It seems I am not the norm when it comes to cycling. I have been known to pull over, stop and let traffic by. I try to be courteous to motorists because people in cars are usually driving for their needs(kids, groceries, going to work or, maybe the emergency room). Cyclists like myself are just out for fun. I don’t find inconveniencing people to be that enjoyable. The idea in my mind is to share the road, not dominate it.
Are you on crack?
There is no ‘should’ obligation, but I do, and encourage others to do so when there is the need and opportunity. I also thank drivers as they go past if they have been delayed (ie coming up behind me/us on a corner so waiting until the straight to overtake).
Less pi$$ed off drivers, less likely to abuse the next bunch of cyclists.
But at the same time, then as a driver I get really pi$$ed off with some cyclists actions.
Stopping and pulling over is dangerous on a bicycle, because cars will not know when you are moving in and out of traffic. You’re essentially making it harder for automobilits to predict where you’re going to be . It’s much better and safer for everyone if you take the lane when you need to, even if it means for cars to slow down a bit.
It seems I am not the norm when it comes to cycling. I have been known to pull over, stop and let traffic by. I try to be courteous to motorists because people in cars are usually driving for their needs(kids, groceries, going to work or, maybe the emergency room). Cyclists like myself are just out for fun. I don’t find inconveniencing people to be that enjoyable. The idea in my mind is to share the road, not dominate it.
You will cause more problems by confusing motorists so just follow the road rules.If you are still concerned about everyone else around you then stick to riding on bike paths.
It sounds like you’re trying to do a good thing; however, you are indirectly endangering your fellow cyclists by creating the expectation that cyclists should pull off the road. Also, where I live, the shoulders are rarely paved, so pulling of the road if not really an option. As others have said, everyone is safer is everyone follows the same rules.
think i agree with the others. it’s always a good idea to be courteous, but first and foremost i always follow the rules of the road and try to be consistent and predictable. if i pull out to wave car X on, maybe car Y is going to think i’ve waved him on instead, or whatever. it’s a real pet peeve of mine when cars randomly stop in the middle of the road to let me make a left or something. i know that they’re trying to be helpful, but they’re actually breaking the rules of the road and endangering everyone involved. i actually saw an accident happen that way - a woman unnecessarily stopped and tried to wave me through a left turn. i just sat on my bike and remained waiting for a gap - i wasn’t going to make an illegal turn, because someone could just pull around her and smack me. anyway, she got rear-ended, sure enough. i just rode on - thanks, lady, but i really didn’t ask you to break that rule for me, and i’m perfectly capable of sitting here and waiting 10 more seconds for a legal gap just like everyone else.
-mike
I’m lucky in that where I live (Boston) the roads I ride on are either wide enough that a car can pass me or low traffic enough that they don’t have to slow down for more than a few seconds before there is no oncoming traffic and they can go around me.
On the other hand, I do see cyclists riding 2 abreast yakking away and taking up most of the lane, apparently oblivious to the line of cars stacked up behind them. That drives me nuts.
I think we have the same attitude, just a different method. I generally will not move through traffic at a stop light to get in front. Depending on the circumstances, sometimes I will wait after a light changes to allow all the traffic to move through the intersection so they don’t have to pass me again on the other side of the light. There are other things I do that are not “per the traffic laws” that make me a more friendly person on the road.
I try to stay predictable and not do anything out of the ordinary in traffic. Sometimes that means that I relinquish the right of way.
Surviving in traffic requires skill, intelligence, and planning. You can’t just blindly act like a car and expect to not have a problem.
Motorists have no idea what cyclists will do regardless of the rules of the road. If I have ten or so people backed up behind me I will pull over. I don’t think the umpredictabilty of my actions makes it more dangerous for other cyclists. On the contrary I think the alleviation of tension makes things safer for everyone. By the way we have very few shoulders on the roads here. Also traffic is light and comes in clumps rather than a steady stream.
You will cause more problems by confusing motorists so just follow the road rules.If you are still concerned about everyone else around you then stick to riding on bike paths.
Actually in many (most?) states, the rules of the road dictate that slow moving vehicles, which typically includes bikes, HAVE to pull over if five or more vehicles are behind them. This is definitely the law in California. In general this is only likely to happen on a longer climb without passing room, but you can come across situations like that pretty frequently in some areas.
