4 ms·

The real problem is that cyclists typically ride near the edge of the lane or road rather than in the center of the lane. This puts the cyclist outside of the

by u801e 6y ago

The real problem is that cyclists typically ride near the edge of the lane or road rather than in the center of the lane. This puts the cyclist outside of the foveal field of view for the motorist, which means that they're less likely to see them in time to avoid a collision.

laurieg 6y ago
Unfortunately, where I live bicycles keeping to the side of the lane is required by law. Even in situations where this isn't required, drivers can easily become aggressive towards slower vehicles such as bicycles. Bicycles often fall through the cracks: not quite first class vehicles but not afforded the same protections as pedestrians.
- usrusr 6y ago
  Where I live there's also a law like that, but if you look a little closer you realize that it actually requires cyclists to maintain a sizable safety margin to the actual edge while keeping right. Of course many drivers only know the general headline which leads to a lot of, uhm, "ad-hoc driver education"...
- u801e 6y ago
  > Unfortunately, where I live bicycles keeping to the side of the lane is required by law. In the US, most vehicle law is based on the UVC (uniform vehicle code) template. While that does contain a clause that cyclists must keep as far right as practicable, it lists a number of exceptions. One of those exceptions is a "substandard width lane"[1]. The law defines it as a lane that's too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to safely pass side by side within the lane. Most general purpose lanes are 10 to 12 feet wide. A cyclist can range from 2 to 3 feet wide (depending on the type of bicycle) and require a minimum of 4 feet of operating space[2] with 5 feet preferred. Even with the cyclist operating at far right as practicable and taking the minimum operating width into account, they take a little over 3 feet in roadway width. Given that most states have a 3 foot minimum distance passing law and the fact that most motor vehicles range from 7 to 8 feet in width (including their side mirrors) and commercial vehicles are around 10 feet wide, it's not possible to safely or legally pass a cyclist while remaining within a typical 10 to 12 foot wide lane. [1] https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-905/ https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/secti... [2] https://njdotlocalaidrc.com/perch/resources/aashto-gbf-4-2012-bicycle.pdf https://njdotlocalaidrc.com/perch/resources/aashto-gbf-4-201... (page 52)
jamil7 6y ago
You need to be quite confident to do this as it can often result in car drivers honking, shouting or overtaking recklessly and nearly clipping you. Less experienced cyclists often feel much safer hugging the right side of the lane, even though as you mention this is much more dangerous, especially the risk of being doored (I learned that lesson the hard way). Depends on the city and cycling culture a bit but thats my experience.
- u801e 6y ago
  > You need to be quite confident to do this as it can often result in car drivers honking, shouting or overtaking recklessly and nearly clipping you. Actually, the opposite is true. When you ride in the center of the lane, motorists will typically make a full lane change to pass you. If you ride near the edge of the lane, motorists will try to squeeze between you and the lane line. A full lane change definitely allows for more distance between the cyclist and motorist.
  - ljf 6y ago
    In an ideal world yes, more commonly - no. I was a confident cyclist, I commuted daily and a could sprint to 30mph, could hold 20mph, and was happy holding my road position. In London, realistically traffic never really got much about 20, so I should have been golden. But the amount of cars that either tried to squeeze by me, honk or shout was huge - a daily occurrence. Even just to gain a car length or two, and always only until the traffic light,but drivers nearly always want to go as fast as their car (and the limit) allows and anything in their way is an inconvenience. If this happened to me on a fast road bike, I think someone on a sit up and beg bike doing 7 to 12mph is going to find holding a road position even harder. And so people ride in the gutter, with no where to turn left or right when an obstacle is ahead or someone comes too close.
    - u801e 6y ago
      > In an ideal world yes, more commonly - no. When I refer to riding in the center of the lane, I mean riding between the center and left tire track (or between the center and right tire track when traffic keeps to the left). Almost invariably over the last 15 years or so, I have found that overtaking drivers will change lanes[1]. When I used to ride in the right tire track position (left tire track position where traffic drives on the left), I would frequently have overtaking vehicles squeeze between me and traffic in the adjacent lane. I ride a hybrid bike and can maintain about 15 mph on flat ground and maybe 5 to 8 mph uphill. I still take the lane regardless and will release when safe to do so. [1] https://iamtraffic.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/BicyclistPositionOvertakingDistance.pdf https://iamtraffic.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/BicyclistP... (figure on page 8)
klyrs 6y ago
Yeah... I live near a well-marked shared lane and frequently ride down it. I stay to the right-ish except when passing parked cars (which I give berth to avoid getting doored). Not just cars, but even municipal buses, get aggro despite the frequent signage.

