That's precisely my point, and the point of the video; when you ride at the road edge, you get treated far worse then when you act like a real driver. It does not follow that being passed closely or honked at when riding at the road edge, that it becomes worse when you control lanes; quite the opposite occurs in practice. All the evidence I have gathered from around the US, is that acting as a driver is the lowest risk best practice for bicyclists.
There are some excellent points in this video about how bicyclists should interact with traffic. I especially liked the mention of proper lane position and signaling.
Whether or not you "like" controlling a lane has no bearing on the safety aspects of the practice. The purpose of controlling a lane is to be highly visible, as this is what protects any driver from those behind. This is just as true for a sedan driver in front of SUVs or large trucks as it is for bicyclists in front of sedans. Though counterintuitive, by "trying" to stay out of the way, you actually invite close passes & crossing conflicts; with sidewalks amplifying the crossing crash risk.
Excellent video. I use these skills all the time and they have kept me safe for 30 plus years cycling 5000 to 10000 km per year in all seasons and all types of weather.
In addition to following the proper safety rules and abiding by the applicable traffic laws as shown in this video, I would strongly recommend that all avid cyclists with auto insurance get Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage with relatively high limits. This coverage will cover you (at least in California) if you get in an accident involving a car whose driver may have no or insufficient insurance coverage. I get calls to my office all the time from cyclists who unfortunately were involved in accidents and they cannot recover for their injuries because the at fault driver did not have insurance or did not have enough coverage. Safe cycling.
Don't worry about cars crossing a solid yellow line to pass you, and don't change lane positions to avoid making them do it. Some states and countries actually have an exception that allows drivers to pass slow-moving vehicles in a no-passing zone. Even for the ones who don't, cops won't generally care, as long as the driver isn't endangering anyone. Your responsibility is yourself, so keep your lane position, and keep a safe distance from parked cars.
Ever since I've been using cameras when cycling people don't mess with me. Before the cameras, a small percentage of people would use their horns or yell out their window even though I follow the statutes to a tee. I've only encountered one obscene verbal by a random passenger in a truck when in the bike lane at an intersection. Normally I take the vehicle lane when stopped at intersections but my mind was in autopilot at that moment. People also don't realise many of us cyclists are also motorists and we also pay our fair share of road taxes.
Excellent video. I bike commute through DC, where bike lanes are still fairly scarce and cyclists have no option but to ride with traffic. I constantly try and tell cyclists who ride in the far right area of a lane that they are actually much safer "controlling the lane" (i.e., riding in the middle). This video captures that very well.
This is a wonderful video to show how to properly be a vehicular cyclist! I plan on showing this video to my friends so they can learn about why cyclists ride the way they ride!
There is no easy answer when dealing with prejudice. I usually tell people that the path doesn't go where I need to go, and even on those extremely rare occasions when the path does go where I'm going, they are much more hazardous at driveways and intersections. You can read more about this in our ITC Intro on the CyclistView website, click on the link on our CyclistLorax channel page.
Nathanael: It's context-sensitive, and depends on your own preference. The most vehicular thing to do would be to wait on or near the center line, allowing traffic to pass you on your right if there's room, and then turning left when there's a gap in oncoming traffic. But there's nothing inherently wrong with pulling over safely and crossing as a pedestrian.
Very informative video I didn't know all the rules cyclists had to follow. I recently moved to a big city and bought a Trek 820 to get to a from work. Now I know to obey the same laws at motorists.
There is a lot of info packed in here! Of course, I get my info from Officer Buttwhype (this video shows him in action): th-cam.com/video/iiEXo2gvMe8/w-d-xo.html
Nathanael, you can do it either way that’s most comfortable for you. If it’s your street, you will likely make this maneuver several times a week or month, and you will get better at moving left a block or two early, when there is a gap in traffic. It is legal, safe and courteous to execute a left turn in this manner, just as if you were on a Harley Davidson that weighs hundreds of pounds.
Yep, you still don't want to compromise your own safety. It's give and take, of course, so as soon as I can help the driver(s) behind, I'll make it easy for them to overtake me, but never at the cost of my safety. Try searching out "you forced me to speed to overtake you" for one where I just have to take the lane on a narrow road in Bromley.
make a box left turn which is basically you go forward moving straight with traffic staying to the right and then stop once you get to to the opposite streets right lane reposition your bike and go straight once they have a green light
@wheel851 What if it wasn't a bike but a slow-moving farm tractor that weighs as much or more than your car? Would you still plow (pun intended lol) around that, or wait till it's safe to pass? Let's all be safe and remember being meek and mild isn't a character flaw.
These techniques work anywhere in the US. I have done so in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Florida and New York. No problems whatsoever.
I've really enjoyed your set of videos, well shot, well paced and making good sense, all cyclists could learn some valuable lessons here, excellent work. Thanks
I also ride 23 - 27mph and 30 to 35 with a tailwind... : ) It's fun to race cars from red light to red light.... If a cop sees it they go after the car for speeding.. And me, a bicycle going how fast?
To anyone who thinks this is unsafe riding, just go look up some videos of bike messengers or alley cat races. Those guys make these guys look like the safest cyclists on the road. BTW good interview with Dan on the Outspoken Cyclist radio show the other night.
thanks a ton for this video. im a student about to purchase a ss bike to commute through the city and i was unsure of how turns are done. thanks again so much,a great help! GOD Bless :)
My friend from Thailand used to carry a key in his and when he rode his bike. When people got too close (i.e. so close that he only has to turn the key outwards slightly for it to touch the car, and the side mirrors can actually hit your handlebars), he keyed their cars. It was ecognised by the locals, and if your car got keyed, you knew what you did. It also showed others what you nearly did...
I've found the safest way to ride is to leave 5 minutes earlier than necessary for my 30 minute urban commute and to ride slower. When the light turns green, I ride very slowly and let all the cars quickly pass by me. Then I am almost alone until the next light.
A very smart and proper use of a bike. Like drivers, people shouldn't expect to speed to their destination. Know the capabilities and limitations of your ride and plan accordingly.
Are you familiar with the concept of a threshold? We are well above the optical response threshold, so the primary determining factor in us being seen by following drivers is our lateral lane position. A cyclist does not need to be at the center frequency of the human optical repsonse curve to be easily visible, and to oversell this notion downplays the more important role of lateral position in being seen, recognized and avoided.
Nice video,very informative... I have always wondered if a rider has the right of way for his or her own lane now I know... Thanks for the good information..
