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Using a traffic* lane when there is a bike lane is not necessarily hostility. I'd even argue that it's rarely hostility. It might be that the bike lane is full
by Cockbrand 4y ago
Using a traffic* lane when there is a bike lane is not necessarily hostility. I'd even argue that it's rarely hostility. It might be that the bike lane is full of potholes, or dirty/icy/full of foliage or debris, so it's uncomfortable or unsafe. Or there could be a lot of parking with potentially opening car doors right next to the bike lane.
* traffic doesn't only consist of cars. Bikes, pedestrians, wheelchairs are also part of traffic.
- throw_a_grenade 4y agoIt pretty much is, and it's also illegal at least where I live -- cyclists are required to use bike ways/lanes if present, and cyclist's opinion about its serviceability doesn't matter if the bike way isn't officially closed. It's also stretching luck, because whoever designed the intersections could have assumed there are no bikes on the road, since they all are required to ride bike way and therefore might be less visible on the road.
- varajelle 4y agoWhere I live it is only mandatory to use the bike line if there is a sign mandating it (blue circle with a bike drawn in it), but otherwise bikes are free to take the road if they prefer (because many of bike lines are in bad shape, too narrow, or shared with the pedestrian) And the road designer know that because the road marking near traffic lights still have spacial mark for the cyclist, despite the bike line next to it.
- Retric 4y agoTo be clear I mean people will perceive it as hostile seeing bikers in a traffic lane when next to a bike lane, and then respond with hostile actions like heavy acceleration right next to a biker etc. Honking is far more common, but escalation happens and simply assuming it’s safer because someone sees you don’t always work if their annoyed.