by u801e 6y ago

laurieg 6y ago

Unfortunately, where I live bicycles keeping to the side of the lane is required by law. Even in situations where this isn't required, drivers can easily become aggressive towards slower vehicles such as bicycles. Bicycles often fall through the cracks: not quite first class vehicles but not afforded the same protections as pedestrians.

usrusr 6y ago
Where I live there's also a law like that, but if you look a little closer you realize that it actually requires cyclists to maintain a sizable safety margin to the actual edge while keeping right. Of course many drivers only know the general headline which leads to a lot of, uhm, "ad-hoc driver education"...
u801e 6y ago
> Unfortunately, where I live bicycles keeping to the side of the lane is required by law. In the US, most vehicle law is based on the UVC (uniform vehicle code) template. While that does contain a clause that cyclists must keep as far right as practicable, it lists a number of exceptions. One of those exceptions is a "substandard width lane"[1]. The law defines it as a lane that's too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to safely pass side by side within the lane. Most general purpose lanes are 10 to 12 feet wide. A cyclist can range from 2 to 3 feet wide (depending on the type of bicycle) and require a minimum of 4 feet of operating space[2] with 5 feet preferred. Even with the cyclist operating at far right as practicable and taking the minimum operating width into account, they take a little over 3 feet in roadway width. Given that most states have a 3 foot minimum distance passing law and the fact that most motor vehicles range from 7 to 8 feet in width (including their side mirrors) and commercial vehicles are around 10 feet wide, it's not possible to safely or legally pass a cyclist while remaining within a typical 10 to 12 foot wide lane. [1] https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-905/ https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/secti... [2] https://njdotlocalaidrc.com/perch/resources/aashto-gbf-4-2012-bicycle.pdf https://njdotlocalaidrc.com/perch/resources/aashto-gbf-4-201... (page 52)

jamil7 6y ago

You need to be quite confident to do this as it can often result in car drivers honking, shouting or overtaking recklessly and nearly clipping you. Less experienced cyclists often feel much safer hugging the right side of the lane, even though as you mention this is much more dangerous, especially the risk of being doored (I learned that lesson the hard way). Depends on the city and cycling culture a bit but thats my experience.

u801e 6y ago
> You need to be quite confident to do this as it can often result in car drivers honking, shouting or overtaking recklessly and nearly clipping you. Actually, the opposite is true. When you ride in the center of the lane, motorists will typically make a full lane change to pass you. If you ride near the edge of the lane, motorists will try to squeeze between you and the lane line. A full lane change definitely allows for more distance between the cyclist and motorist.
- ljf 6y ago
  In an ideal world yes, more commonly - no. I was a confident cyclist, I commuted daily and a could sprint to 30mph, could hold 20mph, and was happy holding my road position. In London, realistically traffic never really got much about 20, so I should have been golden. But the amount of cars that either tried to squeeze by me, honk or shout was huge - a daily occurrence. Even just to gain a car length or two, and always only until the traffic light,but drivers nearly always want to go as fast as their car (and the limit) allows and anything in their way is an inconvenience. If this happened to me on a fast road bike, I think someone on a sit up and beg bike doing 7 to 12mph is going to find holding a road position even harder. And so people ride in the gutter, with no where to turn left or right when an obstacle is ahead or someone comes too close.
  - u801e 6y ago
    > In an ideal world yes, more commonly - no. When I refer to riding in the center of the lane, I mean riding between the center and left tire track (or between the center and right tire track when traffic keeps to the left). Almost invariably over the last 15 years or so, I have found that overtaking drivers will change lanes[1]. When I used to ride in the right tire track position (left tire track position where traffic drives on the left), I would frequently have overtaking vehicles squeeze between me and traffic in the adjacent lane. I ride a hybrid bike and can maintain about 15 mph on flat ground and maybe 5 to 8 mph uphill. I still take the lane regardless and will release when safe to do so. [1] https://iamtraffic.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/BicyclistPositionOvertakingDistance.pdf https://iamtraffic.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/BicyclistP... (figure on page 8)

klyrs 6y ago

Yeah... I live near a well-marked shared lane and frequently ride down it. I stay to the right-ish except when passing parked cars (which I give berth to avoid getting doored). Not just cars, but even municipal buses, get aggro despite the frequent signage.