Shoulder to shoulder
For example- the 606. There really isn't room for a group of people to walk shoulder to shoulder without forcing bikes to go into oncoming traffic to go around them. When I'm on foot on the 606 I am usually by myself and in the far corner (the blue thing on the side or just walking on the grass where it's available.) If I was with a group of two I think we could manage to go shoulder to shoulder and still accommodate bike traffic so long as we stay well to the right. If I was with a group of 3 I would volunteer to walk behind or ahead of the other two.
Whenever I bike with anyone anywhere (except a really wide empty trail, and even then...) I bike so that one of us is in front of the other.
Just yesterday I was biking down washington street around loomis and in front of me are two cyclists biking shoulder to shoulder (not so much in the bike lane as on it) one of whom is in the door zone and the other who is on the left part of the bike lane but also drifting into the car lane. I'm all for taking the lane when it makes sense to do so but this is a cyclist who is crowding the lane unnecessarily, causing traffic in the two car lanes to have to bunch together and slow down to honor the 3 foot rule. It also made me have to get way over to their left to pass.
Does anyone else have thoughts on when it's appropriate and not appropriate to go shoulder to shoulder?
Views: 298
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on
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Get a bell. You don't have to use words. This will always be a problem. ;-)
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Permalink Reply by V W on
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I usually don't say anything anyway. I just pack it into a ball and then post about it here. But yeah, a bell is a good idea. I don't have one on any of my bikes.
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Permalink Reply by Alex Z on
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Generally agree with your comments. Certainly people shouldn't ride side-by-side in the bike lane.
On the 606, or the lake path, depending on conditions I think it could be OK to ride side-by-side. That's assuming there is very low congestion and ample space for a safe pass by someone coming up from behind.
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Permalink Reply by Sean Newby on
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I don't mind people walking/running/biking side by side when they are courteous enough to tighten up a little when being passed. I find this to be the case more often than not. It's the twits that are rude about it or blatantly taking up more room than necessary that need a lesson in trail etiquette. Maybe the hard way.
And +1 for a bell. All of my bikes have one, and I have found that a bell has a way of cutting through the "noise" on the trail or street that calling out cannot equal.
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"I don't mind people walking/running/biking side by side when they are courteous enough to tighten up a little when being passed."
Yes, agree with this too.
Even just walking side-by-side on the sidewalk I try to be aware of joggers, etc.
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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on
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+1 I have bells on most of my bikes. This is one of the biggest reasons.
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Permalink Reply by Irvin Steinert on
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Once while walking in the Lincoln Park area I had literally bumped into a woman who was on roller blades, drifting backwards diagonally across the sidewalk while talking to someone ten feet away from her. Oblivious to her surroundings, she "freaked out", cringed and wiped her arm where my arm had brushed hers while passing by. I felt no need to stop and wait for her cordial conversation to end or to avert my course for her cause which had culminated in her selfish use of public space. She looked at me like I was a crazed malicious demon.
We all have to share public spaces in all aspects whether that be storage of our material possessions or the use of the roads, paths and sidewalks. It is necessary to NOT be selfish in public spaces.
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David?
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