I liked this. The pov stuff really creates the feeling of what it's like in the lane. About 75% comprehensive think about some on screen graphx but keep up the good work dan... Who ever you are :-)
Jeff, here are the two relevant codes: 22108. Any signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given continuously during the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning. 21200. (a) Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division,..., except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application. The second reply will give the explanation for the behavior.
It took me about a year of utility cycling before I started bikeing like this... When I controlling a lane and a car waits behind me for ME to MOVE out of HIS way, I point back at the car, bounce my arm and point the the lane to pass in and them move my arm to show overtake me in that lane. I do this often and recomend it to others.
Some motorists don't know the law and want cyclists off the road, so no matter how well you ride, a smaller number of those jerks will honk and/or shout insults. It's more pathetic than anything else...
@wheel851 I don't know if you are in the US or in my state of North Carolina, but here a bicycle legally has all the rights of a car, or a tractor with a "job," or without a "job," and people are expected to share the road. I believe the laws guidelines are that if there are 5 or more cars waiting behind you and they can't pass without crossing the middle line, and there's no bike lane or anywhere else to ride but 3 feet out in the road, it's time to safely pull over.
@TheA340guy - I do believe bicyclists are Drivers in Australia and NZ, but I am not certain because I have not reveiwed the traffic laws in those countries.
As for pulling over: there's no requirement to, but it's a nice courtesy if there's absolutely no other option for the other drivers. On a 4-lane street, they're SOL if they want to stay behind me -- they can easily pass. But on a 2-lane street with a median and narrow lanes -- it's courteous to pull over occasionally and let them pass. My usual policy is to pull over if they're courteous to me -- and don't do anything out of my way at all if they're honking.
I was watching this video because I'm a new cyclist. Come to realize I ride in the same streets as these guys. How cool. After reading the info I get it. Long Beach is truly a bicycling city. Also a dog city haha
I live in long beach also.. make sure u make eye contact with opposite oncoming vehicle... or vehicle that you think that may possible hit you...make sure they are aware. I got hit recently with suv.. I was in the wheelchair for awhile.
If you can find a Cycling Savvy or League of American Bicyclists safety course near you, I highly recommend it. They teach this stuff in more detail and help you learn to practice the techniques.
@akittenonfire - The main issue higher lane count, higher speed roads is that lane changes need to be started early, and if a natural gap in the traffic (due to platooning from traffic signals) does not occur, then it often requires negotiation, which is the ability to signal and look back to determine if a driver in the lane to the left will let you in, in order to make lane changes. You can see examples in the Bicycle Driving on SoCal arterials video on this same channel.
"Vehicular cycling" is perhaps necessary on roads with no modal separation, however as a basis for getting more people to cycle it's a disaster. Many people are uncomfortable sharing with fast moving motor vehicles let alone "controlling the traffic". This outdated approach unfortunately dominates much of US cycle advocacy, & has led to extremely low cycling rates here, compared to countries with high quality separated cycle lanes as the norm, such as Denmark & the Netherlands.
A strict semantic interpretation would simply assert that 22108 doesn't apply to bicycles, which per CVC 231 are NOT vehicles, they are devices. However, the more perceptive answer is to recognize that the intent of traffic laws is to promote safe movements, and that when travelling at very low speeds, such as when waiting in an intersection to turn left, it is better to control the bike, and signal when necessary to ensure other drivers are aware of your maneuver. Safety takes precedence...
If you approach a traffic light thats been green for awhile and there is traffic behind you. And you are in the middle lane because the right lane is a right-turn only. I always try to barely ride between the right and middle lane. So cars can pass. But a tiny bit of wind might make my bike turn and it can be a scary situation.
. Now I am riding an electric bike at a constant 20mph and wow what a differance. I'm glad you put this video. Very helpful. Cars never seem to put it together that I am on electric bike and approche them much faster than they think. I don't get angy because I can understand ther surprise. I'm stilll scared to try some of the things you said. Lane control and not going all the way to the right in a right turn lane when I;m going straight. I do stop at all stop signs and wait for a green light.
@RedheadDane - Bicyclists in the US have the same rights and duties as other drivers of vehicles, so they are allowed to make normal left turns from left turn lanes as well as the leftmost travel lane. While it is also legal to make a double road crossing to make left turn, it puts the cyclist at the road edge where they are often in conflcit with right turning drivers. The point of the video was to demonstrate cyclists operating as drivers in normal travel lanes.
@samten10a At what time in the video? At 2:35 and 2:50 the light was green for both left turns, the first from a left turn only lane, the second from the left lane.
I'm impressed. Something though looked to me that it might a bit of a danger. The cyclist put his hand out to signal without first looking behind it seemed. If a car had been overtaking it could have hit his hand. Would it not be safer to look first before signalling?
I'd tell the police (respectfully of course) that they should refamiliarize themselves with the law as bicycles are not required to stay right and it is often much safer to control the lane because the likelihood of being clips is less when they cagers have to treat you like any other vehicle if they want to get around you (i.e. change lanes). The CA DMV even tells you "If there is no shoulder or bicycle lane and the traffic lane is narrow, ride closer to the center of the lane."
Great Job! I agree that viewing this video (or one like it) should be manditory for obtaining or renewing a driver's license. It would be easy for the DMV link to such a video and have a person verify that they watched it by answering qestions on content. I would encourage you to make additional videos showing the dangers of being "doored" and how a driver should check and double check before opening a door into traffic. How cyclists can look ahead into the side view mirror, etc.
I took the cyclist test for Illinois and I passed but I was still confused about the whole intersection thing. I wished that the test covered more on that in detail. Turning left was still the most confusing thing about it, or going straight.
@CycleMan2200 - The bottom line is that Ohio, like, CA, TX, NH, and Michigan, makes the mistake of applying the impeding law to drivers of non-motorized vehicles. In the UVC and 42 US states, the law only applies to the driver of a MOTOR VEHICLE, since this law originated in CA and applied to trucks with solid rubber tires slowing state highways (the forerunner to modern freeways). The impeding traffic law is generally a freeway law, not intended to restrict bicycling on public streets.
@quarvis - Sounds all well and good? Does your computer only play audio? This video shows that driver behavior produces driver treatment. I take it that you only ride along river paths that have no road crossings, sort of like a bike as a recreational toy, rather than using it for transportation.