I pull over on a bicycle or car if I’m blocking traffic. On a bike it’s safer to let the cars go by. I will also run a red light (if it’s clear) to get out of an intersection before the auto traffic starts up, again for safety.
You will cause more problems by confusing motorists so just follow the road rules.If you are still concerned about everyone else around you then stick to riding on bike paths.
Actually in many (most?) states, the rules of the road dictate that slow moving vehicles, which typically includes bikes, HAVE to pull over if five or more vehicles are behind them. This is definitely the law in California. In general this is only likely to happen on a longer climb without passing room, but you can come across situations like that pretty frequently in some areas.
Can you link to the law, because I have never heard this law and I used to live in San Francisco?
Here you go.
Turning Off for Five or More Following Vehicles
CVC 21656
Turning Out of Slow-Moving Vehicles
- On a two-lane highway where passing is unsafe because of traffic in the opposite direction or other conditions, a slow-moving vehicle, including a passenger vehicle, behind which five or more vehicles are formed in line, shall turn off the roadway at the nearest place designated as a turnout by signs erected by the authority having jurisdiction over the highway, or wherever sufficient area for a safe turnout exists, in order to permit the vehicles following it to proceed. As used in this section a slow-moving vehicle is one which is proceeding at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place.
With five or more vehicles following in a line, but only on a two-lane highway, bicyclists, like all drivers, are to turn off the road whenever there is sufficient room to safely do so.
Yes, by all means, please encourage them to go faster. Sheezh… What this country needs is something in the water to get people to bliss out. All these people are doing is being selfish. They are sitting in their $30K+ cars, on the cell phone, and ‘rushing’ to buy groceries or take the kids somewhere. You see it all over America. “I’m in a hurry, get the fuck out of my way.”
-Robert
You’re making the assumption that people are driving because they “need” to. People drive for pleasure just as much (total volume), if not more, then people ride a bike. Additionally, you have every right to use the road, so you shouldn’t be giving up those rights under the guise that those in cars are more important. I understand and applaud your generosity, but I don’t think it’s good for the biking population as a whole.
Definitely pull into a driveway or find a loop through a neighborhood to clear the backflow. I don’t ride on roads with speed limits above 25-35mph usually. The worst setup is going up a steep >10% grade hill since I can really back traffic up. I just choose to stay off those roads during rush hour and am proactive with hand gestures to help people get around me or hold up on a pass when they can’t see someone coming around the corner from the other direction. I also “try” to remember that I shouldn’t be surprised or get upset by the selfish spatially unaware drivers I often have to share the road with. Only accident on the road in the last 20,000 miles was my fault by going around a downhill right hander by a traffic light on a hot day (lots of oily stuff down) and slid out with front wheel. Working so far.
Motorists have no idea what cyclists will do regardless of the rules of the road. If I have ten or so people backed up behind me I will pull over. I don’t think the umpredictabilty of my actions makes it more dangerous for other cyclists. On the contrary I think the alleviation of tension makes things safer for everyone. By the way we have very few shoulders on the roads here. Also traffic is light and comes in clumps rather than a steady stream.
And there are a lot of separate realities out there. Each individual thinks that what he/she is doing is safest, but there is no consensus on the correct approach. Motorists have to deal with cyclists of variable skill and experience, and many of them are going to be outright hostile toward cyclists no matter what they do. If one can safely avoid getting in their way, what’s the problem?
Here a scenario:
A group of cyclist is going downhill from a bridge. The lead cyclist sees a slower cyclist ahead on the right, and a car slightly to the left of her ambivalent about passing her. The lead cyclist in the downhill group slows down because he didn’t feel comfortable negotiating the narrow gap between the car and the other cyclist. The cyclist behind him wants to charge through the gap. What’s the best solution?
I have never pulled over for someone, but I do follow #3 in this helpful write up.
http://www.slowtwitch.com/Features/Stayin_Alive_-_Rural_1353.html
as others said…no.
What I will do is:
- Wait until the road is wide enough for the cars to safely pass, slow down and wave the cars around me.
- Wait until there is a parking low or side road that I can pull into completely off the road and stop to get a drink
- Wait until a stop sign or red light, pull off to the side of the road and wave the cars around me.
Control the situation or remove yourself from it. Never willingly cede.