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You're pointing out the obvious that i was implying in my post in the hope that it already was obvious. Getting out of the saddle is both a slightly strenuous

You're pointing out the obvious that i was implying in my post in the hope that it already was obvious. Getting out of the saddle is both a slightly strenuous thing to do, and also moderately dangerous, since you have to balance on a vehicle that is devoid of inherent balance at low speeds. Dangerous since you run a small risk of "tipping" into the car that's half a meter left of you, sometimes less. As for the tipping comment, yes, that is valid, but also highly depends on the anatomy of the rider. At 5'4" i'm small enough that it is impossible for me to tip my bicycle down far enough to put both feet on the ground in the space afforded me at an intersection. Many intersections have affordances like light poles, rails or just the curb that i can use, but sometimes stopping at an intersection for me means i have to entirely get off the thing.

dragonwriter 11y ago
> At 5'4" i'm small enough that it is impossible for me to tip my bicycle down far enough to put both feet on the ground in the space afforded me at an intersection. Why would you need to put more than one foot down? Front wheel, back wheel, and one foot provides a tripod. EDIT: To expand, even most motorcycle advice I've seen advises using one foot except when necessary because you have a particularly heavy motorcycle; I don't imagine that it should ever be a necessity for a bike (I can see why it might be a preference at some times, but the cases where it would be a preference would also be times when you wouldn't want to blow through a red light if the opportunity present itself.)
- Mithaldu 11y ago
  Actually, you're right. My train of thought was off-track. My height/bike combination makes it difficult to properly tilt even with one foot on the ground. On flat ground i can't even keep my right foot on the pedal while standing on my left and the mental image i had in mind was standing over the middle bar with both feet on the ground without hanging off it off my groin, and the tilt required even for that is way too much. Narrow spaces excacerbate this. And before you ask: Yes, i tried the next-smaller bike type, they're considerably slower for me in transit.
  - dragonwriter 11y ago
    > And before you ask: Yes, i tried the next-smaller bike type, they're considerably slower for me in transit. I wouldn't look so much at a smaller bike as a flat-foot design, but, yeah, there is still probably a performance tradeoff.
    - Mithaldu 11y ago
      I didn't know that was a thing. Thanks for mentioning it, i'll have to try and find one of those! :D
- soneil 11y ago
  I frequently stop on two feet. I see it as a form of communication. The safest thing you can do on a bicycle is be predictable - what ever you're planning on doing, look like you're planning on doing it. It's just signalling, but expanding "wave your arms around" to whole-body language. Stopping on one foot, with the other on the drive side ready to go, says I'm ready to go. Standing on two feet makes it clear I'm stopped, and going to remain stopped while I'm in this stance. It works out - if whoever I'm waiting for has to brake because they think I'm about to kill myself, they take longer to get out my way.
  - dllthomas 11y ago
    "The safest thing you can do on a bicycle is be predictable" Generally the case for most (all?) participants in traffic!

dragonwriter 11y ago

> At 5'4" i'm small enough that it is impossible for me to tip my bicycle down far enough to put both feet on the ground in the space afforded me at an intersection. Why would you need to put more than one foot down? Front wheel, back wheel, and one foot provides a tripod. EDIT: To expand, even most motorcycle advice I've seen advises using one foot except when necessary because you have a particularly heavy motorcycle; I don't imagine that it should ever be a necessity for a bike (I can see why it might be a preference at some times, but the cases where it would be a preference would also be times when you wouldn't want to blow through a red light if the opportunity present itself.)

Mithaldu 11y ago
Actually, you're right. My train of thought was off-track. My height/bike combination makes it difficult to properly tilt even with one foot on the ground. On flat ground i can't even keep my right foot on the pedal while standing on my left and the mental image i had in mind was standing over the middle bar with both feet on the ground without hanging off it off my groin, and the tilt required even for that is way too much. Narrow spaces excacerbate this. And before you ask: Yes, i tried the next-smaller bike type, they're considerably slower for me in transit.
- dragonwriter 11y ago
  > And before you ask: Yes, i tried the next-smaller bike type, they're considerably slower for me in transit. I wouldn't look so much at a smaller bike as a flat-foot design, but, yeah, there is still probably a performance tradeoff.
  - Mithaldu 11y ago
    I didn't know that was a thing. Thanks for mentioning it, i'll have to try and find one of those! :D
soneil 11y ago
I frequently stop on two feet. I see it as a form of communication. The safest thing you can do on a bicycle is be predictable - what ever you're planning on doing, look like you're planning on doing it. It's just signalling, but expanding "wave your arms around" to whole-body language. Stopping on one foot, with the other on the drive side ready to go, says I'm ready to go. Standing on two feet makes it clear I'm stopped, and going to remain stopped while I'm in this stance. It works out - if whoever I'm waiting for has to brake because they think I'm about to kill myself, they take longer to get out my way.
- dllthomas 11y ago
  "The safest thing you can do on a bicycle is be predictable" Generally the case for most (all?) participants in traffic!