People commenting about sidewalk/taking up whole lanes don't realize different places has different laws. Locally, our city has a handbook for cyclists. It forbids riding on sidewalk(unless there is a sign allowing you), and if the street doesn't have a bike lane, you are suppose to take up the entire car lane even if it's a one lane road. By not obeying those (and a shit ton of rules), cops usually CAN fine you around 100-150 dollars..(hardly seen enforced)
you can have the no riding on sidewalk law over turned in your city. we did here when they tried to start that crap up. federal law states cyclists can ride anywhere pedestrians can walk and federal law trumps city laws and ordinances. as long as you have a bell to let people know that you are trying to pass them on the sidewalk and you yield to pedestrians, its legal
yeah, but like I said..our laws are never enforced. Cause cops know it's stupid...never seen or heard anyone been fined for riding on sidewalk. Only exception is motored bikes, I have seen them get fined and rightfully so.
If I'm at a three way stop sign... say "T" for example, and I'm biking along that top line heading west, would I have to stop or can I ride right through? Trying to figure out the rules of the road because I like biking clockwise around this lake, but there's a lot of three way stop signs and traffic lights along the route. If I go straight through it's not like I risk getting hit by someone heading north since that's not an option, but I also feel hesitant because I don't want to blow through the stop sign or red light if it's not allowed.
Mikenopolis: "that you are a 'driver' the speed limit is 50 you are making all of us behind you go under 20 because YOU choose to ride smack in the middle of the lane." And for how long does your important journey get 'slowed' because of this? In most cases we are talking about seconds before a motorist while be able to make a safe overtake. Is that so unbearable, these few seconds of waiting? Most cyclist does not take a primary without a cause, it is because it makes it safer for him/her to do so in certain situations depending on where he/she is cycling. "it's much easier for a biker to get a long with walker than it is to get a long with cars." If you drive your bike like an old aunt I would have to agree with this, but a cyclist traveling at 15-30 mph + has no business on a sidewalk at all, it's just pure logic.
Ironically you just made the case for not biking all the way in the street. The flow of traffic is dictated by vehicles and your presence is disrupting it, not only endangering your own life since you aren't exactly very noticeable. Get a motorcyle if you want to ride on the street. And what kind of idiot biker would bike 15-30MPH on a sidewalk? You chose a bike, not a car or motorcyle. You cannot expect to get the same speed of travel as those vehicles. Common sense says to dismount around people and bike at a reasonable speed where you have control to stop if necessary (just like how drivers do).
Finest, we aren't arguing what the law is, but how people should act. After all, the law says you shouldn't speed but does that actually keep people from speeding? The idealism of the law is frequently a far cry from reality, and it doesn't keep accidents from happening, it only provides the guideline for judgement in court AFTER the accident. The difference in flow of traffic exists. It makes a lot more sense for bikers to be on the sidewalk where they are much closer to pedestrian traffic AND can dismount easily and walk around pedestrians. Bikes cannot match the flow of automotive traffic except in very specific situations such as congested inner city districts. If you want a the experience of biking on the road, it makes more sense to either limit yourself to safe localities as I mentioned above, or to use a motorized vehicle like a motorcycle or moped. And if you still believe that it makes sense for bikes to ride on the road anyways because the road should be shared by all, why are some highways restricted from bikers riding there? Why is riding an animal on a public street considered reckless in some localities? To be a safe rider you MUST know your ride's capabilities. Simply being stubborn and pointing to the law as it stands right now is not the sign of a responsible and safe user of the road. There are many things that are legal that we should think twice about because of the possible danger or hindrance to others.
Dave Smith The law is important because it’s what we base our society around, not your silly baseless opinions. You seem to lack the ability to acknowledge the concept that roads are for people moving in a variety of vehicles. With the exception of expressways which are solely designed for high speed motor traffic, lower speed users like bicyclists have a right to use most roads. By the way, animal driven vehicles are allowed on all roads not considered for high speed traffic as well. In these videos these bicyclists are riding on multi lane roads and like any other slower moving vehicle they ride in the right most thru lane where other slower moving vehicles unless making turns or passing others are supposed to be. The duties of these cyclists as are the duties of other road users is to operate their vehicles in a manor that follows the rules of the road for drivers of vehicles and not collide with others. Insisting that bicyclists or other slow moving vehicles operating lawfully in the roadways causes issues or “accidents” neglects the fact other road users have that duty to follow the rules of the road and strive to not collide with others. Here’s another important bit of reading for you to learn and understand. Do not reply until you’ve read it iamtraffic.org/equality/the-marginalization-of-bicyclists/
Question: If you are going down a street and your driveway is on the left side of the street, and there is dense traffic on both sides of the street, should you pull over and allow the traffic to pass or wait until there is a safe opening and cut through the yellow line?
This is really wonderful cycling practice, but I just wish every motorist would not lose their patience and become aggressive about it. If only every motorist tolerated it. Do the police acknowledge this cycling practice? Or would they pull you over if they saw you riding like this?
The strategies illustrated in the video work for multi-lane roads, but what are the strategies for two-lane roads (i.e. one lane each direction)? I live in WV where hills make bikes even slower and twisty roads make passing regions few and far between. I feel comfortable using the techniques in the video in the denser parts of town where the roads are wide or multi-lane, but what about the other roads?
Great video. One question though...I noticed when yielding to oncoming traffic prior to making a left turn, the cyclist is not signaling the turn even though it is technically required by law (vehicle code 22108). Is this done intentionally to help avoid the situation where oncoming motorists unnecessarily stop/yield to the left turning cyclist? I've had oncoming vehicles stop for me while I'm stopped/yielding and signaling a left turn, which can be a dangerous/unpredictable situation.
@ILykToDoDuhDrifting - In 2 US states, there is no "impeding traffic" law, in 43 US states, the impeding traffic laws only apply to the drivers of Motor Vehicles, and in only 5 US states do such laws apply to all drivers. In these 5 states, the impeding traffic laws are not usually applied to bicyclists who are complying with the normal laws governing drivers moving slower than other traffic, or specific laws that apply to cyclists moving slower than other traffic.
I have been riding for 45 years and continue to do so, in traffic. “Controlling the lane” is a concept that I have used. However, I have had very negative experiences with motorists and police who will say “Bicycles are required to stay to the right”. So has there been a change in law or attitudes that now allow bikes to control the lanes rather than being forced to the extreme right? I would agree that keeping to the center is better and safer as long as you don’t get a ticket for it.
Great video. I use these same techniques while commuting to and from work. I do get a lot of people who yell at me to use the bike path. How do you handle those situations.
On one hand you have the right to the road as much as they do - the horn should not be used as intimidation! On the other hand it's polite to let traffic pass if you are holding up a number of vehicles that cannot overtake for some reason. UK Highway Code 169: Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.
