Riding WITH traffic: How can we raise awareness of this rule?

Today I was riding in the bike lane on Central Park when a driver in a Streets and San van yelled at me that i should be riding on the other side of the road; cops have even told friends of mine that they were riding on the wrong side of the road (when they weren't); and I am frequently confronted by bicyclists riding against traffic, disrupting the flow for riders who know better.

I understand that some people may have been taught to ride against traffic, but I don't want to see bikers get killed in a head-on collision because an authority figure--like that cop--tells them to ride the wrong way. Please lead by example and ride WITH traffic, and if anyone ever tells you otherwise, set them straight so they know better too.

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Permalink Reply by mike w. on March 20, 2009 at 12:01pm
Good point. Yes, i've heard it from cops, been crashed avoiding and have collided with wrong-siders (i purposely once knocked one down in my younger, more reckless days,) and fruitlessly argued the point with True Believers of the Wrong-side.

If one has the time and their attention one should point out that a wrongside rider is INVISIBLE to any driver making a left-hand turn across traffic since their attention is on the oncoming traffic. (i can think of few better ways to get clobbered!)

One could also point out the greatly reduced reaction-time window due to the increased closing speed of an oncoming car.

Cops-who-should-know-better can be asked to produce a copy of Rules of the Road and be shown the relevant sections. Good luck with THAT.

Sadly, it's often an excercise in futility to argue.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 20, 2009 at 1:59pm
I try to do my part to educate, especially if I've just narrowly avoided a head-on collision on a dark street with someone riding the wrong way with no lights. If I have an opportunity to actually talk with someone for more than a few seconds, I try to explain the basic physics of the situation and that drivers are NOT looking for someone approaching head-on in the same lane.

If you're approaching traffic head-on, your time frame to react is a small fraction of what you'd have if the approaching traffic was moving in the same direction. If you turn a corner in the wrong lane and there's a vehicle immediately around the corner, you might have NO time to react and avoid a crash. Food for thought....
Permalink Reply by roofis lee king on March 20, 2009 at 7:02pm
When i was young and lived in the burbs you were tought to ride Against traffic so you could see the cars coming. now i have hard enough time getting my noob friends off the sidewalks that i wouldnt care wich side of the street they were on, as long as they get off the f'n sidewalk
Permalink Reply by E A on March 21, 2009 at 4:14am
I just had this discussion with my dad yesterday who believes in riding against traffic... ever since a driver tried to run him off the road years ago when he was riding with traffic. After reading through this post, though, I think I'd be happy just to see him out riding more - preferably on the trails.
Permalink Reply by Aveo on March 21, 2009 at 6:37am
good points all around. i'm happy to see people riding as well, but i do think that there should be only one message going out for the city...and people in city vans and with city badges should be spreading the right one.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 23, 2009 at 1:17am
Sounds like a job for Bicycling Ambassadors.
Permalink Reply by Chris on March 23, 2009 at 9:31am
Ha Ha. Kill em with kindness. I rode out to aurora saturday (butterfield road to college ave to aurora rd) and had some "white trash" broseph lean out a car window and yell "get off the road!"

So I pull up next to him at a stop light and with my biggest shit-eating grin go "thanks for letting me know I'm not visible!" and he looks baffled by my not yelling expletives and goes "Ive been hit by a car you should be scared of traffic, arent you?"

and I respond "I ride everywhere man, just like riding in a car accidents happen, all we can do is do our best to follow the law, stick to the rules and stay visible!"

So he goes "ride on the sidewalk. it's right there!"

"actually sir, it's illegal to ride on the sidewalk unless youre under 12 years old" (I added the sir even though he was all of 17 just to be extra polite)

to which his mom goes "really?" and I go "yes ma'am, I wish there were more bike paths to use, but cyclists and cars have to share the roadway and both follow the rules of cars"

So then the guy does the "ride against traffic man! that way we can see you" and I explain that too, is illegal and also more dangerous as it would be unnerving for drivers to see me heading right at them" and then told 'em "you guys have a great day!" and gave a big friendly wave.


kill em with kindness that way theyre less inclined to get all pissy and more inclined to think about it for a second. Sadly, drivers are taught they OWN the road and everyone else should get off it. hopefully a little education--sugar coated with politeness will dispel such notions.
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on March 23, 2009 at 12:42pm
Well done Chris. It's an unfortunate reality that some drivers like to yell at cyclists on the road. But at least they see you well enough to shout in your general direction (fart back in their general direction if possible).


Chris said:
Ha Ha. Kill em with kindness. I rode out to aurora saturday (butterfield road to college ave to aurora rd) and had some "white trash" broseph lean out a car window and yell "get off the road!"

So I pull up next to him at a stop light and with my biggest shit-eating grin go "thanks for letting me know I'm not visible!" and he looks baffled by my not yelling expletives and goes "Ive been hit by a car you should be scared of traffic, arent you?"

and I respond "I ride everywhere man, just like riding in a car accidents happen, all we can do is do our best to follow the law, stick to the rules and stay visible!"

So he goes "ride on the sidewalk. it's right there!"

"actually sir, it's illegal to ride on the sidewalk unless youre under 12 years old" (I added the sir even though he was all of 17 just to be extra polite)

to which his mom goes "really?" and I go "yes ma'am, I wish there were more bike paths to use, but cyclists and cars have to share the roadway and both follow the rules of cars"

So then the guy does the "ride against traffic man! that way we can see you" and I explain that too, is illegal and also more dangerous as it would be unnerving for drivers to see me heading right at them" and then told 'em "you guys have a great day!" and gave a big friendly wave.


kill em with kindness that way theyre less inclined to get all pissy and more inclined to think about it for a second. Sadly, drivers are taught they OWN the road and everyone else should get off it. hopefully a little education--sugar coated with politeness will dispel such notions.
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on March 23, 2009 at 4:34pm
Salmon should be swimming in water, not riding bikes.

On the other hand, trying to catch any kind of fish with a u-lock could be quite difficult.


h3 said:
Well, isn't this special?

missed connection with my ulock - 35 (pilsen)
Reply to: pers-6zfpe-1086242397@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
Date: 2009-03-22, 1:51AM CDT


Well where do I start... this would be in rants in raves... if only for the fact that I wished my ulock connected with your skull.

Me riding southbound on Halsted in the bike lane with traffic. You riding northbound in my bike lane against traffic. You yell at me... I politely tell you to get out my way.

Fast forward three blocks... you pull up aside of me and start calling me names and threaten me... I dismount and grab my ulock out of my pocket. You ride away.

Fast forward another two blocks... you keep following me and shouting at me.

I jump off my bike again... whip out the ulock again... you stop and start swearing at me... I promptly call 911... you ride away.

I've had SUV's more polite than you.

Next time you see me... I'm not that hard to spot. Look for someone riding in the proper flow of traffic with some purple and a large kryptolok in my right hand.

xoxo




* Location: pilsen
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

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