2) most drivers seem to be pretty surprised at a bicycle riding through several lanes of traffic (even if the traffic isn't actually /moving/ at the moment). ~ |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Waiting in traffic lines.
On Apr 16, 12:27*pm, DougC wrote:
Marz wrote: When driving to work the other day (sorry, yes driving, cycling is not really an option right now) I noticed the one cycling commuter ( a very rare sight in Houston) and was surprised to see him wait in line with traffic at the lights. For me, one of the reasons I did ride to work is to avoid getting stuck in traffic lines and my question is, do other folks wait in line or do you ride through stationary traffic? laters, Marz If the cars are all waiting on a straight section of road, I pass them. Gridlock is their problem, not mine. If I am going to make a right turn, I will still ride past, but be VERY cautious at the turn. In the US (that is, driving on the right side of the road) most drivers don't bother to look to their right before turning--they are only looking straight or left. Getting turned on is a real possibility, and the few times I've come closest to being run over, this was the scenario (a car turning right without looking right first, or using their turn signal). If I am gong to make a left turn, I will pull up in the right side of the left-turn lane, right behind the first car, to wait. The second car is paying attention to what's in front of them, and (I think) is more likely to notice me. ----- Splitting lanes makes the most sense when making a left-hand turn at a multi-lane stoplight, yet 1) it's illegal in the state I live in, and 2) most drivers seem to be pretty surprised at a bicycle riding through several lanes of traffic (even if the traffic isn't actually /moving/ at the moment). ~ When I do ride through stationary traffic, up the middle of two lanes, I have to be 100 times more cautious here in Houston as I used to be in London. I guess London drivers are used to seeing cyclists and motorcyclists traveling through gridlock. Whereas folks here seem to be constantly amazed just to see a cyclist on the road. I don't even know if what I'm doing illegal here in Texas. And as for right turning traffic, you're correct drivers never look right before going right, and I usually make sure I leave enough room for folks to continue to turn right. And when the lights change, make sure that the next guy turning right is aware that I'm going straight on. I had thought the differences in cycling habits I see here in Houston compared to the UK was a left-pond right-pond sort of thing, but having visit other US cities it's more of a Houston thang. As there are so few cycling commuters on the road, drivers have no idea what to do and never expect to have to look out for a cyclist. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Waiting in traffic lines.
On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:00:34 -0700, Marz wrote:
I had thought the differences in cycling habits I see here in Houston compared to the UK was a left-pond right-pond sort of thing, but having visit other US cities it's more of a Houston thang. As there are so few cycling commuters on the road, drivers have no idea what to do and never expect to have to look out for a cyclist. It is exactly the same in different parts of the UK. I think it depends on many things, the number of cyclists on the road is one of them. It also seems to vary with the seasons/weather - more people are out cycling in the better weather and people are generally happier to be out in the sun (cyclists and everyone else) so people are a bit more courteous to each other. peter |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Waiting in traffic lines.
On Apr 16, 2:00 pm, Marz wrote:
And as for right turning traffic, you're correct drivers never look right before going right... Why should they look there (beyond looking ahead to the right for traffic in the crosswalk)? If one is in the right most lane, it's quite reasonable to expect that there is nothing coming up behind on the right when one is making a right turn. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Waiting in traffic lines.
naked_draughtsman wrote: On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:00:34 -0700, Marz wrote: I had thought the differences in cycling habits I see here in Houston compared to the UK was a left-pond right-pond sort of thing, but having visit other US cities it's more of a Houston thang. As there are so few cycling commuters on the road, drivers have no idea what to do and never expect to have to look out for a cyclist. It is exactly the same in different parts of the UK. I think it depends on many things, the number of cyclists on the road is one of them. One thing I have noticed in the last couple of months, is how my cycling speed affects how other road users treat me. The faster I go, the more I seem to be cut up, or receive abuse. In mid-Feb it was taking me just over an hour to commute to work, and now I am taking 40-45 minutes (still not fast enough). In Feb, I had hardly any trouble from motorists. However this could be due to road positioning, the faster I go, the further from the kerb I ride. Martin. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Waiting in traffic lines.
|
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Waiting in traffic lines.