Has there been any progress made on the issue of traffic lights that do not change for bicycles? You know, the ones that sense the presents of a vehicle before activating the traffic signal. I have been away for some time. Use to be that my bike would NOT cause the signals to change and this made it very difficult to use the traffic signals properly and also created a definite hazard for me caused by motorists who had the benefit of changing signals while I did not.
Thanks for sharing. I got my first bike today since I was twelve and I'm a little nervous. I don't plan on going far just around my neighborhood but I thought I'd look up bike safety just to make sure I don't screw up. Now just saying that should I just stick to the side walk or stay on the street? Are there any websites you would recommend so I know what to do? Any and all advice is welcome :) Thank you.
@mrcranky01 - To make lane changes into a faster moving lane, you can either wait for a gap in the traffic or negotiate a lane change. Negotiation requires that you look back and then signal and look back again (or just keep your head turned around as you signal) to see if a motorist will give you space. You can see this in anumber of the other videos on this channel, such as Bicycle Driving on SoCal Arterials.
We did look first. We use eyeglass mounted mirrors to do the rear scanning so the quality of the synchronized video is good. I can assure you that we both always look before sticking our arms out to signal.
No way, not without disrupting the flow of traffic. I think bikes a great, but they should be used on an extension of the sidewalk, not intercepting the lane where vehicles are. Bikers also have to come to the realization that they aren't a motorcycle or vehicle, and they can't expect to travel as fast as they can.
Dave Smith: Cycling do not disrupt the flow of traffic, driving does. How? Because most cyclists in the world are located in the cities (and not on rural roads) where the speed limit is low and roads are filled up with cars in endless queues, and most cyclists in the world are commuters (which mean they do they cycling in typical rush hours). *No other road users impede traffic as frequently or severely than the drivers of private automobiles.* Cycling, on the other hand ease traffic and contribute to making the flow of traffic goes smoothly, as one less adult in a car, taking up all that space in a congested city means the traffic lessen when more and more people use their bike instead of their car when commuting. Also, cycling is not slower than driving in the cities. For instance, the average speed of a car in a city like London, is as low as 13km/h to about 19km/h, while cycling is between 15km/h to 20km/h (these numbers are easily searchable if you google it), and you will also find it similar in other cities. The average cycling speed in the cities could have been even more if it weren't for all the traffic caused by the cars there. Sidewalks are not for vehicles, and if you are travelling faster than someone jogging, you will have no business being on a sidewalk which have been designed for pedestrians. Having a great alternative infrastructure for cyclists is the best alternative, though, which do separate motorized traffic, bicyclists, and pedestrians. (And btw, in the eyes of the law a bicycle is a vehicle, and a person controlling a bicycle is considered an operator - which was established by the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of the United Nations)
I ride over 100 miles a week here in Las Vegas. I will control a lane during high traffic times if no bike lane is provided. Low traffic times cars will just get over to go around you anyways. Only had two confrontations with motorists. Helps that i'm a two time golden glove. I don't use the left turn lane during high traffic times though because so many motorists don't realize that you as a cyclist legally can. I just take the extra minute to use the cross walks, and not hold up traffic
My biggest problem is that in thin lanes, cars actually illegally swerve passed the double bar line and go around me when i'm going slow. Many times I've recked into parked cars and fell off because of this from fear. It's also hard when there is much traffic, so I "parallel park" to let the cars go by, but then I'm stuck waiting for ten minutes. I've heard this many times, but is it true that if you just ride the same path that you would if you were driving, everything should be fine?
@CyclistLorax Well... here if the road is wide enough to have seperate lanes for left turnes changes are rather great there are also a cycling lane... and... it IS kinda hard to get from the cycling lane and into the driver's lane...
I feel kinda vindicated w/ this video 'cause I've been a cyclist almost my whole life I prefer bikes over cars. But it's good to see things like this to help people learn how to deal w/ riding on public roads.
@wheel851 - The basic speed law requires that all drivers not travel faster than is safe for the conditions. If you come around a blind corner and hit a fallen tree; it's your fault for dirving beyond your sight lines; thus leaving you no time and space to stop. If you hit another slower driver, be it a slower motor vehicle driver or cyclist under similar citcumstances; it's your fault for driving faster than is safe for the conditions.
Thanks so much for posting this. Don't worry about that Norsetenen clown. What he doesn't realize is the kinds of cyclists he is crying about not seeing are those who don't ride properly like this. They are the ones that pop out against traffic or are so far to the right they cannot be seen. I could understand the frustration. Videos like this will help prevent people riding to anger someone like Norsensten. What I do is follow the proper techniques and I keep a rearview mirror (cont.)
If you had read the other comments, you would notice that this has already been answered: "We use mirrors to look, otherwise the head turns create very bad video."
@OnlineBike Thanks for your response and that makes me more confident and want to ride more on the open road :) He pronounced his name Jacob but I forgot his last name. I will just ignore them and follow the traffic rule as one vehicle and enjoy riding :)
this helped me. I ride a bike to and from college. but unfortunately there isn't as much room on roads as this video so it gets tight.
You might want to try the three foot flag from takeyourlane.com - keeps the cars away!
That's precisely my point, and the point of the video; when you ride at the road edge, you get treated far worse then when you act like a real driver. It does not follow that being passed closely or honked at when riding at the road edge, that it becomes worse when you control lanes; quite the opposite occurs in practice. All the evidence I have gathered from around the US, is that acting as a driver is the lowest risk best practice for bicyclists.
There are some excellent points in this video about how bicyclists should interact with traffic. I especially liked the mention of proper lane position and signaling.
Whether or not you "like" controlling a lane has no bearing on the safety aspects of the practice. The purpose of controlling a lane is to be highly visible, as this is what protects any driver from those behind. This is just as true for a sedan driver in front of SUVs or large trucks as it is for bicyclists in front of sedans. Though counterintuitive, by "trying" to stay out of the way, you actually invite close passes & crossing conflicts; with sidewalks amplifying the crossing crash risk.
Excellent video. I use these skills all the time and they have kept me safe for 30 plus years cycling 5000 to 10000 km per year in all seasons and all types of weather.
In addition to following the proper safety rules and abiding by the applicable traffic laws as shown in this video, I would strongly recommend that all avid cyclists with auto insurance get Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage with relatively high limits. This coverage will cover you (at least in California) if you get in an accident involving a car whose driver may have no or insufficient insurance coverage. I get calls to my office all the time from cyclists who unfortunately were involved in accidents and they cannot recover for their injuries because the at fault driver did not have insurance or did not have enough coverage. Safe cycling.
