One more argument for Sharrows over Lanes?

mike.a.schwab@gmail.com

http://listserv.uic.edu/htbin/wa?A2...T=0&O=D&P=29705

From: Steven Lane

I was riding on the Milwaukee Ave bus during rush hour, and I could
see how bus drivers could be brought to the breaking point with a
seemingly endless stream of cyclists flowing along the bike lanes
keeping them from pulling over for every stop. Every-time the driver
tried to pull over to a stop, he had to wait for the stream of bikes
to break.

I never take the 56 bus, and I found it very weird to be trapped in
this slow bus while all these bikes are flying by; how many times do
you need to see this before you realize you should bike to work?

Anyhow, it was a short trip for me, but after being stalled at six
stops in a row waiting for bikes to clear the bike lane, I could see
how a driver would get seriously annoyed. My sense is the leap
froggers are not the real annoyance, as they tend to get out of the
bike lane and pass the bus on the left, without preventing the driver
to pull over for stops.

However, there are all these lollygaggers in the bike lanes that, in
my opinion, should just stop their 5mph advance and let the damn bus
pull-over; maybe this is what is really irritating the bus drivers?

In my experience cycling, I cannot say that the bus drivers are
behaving worse than before, but I've been telecommuting a lot lately.

~steven

Michael Press

In article
<2a06a110-c4ed-4aae-82b7-e7e1a35d1172@d45g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>,
"mike.a.schwab@gmail.com" <mike.a.schwab@gmail.com> wrote:

> http://listserv.uic.edu/htbin/wa?A2...T=0&O=D&P=29705
>
> From: Steven Lane
>
> I was riding on the Milwaukee Ave bus during rush hour, and I could
> see how bus drivers could be brought to the breaking point with a
> seemingly endless stream of cyclists flowing along the bike lanes
> keeping them from pulling over for every stop. Every-time the driver
> tried to pull over to a stop, he had to wait for the stream of bikes
> to break.
>
> I never take the 56 bus, and I found it very weird to be trapped in
> this slow bus while all these bikes are flying by; how many times do
> you need to see this before you realize you should bike to work?
>
> Anyhow, it was a short trip for me, but after being stalled at six
> stops in a row waiting for bikes to clear the bike lane, I could see
> how a driver would get seriously annoyed. My sense is the leap
> froggers are not the real annoyance, as they tend to get out of the
> bike lane and pass the bus on the left, without preventing the driver
> to pull over for stops.
>
> However, there are all these lollygaggers in the bike lanes that, in
> my opinion, should just stop their 5mph advance and let the damn bus
> pull-over; maybe this is what is really irritating the bus drivers?
>
> In my experience cycling, I cannot say that the bus drivers are
> behaving worse than before, but I've been telecommuting a lot lately.

I consistently clear the right turn lane, and when I come
up on a bus get over to the left so as to get around it
when it goes to the loading zone.

The other day on a one-way, three lane street I was buzzing
along in the left part of the number three lane so the
car ahead of me in the three lane, stopped at the signal
that was about to go green, could make his right turn,
but had to stop behind him while the light was green
because two bicyclists were blocking the right turn lane,
preventing him from clearing the three lane; and I could
not pull around his left because the traffic in the number
two lane were too close to him. "Son of a bitch" could
be heard for a city block. The bicyclists were both
apparently experienced enough as cyclists, but were dead
losses for the purpose of moving traffic along.

I am not strong; but can look and think ahead. No gear
changes in city traffic. Pick a big gear and stay with
it. Seriously. 50/17 from a dead stop and anybody can
easily make 20 kph by the time she is on the other side
of the intersection. Given that you cheated on the change
to green you are in nobody's way. Are you in 50/15? No
problemo. Take it easy and you are shortly moving along
briskly. No reason to strain.

--
Michael Press

jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org

I get the impression that bicyclists don't understand that the road
signs "Share the Road" are directed at them as well as auto drivers.
Car drivers who see the "I take the lane" riders or ones who can't be
bothered to ride on a well paved clean shoulder sense the animosity
and superiority (healthier) attitude expressed. Body language is
better understood that many bicyclists imagine.

Occasionally I am joined by other riders on routes that I ride often,
ones that have no paved shoulder, and we get honked at and sliced by
drivers who don't like "I take the lane" behavior." Riding alone, I
don't have this problem, even on roads like our HWY84 through Niles
Canyon, or HWY9 from Santa Cruz to Saratoga.

This is not pure coincidence and I can't explain it to these riders
who elicit retribution for their impolite riding style. I have n9o
doubt that there are divers who outright hate bicyclists and do
dangerous stunts when passing:

http://draco.acs.uci.edu/rbfaq/FAQ/6.1.html

Jobst Brandt

jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org

I get the impression that bicyclists don't understand that the road
signs "Share the Road" are directed at them as well as auto drivers.
Car drivers who see the "I take the lane" riders or ones who can't be
bothered to ride on a well paved clean shoulder sense the animosity
and superiority (healthier) attitude expressed. Body language is
better understood that many bicyclists imagine.

Occasionally I am joined by other riders on routes that I ride often,
ones that have no paved shoulder, and we get honked at and sliced by
drivers who don't like "I take the lane" behavior." Riding alone, I
don't have this problem, even on roads like our HWY84 through Niles
Canyon, or HWY9 from Santa Cruz to Saratoga.