On Apr 17, 6:47 am, DougC wrote:
wrote: .... Because if a pedestrian is stepping off the corner that they are turning on, what will happen? How does a pedestrian stepping off the corner qualify as coming up behind on the right, as a cyclist filtering up the right edge does? |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Waiting in traffic lines.
Doug Cimper wrote:
wrote: On Apr 16, 2:00 pm, Marz wrote: And as for right turning traffic, you're correct drivers never look right before going right... Why should they look there (beyond looking ahead to the right for traffic in the crosswalk)? If one is in the right most lane, it's quite reasonable to expect that there is nothing coming up behind on the right when one is making a right turn. Because if a pedestrian is stepping off the corner that they are turning on, what will happen? ~ Quite of few pedestrians are hit this way by drivers not looking for them. The situation is bad enough that in some places (such as college campuses), right turns are prohibited at certain intersections (except for buses and emergency vehicles). Being "right-hooked" is also a reason why riding at speed on the sidewalk and crossing intersections is a very bad idea, and why "bicycle lanes" on the sidewalk can be death traps. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia The weather is here, wish you were beautiful |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Waiting in traffic lines.
On Apr 18, 1:15 am, Tom Sherman
wrote: Doug Cimper wrote: wrote: On Apr 16, 2:00 pm, Marz wrote: And as for right turning traffic, you're correct drivers never look right before going right... Why should they look there (beyond looking ahead to the right for traffic in the crosswalk)? If one is in the right most lane, it's quite reasonable to expect that there is nothing coming up behind on the right when one is making a right turn. Because if a pedestrian is stepping off the corner that they are turning on, what will happen? ~ Quite of few pedestrians are hit this way by drivers not looking for them. The situation is bad enough that in some places (such as college campuses), right turns are prohibited at certain intersections (except for buses and emergency vehicles). Being "right-hooked" is also a reason why riding at speed on the sidewalk and crossing intersections is a very bad idea, and why "bicycle lanes" on the sidewalk can be death traps. Ditto for bicycle lanes on the street. Two of last year's cyclist fatalities in Portland were standing in bike lanes at red lights. Large vehicles at their left crushed them doing right turns on red. When you're at the same speed as the motor vehicles, you should almost always be right in line with the motor vehicles. And "same speed" includes zero speed. - Frank Krygowski |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Waiting in traffic lines.
On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:04:15 +0000, Martin Dann wrote:
One thing I have noticed in the last couple of months, is how my cycling speed affects how other road users treat me. The faster I go, the more I seem to be cut up, or receive abuse. In mid-Feb it was taking me just over an hour to commute to work, and now I am taking 40-45 minutes (still not fast enough). In Feb, I had hardly any trouble from motorists. However this could be due to road positioning, the faster I go, the further from the kerb I ride. As you go faster, especially if you're making better time in traffic, it frustrates other drivers so they'll try to compete with you -- as they will when you're driving a car faster than they are. But it really gets their goat to be "beaten" by a bicycle. Also, if you're riding fast, they may assume you're trying to "beat" them, and will return the gesture in-kind. Their problem, not yours. Imagine going through life like that. Just don't engage, or when you feel you've gotten their (negative) attention, take active steps to disengage -- let them "beat" you, and go on their miserable way. Matt O. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Waiting in traffic lines. | Simon Mason[_2_] | General | 22 | April 18th 08 06:34 PM |
Waiting in traffic lines. | Ian Smith | General | 0 | April 16th 08 06:27 PM |
Still waiting ... | Steven L. Sheffield | Racing | 35 | July 26th 06 07:16 PM |
Traffic Citations & Traffic Cops | Freddie | Mountain Biking | 0 | March 23rd 06 05:02 AM |
Waiting... | PopeSamXVI | Unicycling | 3 | June 5th 04 07:38 AM |