Don't worry about cars crossing a solid yellow line to pass you, and don't change lane positions to avoid making them do it. Some states and countries actually have an exception that allows drivers to pass slow-moving vehicles in a no-passing zone. Even for the ones who don't, cops won't generally care, as long as the driver isn't endangering anyone. Your responsibility is yourself, so keep your lane position, and keep a safe distance from parked cars.
This actually helps. Bicyclists in my area tend to take the entire lane up and I just needed to know what I was allowed to do to pass.
This could be the best yet, perhaps because of the dubbed narration. Outstanding.
Ever since I've been using cameras when cycling people don't mess with me. Before the cameras, a small percentage of people would use their horns or yell out their window even though I follow the statutes to a tee. I've only encountered one obscene verbal by a random passenger in a truck when in the bike lane at an intersection. Normally I take the vehicle lane when stopped at intersections but my mind was in autopilot at that moment. People also don't realise many of us cyclists are also motorists and we also pay our fair share of road taxes.
Excellent video. I bike commute through DC, where bike lanes are still fairly scarce and cyclists have no option but to ride with traffic. I constantly try and tell cyclists who ride in the far right area of a lane that they are actually much safer "controlling the lane" (i.e., riding in the middle). This video captures that very well.
This is a wonderful video to show how to properly be a vehicular cyclist! I plan on showing this video to my friends so they can learn about why cyclists ride the way they ride!
Very informative video on how to ride your bicycle in traffic. This was the perfect video for my question, "HOw to ride my bicycle in the streets?"
This is an excellent video that covers many of the safety issues that the common bicyclist should learn so as to increase their safety.
This includes many excellent tips. As with any type of vehicle, it's important to be predictable and communicate one's intentions before proceeding.
In Holland we have seperated lanes for cyclists.
And you have a different culture altogether when it comes to transportation. Holland's cycle tracks by themselves will never work in the US.
I work where there are a lot of cyclists and I never know what to do in my car so I'm trying to learn.
Bravo!
There is no easy answer when dealing with prejudice. I usually tell people that the path doesn't go where I need to go, and even on those extremely rare occasions when the path does go where I'm going, they are much more hazardous at driveways and intersections. You can read more about this in our ITC Intro on the CyclistView website, click on the link on our CyclistLorax channel page.
Nathanael: It's context-sensitive, and depends on your own preference. The most vehicular thing to do would be to wait on or near the center line, allowing traffic to pass you on your right if there's room, and then turning left when there's a gap in oncoming traffic. But there's nothing inherently wrong with pulling over safely and crossing as a pedestrian.
Very informative video I didn't know all the rules cyclists had to follow. I recently moved to a big city and bought a Trek 820 to get to a from work. Now I know to obey the same laws at motorists.
Excellent and informative video. Thank you CyclistLorax.
+BikeBlogger didn't expect to see you here XD
There is a lot of info packed in here! Of course, I get my info from Officer Buttwhype (this video shows him in action):
th-cam.com/video/iiEXo2gvMe8/w-d-xo.html
Nathanael, you can do it either way that’s most comfortable for you. If it’s your street, you will likely make this maneuver several times a week or month, and you will get better at moving left a block or two early, when there is a gap in traffic. It is legal, safe and courteous to execute a left turn in this manner, just as if you were on a Harley Davidson that weighs hundreds of pounds.
Yep, you still don't want to compromise your own safety. It's give and take, of course, so as soon as I can help the driver(s) behind, I'll make it easy for them to overtake me, but never at the cost of my safety.
Try searching out "you forced me to speed to overtake you" for one where I just have to take the lane on a narrow road in Bromley.
I'm new to America. this will gonna help me a lot, since in my country you only allowed to
ride your bike on the sidewalk.... THANKS!!!
make a box left turn which is basically you go forward moving straight with traffic staying to the right and then stop once you get to to the opposite streets right lane reposition your bike and go straight once they have a green light
It is a perfect example of how to ride on the road with traffic. It is welly adopted in all advanced cities in the world.
one of the best videos on the web , im happy to see that I do these practices myself when I ride
Great video! I think the motorist that are ignorant and thinks bicyclist don't belong on the road should see these videos.
@wheel851 What if it wasn't a bike but a slow-moving farm tractor that weighs as much or more than your car? Would you still plow (pun intended lol) around that, or wait till it's safe to pass? Let's all be safe and remember being meek and mild isn't a character flaw.
Gettng back to basics is a good thing - thanks
These techniques work anywhere in the US. I have done so in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Florida and New York. No problems whatsoever.
Yes. Nearly all of the footage in this video was shot in Long Beach, CA.
We just shot some of the same types of video in Dallas, Texas, Same results, too. It works everywhere in the USA.
Try the 'Copenhagen' left. It will take a bit longer to make the turn, but is well worth the extra safety.
@MattTheWeedMaster
Matt, sidewalks are for pedestrians. Streets are for bicycles, cars, and motorcycles.
I've really enjoyed your set of videos, well shot, well paced and making good sense, all cyclists could learn some valuable lessons here, excellent work. Thanks
I also ride 23 - 27mph and 30 to 35 with a tailwind... : ) It's fun to race cars from red light to red light.... If a cop sees it they go after the car for speeding.. And me, a bicycle going how fast?
To anyone who thinks this is unsafe riding, just go look up some videos of bike messengers or alley cat races. Those guys make these guys look like the safest cyclists on the road. BTW good interview with Dan on the Outspoken Cyclist radio show the other night.
thanks a ton for this video. im a student about to purchase a ss bike to commute through the city and i was unsure of how turns are done. thanks again so much,a great help! GOD Bless :)
My friend from Thailand used to carry a key in his and when he rode his bike. When people got too close (i.e. so close that he only has to turn the key outwards slightly for it to touch the car, and the side mirrors can actually hit your handlebars), he keyed their cars. It was ecognised by the locals, and if your car got keyed, you knew what you did. It also showed others what you nearly did...
I've found the safest way to ride is to leave 5 minutes earlier than necessary for my 30 minute urban commute and to ride slower.
When the light turns green, I ride very slowly and let all the cars
quickly pass by me. Then I am almost alone until the next light.
A very smart and proper use of a bike. Like drivers, people shouldn't expect to speed to their destination. Know the capabilities and limitations of your ride and plan accordingly.
Are you familiar with the concept of a threshold? We are well above the optical response threshold, so the primary determining factor in us being seen by following drivers is our lateral lane position. A cyclist does not need to be at the center frequency of the human optical repsonse curve to be easily visible, and to oversell this notion downplays the more important role of lateral position in being seen, recognized and avoided.
Nice video,very informative...
I have always wondered if a rider has the right of way for his or her own lane now I know...