This is not pure coincidence and I can't explain it to these riders
who elicit retribution for their impolite riding style. I have no
doubt that there are drivers who outright hate bicyclists and do
dangerous stunts when passing:

http://draco.acs.uci.edu/rbfaq/FAQ/6.1.html

Jobst Brandt

Werehatrack

On 21 Jun 2008 05:34:35 GMT, jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org may have
said:

>I get the impression that bicyclists don't understand that the road
>signs "Share the Road" are directed at them as well as auto drivers.
>Car drivers who see the "I take the lane" riders or ones who can't be
>bothered to ride on a well paved clean shoulder sense the animosity
>and superiority (healthier) attitude expressed. Body language is
>better understood that many bicyclists imagine.
>
>Occasionally I am joined by other riders on routes that I ride often,
>ones that have no paved shoulder, and we get honked at and sliced by
>drivers who don't like "I take the lane" behavior." Riding alone, I
>don't have this problem, even on roads like our HWY84 through Niles
>Canyon, or HWY9 from Santa Cruz to Saratoga.
>
>This is not pure coincidence and I can't explain it to these riders
>who elicit retribution for their impolite riding style. I have n9o
>doubt that there are divers who outright hate bicyclists and do
>dangerous stunts when passing:
>
>http://draco.acs.uci.edu/rbfaq/FAQ/6.1.html

I think you have a very good point there, but I'll also add that there
is a predictable repeating time frame during each week in which
certain drivers and their passengers (and possibly certain cyclists)
get more abusive. Locally, that time frame is from about 7PM to well
past sunset on Friday and Saturday, as the subject drivers depart from
their after-hours "watering" hole and go forth with their normal
inhibitions inhibited by what they (or their passengers, even more
often) have just consumed. Nearly the only time I get shouted verbal
abuse when riding here in Houston is during that period...and it
almost uniformly issues from the passengers of the vehicles rather
than the drivers. And, now that I think about it, the vast majority
of close cuts, blown horns without reason and other aggressive
behaviors have also been during those slots.

Perhaps my body language isn't particularly provocative; I seldom see
such reactions during working hours or on other evenings. When the
drivers are just shy of legally drunk, however, it appears that they
become less willing to behave reasonably. It doesn't help that this
area is infested with the Drugstore Cowboy mentality, either; the
pointless swagger factor is something I could do without.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Tom Kunich

"Werehatrack" <rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net> wrote in message
news:cp9q541i6n97qg03i2j5735q5g7de4em1d@4ax.com...
>
> Perhaps my body language isn't particularly provocative; I seldom see
> such reactions during working hours or on other evenings. When the
> drivers are just shy of legally drunk, however, it appears that they
> become less willing to behave reasonably. It doesn't help that this
> area is infested with the Drugstore Cowboy mentality, either; the
> pointless swagger factor is something I could do without.

More likely you are riding in a manner that suggests to MOST drivers that
you're trying your best not to impede them. The drunkards though are in the
mood to prove their manhood. Strangely enough, these guys are usually pretty
safe to be around since their ATTENTION is on you. Women drivers putting on
makeup are a great deal more dangerous.

Werehatrack

On Sat, 21 Jun 2008 11:54:03 -0700, "Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo.
com> may have said:

>"Werehatrack" <rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net> wrote in message
>news:cp9q541i6n97qg03i2j5735q5g7de4em1d@4ax.com...
>>
>> Perhaps my body language isn't particularly provocative; I seldom see
>> such reactions during working hours or on other evenings. When the
>> drivers are just shy of legally drunk, however, it appears that they
>> become less willing to behave reasonably. It doesn't help that this
>> area is infested with the Drugstore Cowboy mentality, either; the
>> pointless swagger factor is something I could do without.
>
>More likely you are riding in a manner that suggests to MOST drivers that
>you're trying your best not to impede them. The drunkards though are in the
>mood to prove their manhood. Strangely enough, these guys are usually pretty
>safe to be around since their ATTENTION is on you. Women drivers putting on
>makeup are a great deal more dangerous.

#1 hazard IMO is still the idiots with cell phones glued to their
ears.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Tom Kunich

"Werehatrack" <rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net> wrote in message
news:jcur54hur5bbdn950smagvv1kuu410l9ai@4ax.com...
>
> #1 hazard IMO is still the idiots with cell phones glued to their
> ears.

That may be so but I have seen women driving SUV's down the freeway at 70
mph while looking in the rearview mirror applying makeup.

Werehatrack

On Sun, 22 Jun 2008 06:13:12 -0700, "Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo.
com> may have said:

>"Werehatrack" <rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net> wrote in message
>news:jcur54hur5bbdn950smagvv1kuu410l9ai@4ax.com...
>>
>> #1 hazard IMO is still the idiots with cell phones glued to their
>> ears.
>
>That may be so but I have seen women driving SUV's down the freeway at 70
>mph while looking in the rearview mirror applying makeup.

Tell me you weren't on your roadie at the time...

I see some of that, but it's mostly on the freeway. On the surface
streets, what see see a lot more is the cell phone problem. It's
present both on the freeway and elsewhere, but it seems to cause even
more diversion of attention from driving when it's done at lower
speeds.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.