How would you have handled this situation?

Hi everyone,

This is my first time adding a discussion on Chain Link forum. I read Chain Link everyday. I would love to read how you would have handled this situation. I should have been patient and realized the driver was clueless.

I started cycling to work a few months ago. I have noticed more people clueless of their surrounding as the cold kicked in. I primarily been using Lincoln, Wells, and Dearborn and noticed people double parking, drifting (due to texting) and just standing in the middle of the bike lane which is causing dangers to cyclists. I really hope this gets better.

Also is there a Strava group for chainlink members?

Here is my Strava profile
http://www.strava.com/athletes/2548995

http://youtu.be/EDng5AD0K6E

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on December 4, 2013 at 5:23pm

It doesn't look like you ever checked over your left shoulder to see if it was clear to pass. I think I would have got into position to pass the car on the left while still at least 4 car lengths back. If I see brake lights and a car drifting into the bike lane I interpret that as the driver scanning for a parking spot. I always try to pass on the left on those situation because in 3 out of the 3 times I've been in collisions with cars they've been right hooks or "excited" parking maneuvers.

Permalink Reply by Jose Fonseca on December 4, 2013 at 5:49pm

Tricolor: I thought for sure she would have seen my light (niterider lumina 650) but I guess she was focus on something else.

Kelvin Mulcky: I did take a quick look back (Video seems like I did not) and it was dead for a block or 2. Your technique sounds pretty solid as well. I will keep that in mind and give more space while I pass the car up.

Kelvin Mulcky said:

It doesn't look like you ever checked over your left shoulder to see if it was clear to pass. I think I would have got into position to pass the car on the left while still at least 4 car lengths back. If I see brake lights and a car drifting into the bike lane I interpret that as the driver scanning for a parking spot. I always try to pass on the left on those situation because in 3 out of the 3 times I've been in collisions with cars they've been right hooks or "excited" parking maneuvers.

Permalink Reply by Mark on December 4, 2013 at 6:03pm

It appeared to me that the driver was trying to block you.  Typical asshat Chicago driver move. 

I like the airhorn idea.  I should get one of those. 

Permalink Reply by Jose Fonseca on December 4, 2013 at 6:36pm

h' 1.0: I have read on here people not using lights but I drive as well on weekends. I notice when I look through my side mirror some bikers have no lights and dark clothes. Which makes it hard for me to see them when in my blind spot. I struggle with the same question (lights or no lights). I will admit I feel safer with lights riding in the burbs many streets are dark.

Jeff Schneider: The driver might have been from out of town due to her license plate. Unless it is a rental.

Jeff Schneider said:

This is typical for Wells.  Drivers are always parking, loading/unloading, making U-turns, etc. in and across the bike lanes.  Through most of Old Town, I don't even try to use the bike lane, I just take the lane.  It's safer.

I don't think the driver was messing with you.  This area has a lot of suburban/tourist/drunk drivers, all desperately seeking parking spots or valets.  They are just not too competent driving in the city.

All you can do is assume that every driver is incompetent, keep your distance, slow down, and take the lane as necessary.

Permalink Reply by Norman 5 on December 4, 2013 at 7:18pm

I get this a lot riding thru Chinatown along Archer especially on the weekend. One thing i worry about when I pass them on the left is that a lot of time these are the same ppl that might speed up and make an u-turn because they see a parking space on the other side of the street.

Kelvin Mulcky said:

It doesn't look like you ever checked over your left shoulder to see if it was clear to pass. I think I would have got into position to pass the car on the left while still at least 4 car lengths back. If I see brake lights and a car drifting into the bike lane I interpret that as the driver scanning for a parking spot. I always try to pass on the left on those situation because in 3 out of the 3 times I've been in collisions with cars they've been right hooks or "excited" parking maneuvers.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on December 4, 2013 at 7:38pm

I've got nothing new to add beyond the fact that this thread has been unusually productive and rational; I feel like we should all congratulate ourselves on that and maybe get busy calling somebody Hitler so people know where they are.

Permalink Reply by Reboot Oxnard on December 4, 2013 at 11:52pm

Safety first, destination second. This driver is someone who is asking for a kick to the door (or worse) but I don't want to ever be close enough to someone this unpredictable to deliver that kick. There's no telling if the driver was impaired or just NCM but it also doesn't really matter - I'm going to react defensively and avoid him. Pace be damned, I'm too pretty to leave this world looking like a bug splat on the hood of some car.

You'd think they would notice the flashing light but all too often they don't so a loud horn should be standard equipment for anyone riding the streets. Especially at your pace.

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on December 5, 2013 at 2:39am

This happened to my girlfriend on California and resulted in an accident. Car appeared to be turning right and then abruptly swung left to make a U-turn while she was trying to pass. Scary.

Norman 5 said:

I get this a lot riding thru Chinatown along Archer especially on the weekend. One thing i worry about when I pass them on the left is that a lot of time these are the same ppl that might speed up and make an u-turn because they see a parking space on the other side of the street.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on December 5, 2013 at 3:37am

Seems to be an epidemic.  This morning on the way in on southbound Noble a little red car pulled over to the right and stopped twice before abruptly pulling out again just in front of me.  At least it was not in a bike lane. :-) Then, she did whatever she was going to do and sped past me up to the light at Grand where she stopped at the light in the oncoming lane of traffic.  She was lucky the guy turning from westbound Grand onto northbound Noble was paying attention!

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 5, 2013 at 4:11am

+1 What Jeff says is consistent with many experiences I've had on that section of Wells over the years. I often use Sedgwick as an alternate route in Old Town - less traffic, no big trucks blocking the lane while doing deliveries, etc. It tends to be a lot less crazy.

Jeff Schneider said:

This is typical for Wells.  Drivers are always parking, loading/unloading, making U-turns, etc. in and across the bike lanes.  Through most of Old Town, I don't even try to use the bike lane, I just take the lane.  It's safer.

I don't think the driver was messing with you.  This area has a lot of suburban/tourist/drunk drivers, all desperately seeking parking spots or valets.  They are just not too competent driving in the city.

All you can do is assume that every driver is incompetent, keep your distance, slow down, and take the lane as necessary.

Permalink Reply by PFEggs on December 5, 2013 at 5:22am

Not sure I would have passed on the left, but if I were going your pace -- which I sometimes do -- I probably would have.  I also probably would have not have handled the situation as well as you did.  Your calmness and technique is an inspiration.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on December 5, 2013 at 6:16am

Welcome to being part of the problem...

Is it really worth property damage and escalation like that just because somebody is to stupid to pay attention?  The second you kick the car door over that you just became the aggressor, broken the law and helped to contribute to the legend of the crazed cyclist.


Reboot Oxnard said:

Safety first, destination second. This driver is someone who is asking for a kick to the door (or worse) but I don't want to ever be close enough to someone this unpredictable to deliver that kick. There's no telling if the driver was impaired or just NCM but it also doesn't really matter - I'm going to react defensively and avoid him. Pace be damned, I'm too pretty to leave this world looking like a bug splat on the hood of some car.

You'd think they would notice the flashing light but all too often they don't so a loud horn should be standard equipment for anyone riding the streets. Especially at your pace.

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