Thanks for the good information..
I liked this. The pov stuff really creates the feeling of what it's like in the lane. About 75% comprehensive think about some on screen graphx but keep up the good work dan... Who ever you are :-)
Jeff, here are the two relevant codes:
22108. Any signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given continuously during the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning.
21200. (a) Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division,..., except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application. The second reply will give the explanation for the behavior.
I'm always glad to see videos like this! Together we can help educate drivers and bicyclists! :)
It took me about a year of utility cycling before I started bikeing like this... When I controlling a lane and a car waits behind me for ME to MOVE out of HIS way, I point back at the car, bounce my arm and point the the lane to pass in and them move my arm to show overtake me in that lane. I do this often and recomend it to others.
Good video on cycling road safety. I liked it! The one thing that really sucks about cycling is that many motorists pass you way too closely.
Some motorists don't know the law and want cyclists off the road, so no matter how well you ride, a smaller number of those jerks will honk and/or shout insults. It's more pathetic than anything else...
@wheel851 I don't know if you are in the US or in my state of North Carolina, but here a bicycle legally has all the rights of a car, or a tractor with a "job," or without a "job," and people are expected to share the road. I believe the laws guidelines are that if there are 5 or more cars waiting behind you and they can't pass without crossing the middle line, and there's no bike lane or anywhere else to ride but 3 feet out in the road, it's time to safely pull over.
@TheA340guy - I do believe bicyclists are Drivers in Australia and NZ, but I am not certain because I have not reveiwed the traffic laws in those countries.
thank you! now i feel comfortable riding to school
As for pulling over: there's no requirement to, but it's a nice courtesy if there's absolutely no other option for the other drivers. On a 4-lane street, they're SOL if they want to stay behind me -- they can easily pass. But on a 2-lane street with a median and narrow lanes -- it's courteous to pull over occasionally and let them pass. My usual policy is to pull over if they're courteous to me -- and don't do anything out of my way at all if they're honking.
I was watching this video because I'm a new cyclist. Come to realize I ride in the same streets as these guys. How cool. After reading the info I get it. Long Beach is truly a bicycling city. Also a dog city haha
I live in long beach also.. make sure u make eye contact with opposite oncoming vehicle... or vehicle that you think that may possible hit you...make sure they are aware.
I got hit recently with suv.. I was in the wheelchair for awhile.
If you can find a Cycling Savvy or League of American Bicyclists safety course near you, I highly recommend it. They teach this stuff in more detail and help you learn to practice the techniques.
@akittenonfire - The main issue higher lane count, higher speed roads is that lane changes need to be started early, and if a natural gap in the traffic (due to platooning from traffic signals) does not occur, then it often requires negotiation, which is the ability to signal and look back to determine if a driver in the lane to the left will let you in, in order to make lane changes. You can see examples in the Bicycle Driving on SoCal arterials video on this same channel.
"Vehicular cycling" is perhaps necessary on roads with no modal separation, however as a basis for getting more people to cycle it's a disaster. Many people are uncomfortable sharing with fast moving motor vehicles let alone "controlling the traffic".
This outdated approach unfortunately dominates much of US cycle advocacy, & has led to extremely low cycling rates here, compared to countries with high quality separated cycle lanes as the norm, such as Denmark & the Netherlands.
I just wonder what sign had the white car at the scene 3:08 and why the bike get second and not last
Three way stop signs. The bike got there after the oncoming car, but before the truck on the right.
A strict semantic interpretation would simply assert that 22108 doesn't apply to bicycles, which per CVC 231 are NOT vehicles, they are devices. However, the more perceptive answer is to recognize that the intent of traffic laws is to promote safe movements, and that when travelling at very low speeds, such as when waiting in an intersection to turn left, it is better to control the bike, and signal when necessary to ensure other drivers are aware of your maneuver. Safety takes precedence...
If you approach a traffic light thats been green for awhile and there is traffic behind you. And you are in the middle lane because the right lane is a right-turn only. I always try to barely ride between the right and middle lane. So cars can pass. But a tiny bit of wind might make my bike turn and it can be a scary situation.
. Now I am riding an electric bike at a constant 20mph and wow what a differance. I'm glad you put this video. Very helpful. Cars never seem to put it together that I am on electric bike and approche them much faster than they think. I don't get angy because I can understand ther surprise. I'm stilll scared to try some of the things you said. Lane control and not going all the way to the right in a right turn lane when I;m going straight. I do stop at all stop signs and wait for a green light.
@RedheadDane - Bicyclists in the US have the same rights and duties as other drivers of vehicles, so they are allowed to make normal left turns from left turn lanes as well as the leftmost travel lane. While it is also legal to make a double road crossing to make left turn, it puts the cyclist at the road edge where they are often in conflcit with right turning drivers. The point of the video was to demonstrate cyclists operating as drivers in normal travel lanes.
@samten10a At what time in the video? At 2:35 and 2:50 the light was green for both left turns, the first from a left turn only lane, the second from the left lane.
I'm impressed. Something though looked to me that it might a bit of a danger. The cyclist put his hand out to signal without first looking behind it seemed. If a car had been overtaking it could have hit his hand. Would it not be safer to look first before signalling?
I'd tell the police (respectfully of course) that they should refamiliarize themselves with the law as bicycles are not required to stay right and it is often much safer to control the lane because the likelihood of being clips is less when they cagers have to treat you like any other vehicle if they want to get around you (i.e. change lanes). The CA DMV even tells you "If there is no shoulder or bicycle lane and the traffic lane is narrow, ride closer to the center of the lane."
Great Job! I agree that viewing this video (or one like it) should be manditory for obtaining or renewing a driver's license. It would be easy for the DMV link to such a video and have a person verify that they watched it by answering qestions on content. I would encourage you to make additional videos showing the dangers of being "doored" and how a driver should check and double check before opening a door into traffic. How cyclists can look ahead into the side view mirror, etc.
I took the cyclist test for Illinois and I passed but I was still confused about the whole intersection thing. I wished that the test covered more on that in detail. Turning left was still the most confusing thing about it, or going straight.
@CycleMan2200 - The bottom line is that Ohio, like, CA, TX, NH, and Michigan, makes the mistake of applying the impeding law to drivers of non-motorized vehicles. In the UVC and 42 US states, the law only applies to the driver of a MOTOR VEHICLE, since this law originated in CA and applied to trucks with solid rubber tires slowing state highways (the forerunner to modern freeways). The impeding traffic law is generally a freeway law, not intended to restrict bicycling on public streets.
Nice, informative vid. Clever camerawork helped a great deal. The music in the background was a bit distracting with it's 1980's royalty-free flavor.
@quarvis - Sounds all well and good? Does your computer only play audio? This video shows that driver behavior produces driver treatment. I take it that you only ride along river paths that have no road crossings, sort of like a bike as a recreational toy, rather than using it for transportation.
People commenting about sidewalk/taking up whole lanes don't realize different places has different laws. Locally, our city has a handbook for cyclists. It forbids riding on sidewalk(unless there is a sign allowing you), and if the street doesn't have a bike lane, you are suppose to take up the entire car lane even if it's a one lane road. By not obeying those (and a shit ton of rules), cops usually CAN fine you around 100-150 dollars..(hardly seen enforced)
you can have the no riding on sidewalk law over turned in your city. we did here when they tried to start that crap up. federal law states cyclists can ride anywhere pedestrians can walk and federal law trumps city laws and ordinances. as long as you have a bell to let people know that you are trying to pass them on the sidewalk and you yield to pedestrians, its legal
yeah, but like I said..our laws are never enforced. Cause cops know it's stupid...never seen or heard anyone been fined for riding on sidewalk. Only exception is motored bikes, I have seen them get fined and rightfully so.
+Beach Life : You're lying about federal law. You have no idea what you are talking about.
u know differnt placess has different laws right
Riding on the sidewalk sucks. I stick to the roads.
Thank you for keeping us safe!!
In Holland we have separate bike lanes to prevent accidents which you probably going to get with these situations.
If I'm at a three way stop sign... say "T" for example, and I'm biking along that top line heading west, would I have to stop or can I ride right through? Trying to figure out the rules of the road because I like biking clockwise around this lake, but there's a lot of three way stop signs and traffic lights along the route. If I go straight through it's not like I risk getting hit by someone heading north since that's not an option, but I also feel hesitant because I don't want to blow through the stop sign or red light if it's not allowed.
Mikenopolis: "that you are a 'driver' the speed limit is 50 you are making all of us behind you go under 20 because YOU choose to ride smack in the middle of the lane."
And for how long does your important journey get 'slowed' because of this? In most cases we are talking about seconds before a motorist while be able to make a safe overtake. Is that so unbearable, these few seconds of waiting? Most cyclist does not take a primary without a cause, it is because it makes it safer for him/her to do so in certain situations depending on where he/she is cycling.
"it's much easier for a biker to get a long with walker than it is to get a long with cars."
If you drive your bike like an old aunt I would have to agree with this, but a cyclist traveling at 15-30 mph + has no business on a sidewalk at all, it's just pure logic.
I want to have a t-shirt that says ' i'd rather not be here either' for this occasion. :)
Ironically you just made the case for not biking all the way in the street. The flow of traffic is dictated by vehicles and your presence is disrupting it, not only endangering your own life since you aren't exactly very noticeable. Get a motorcyle if you want to ride on the street.
And what kind of idiot biker would bike 15-30MPH on a sidewalk? You chose a bike, not a car or motorcyle. You cannot expect to get the same speed of travel as those vehicles. Common sense says to dismount around people and bike at a reasonable speed where you have control to stop if necessary (just like how drivers do).
Dave Smith bicycledriving.org/public-awareness/motorists-should-know
Finest, we aren't arguing what the law is, but how people should act. After all, the law says you shouldn't speed but does that actually keep people from speeding? The idealism of the law is frequently a far cry from reality, and it doesn't keep accidents from happening, it only provides the guideline for judgement in court AFTER the accident. The difference in flow of traffic exists. It makes a lot more sense for bikers to be on the sidewalk where they are much closer to pedestrian traffic AND can dismount easily and walk around pedestrians. Bikes cannot match the flow of automotive traffic except in very specific situations such as congested inner city districts. If you want a the experience of biking on the road, it makes more sense to either limit yourself to safe localities as I mentioned above, or to use a motorized vehicle like a motorcycle or moped.
And if you still believe that it makes sense for bikes to ride on the road anyways because the road should be shared by all, why are some highways restricted from bikers riding there? Why is riding an animal on a public street considered reckless in some localities? To be a safe rider you MUST know your ride's capabilities. Simply being stubborn and pointing to the law as it stands right now is not the sign of a responsible and safe user of the road. There are many things that are legal that we should think twice about because of the possible danger or hindrance to others.
Dave Smith The law is important because it’s what we base our society around, not your silly baseless opinions. You seem to lack the ability to acknowledge the concept that roads are for people moving in a variety of vehicles. With the exception of expressways which are solely designed for high speed motor traffic, lower speed users like bicyclists have a right to use most roads. By the way, animal driven vehicles are allowed on all roads not considered for high speed traffic as well. In these videos these bicyclists are riding on multi lane roads and like any other slower moving vehicle they ride in the right most thru lane where other slower moving vehicles unless making turns or passing others are supposed to be. The duties of these cyclists as are the duties of other road users is to operate their vehicles in a manor that follows the rules of the road for drivers of vehicles and not collide with others. Insisting that bicyclists or other slow moving vehicles operating lawfully in the roadways causes issues or “accidents” neglects the fact other road users have that duty to follow the rules of the road and strive to not collide with others. Here’s another important bit of reading for you to learn and understand. Do not reply until you’ve read it iamtraffic.org/equality/the-marginalization-of-bicyclists/
Question: If you are going down a street and your driveway is on the left side of the street, and there is dense traffic on both sides of the street, should you pull over and allow the traffic to pass or wait until there is a safe opening and cut through the yellow line?
This is really wonderful cycling practice, but I just wish every motorist would not lose their patience and become aggressive about it. If only every motorist tolerated it.
Do the police acknowledge this cycling practice? Or would they pull you over if they saw you riding like this?
This is very true and driving your bike dead on in NYC traffic is very scary specially at night.
The strategies illustrated in the video work for multi-lane roads, but what are the strategies for two-lane roads (i.e. one lane each direction)? I live in WV where hills make bikes even slower and twisty roads make passing regions few and far between. I feel comfortable using the techniques in the video in the denser parts of town where the roads are wide or multi-lane, but what about the other roads?
+ebflagg See my reply to BarefootBotanist, who asked the same question above.
Great video.
One question though...I noticed when yielding to oncoming traffic prior to making a left turn, the cyclist is not signaling the turn even though it is technically required by law (vehicle code 22108).
Is this done intentionally to help avoid the situation where oncoming motorists unnecessarily stop/yield to the left turning cyclist?
I've had oncoming vehicles stop for me while I'm stopped/yielding and signaling a left turn, which can be a dangerous/unpredictable situation.
@ILykToDoDuhDrifting - In 2 US states, there is no "impeding traffic" law, in 43 US states, the impeding traffic laws only apply to the drivers of Motor Vehicles, and in only 5 US states do such laws apply to all drivers. In these 5 states, the impeding traffic laws are not usually applied to bicyclists who are complying with the normal laws governing drivers moving slower than other traffic, or specific laws that apply to cyclists moving slower than other traffic.
I have been riding for 45 years and continue to do so, in traffic. “Controlling the lane” is a concept that I have used. However, I have had very negative experiences with motorists and police who will say “Bicycles are required to stay to the right”. So has there been a change in law or attitudes that now allow bikes to control the lanes rather than being forced to the extreme right? I would agree that keeping to the center is better and safer as long as you don’t get a ticket for it.
Great video. I use these same techniques while commuting to and from work. I do get a lot of people who yell at me to use the bike path. How do you handle those situations.
On one hand you have the right to the road as much as they do - the horn should not be used as intimidation!
On the other hand it's polite to let traffic pass if you are holding up a number of vehicles that cannot overtake for some reason.
UK Highway Code 169:
Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.
Has there been any progress made on the issue of traffic lights that do not change for bicycles? You know, the ones that sense the presents of a vehicle before activating the traffic signal. I have been away for some time. Use to be that my bike would NOT cause the signals to change and this made it very difficult to use the traffic signals properly and also created a definite hazard for me caused by motorists who had the benefit of changing signals while I did not.
Thanks for sharing. I got my first bike today since I was twelve and I'm a little nervous. I don't plan on going far just around my neighborhood but I thought I'd look up bike safety just to make sure I don't screw up. Now just saying that should I just stick to the side walk or stay on the street? Are there any websites you would recommend so I know what to do? Any and all advice is welcome :) Thank you.
@mrcranky01 - To make lane changes into a faster moving lane, you can either wait for a gap in the traffic or negotiate a lane change. Negotiation requires that you look back and then signal and look back again (or just keep your head turned around as you signal) to see if a motorist will give you space. You can see this in anumber of the other videos on this channel, such as Bicycle Driving on SoCal Arterials.
We did look first. We use eyeglass mounted mirrors to do the rear scanning so the quality of the synchronized video is good. I can assure you that we both always look before sticking our arms out to signal.
Great video. If everyone follows the rules and are considerate, cars and bicycles sure mix wonderfully.
No way, not without disrupting the flow of traffic. I think bikes a great, but they should be used on an extension of the sidewalk, not intercepting the lane where vehicles are. Bikers also have to come to the realization that they aren't a motorcycle or vehicle, and they can't expect to travel as fast as they can.
Dave Smith: Cycling do not disrupt the flow of traffic, driving does. How? Because most cyclists in the world are located in the cities (and not on rural roads) where the speed limit is low and roads are filled up with cars in endless queues, and most cyclists in the world are commuters (which mean they do they cycling in typical rush hours). *No other road users impede traffic as frequently or severely than the drivers of private automobiles.* Cycling, on the other hand ease traffic and contribute to making the flow of traffic goes smoothly, as one less adult in a car, taking up all that space in a congested city means the traffic lessen when more and more people use their bike instead of their car when commuting.
Also, cycling is not slower than driving in the cities. For instance, the average speed of a car in a city like London, is as low as 13km/h to about 19km/h, while cycling is between 15km/h to 20km/h (these numbers are easily searchable if you google it), and you will also find it similar in other cities. The average cycling speed in the cities could have been even more if it weren't for all the traffic caused by the cars there.
Sidewalks are not for vehicles, and if you are travelling faster than someone jogging, you will have no business being on a sidewalk which have been designed for pedestrians. Having a great alternative infrastructure for cyclists is the best alternative, though, which do separate motorized traffic, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
(And btw, in the eyes of the law a bicycle is a vehicle, and a person controlling a bicycle is considered an operator - which was established by the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of the United Nations)
I ride over 100 miles a week here in Las Vegas. I will control a lane during high traffic times if no bike lane is provided. Low traffic times cars will just get over to go around you anyways. Only had two confrontations with motorists. Helps that i'm a two time golden glove.
I don't use the left turn lane during high traffic times though because so many motorists don't realize that you as a cyclist legally can. I just take the extra minute to use the cross walks, and not hold up traffic
John Luxom douchebag
My biggest problem is that in thin lanes, cars actually illegally swerve passed the double bar line and go around me when i'm going slow. Many times I've recked into parked cars and fell off because of this from fear. It's also hard when there is much traffic, so I "parallel park" to let the cars go by, but then I'm stuck waiting for ten minutes. I've heard this many times, but is it true that if you just ride the same path that you would if you were driving, everything should be fine?
@CyclistLorax
Well... here if the road is wide enough to have seperate lanes for left turnes changes are rather great there are also a cycling lane... and... it IS kinda hard to get from the cycling lane and into the driver's lane...
Please check out John Franklin's excellent book, "Cyclecraft" as it clearly shows how to act as a bicycle driver in the UK.
I feel kinda vindicated w/ this video 'cause I've been a cyclist almost my whole life I prefer bikes over cars. But it's good to see things like this to help people learn how to deal w/ riding on public roads.
@wheel851 - The basic speed law requires that all drivers not travel faster than is safe for the conditions. If you come around a blind corner and hit a fallen tree; it's your fault for dirving beyond your sight lines; thus leaving you no time and space to stop. If you hit another slower driver, be it a slower motor vehicle driver or cyclist under similar citcumstances; it's your fault for driving faster than is safe for the conditions.
hey bro, ccould you provide me a link that explains the rights and duties of a cyclists ?
Thanks so much for posting this. Don't worry about that Norsetenen clown. What he doesn't realize is the kinds of cyclists he is crying about not seeing are those who don't ride properly like this. They are the ones that pop out against traffic or are so far to the right they cannot be seen. I could understand the frustration. Videos like this will help prevent people riding to anger someone like Norsensten. What I do is follow the proper techniques and I keep a rearview mirror (cont.)
Excellent video, Dan! Keep up the great work!
Very informative video, thanks a lot for making it. This and Ken Kifers web site helped me a lot in understanding my rights and duties.
If you had read the other comments, you would notice that this has already been answered:
"We use mirrors to look, otherwise the head turns create very bad video."
@OnlineBike Thanks for your response and that makes me more confident and want to ride more on the open road :) He pronounced his name Jacob but I forgot his last name. I will just ignore them and follow the traffic rule as one vehicle and enjoy riding :)