The shoaling thread - understanding this phenomenon

To clean up other threads, let's have our CIVIL thoughts/opinions/discussion on shoaling.

Obviously it bugs people when it is repetitive and puts a faster rider in a situation where taking the lane to pass is the only option, thus subjecting someone to a great risk of injury.  Others don't care either because they adjust their speed or weren't going that fast in the first place.

Perhaps some ground rules to the discussion?

1.  Shoaling, in this arena, is the act of moving to the front of a rider/group of riders in an attempt to get to the front of a mass of riders and then proceeding at a slower speed than originally held by the group, thus causing riders to pass.  This is to happen more than once on a stretch of road. 

2.  Shoaling is not (to be changed if needed) a faster rider moving to the front of a rider/group of riders knowing they will accelerate faster than the other riders, therefore not causing potentially unsafe passing.

3.  Assume people either for or against the act of shoaling isn't form a self-righteous position.

4.  Civil disagreements can ensue, mods can feel free to stop a train before it derails the thread completely.  That also means NO personal attacks, if someone freely admits to being a shoaler for what ever reason, they should feel safe stating their position and why they do it.

5.  State your case/thoughts/opinions/constructive criticism and let others respond.  If your response is going to be too long, a cliff notes Tl;Dr would be appreciated at the beginning or end of your post.

6.  Lets remember we all share something in common (myself very much included) and we very well could run into each other out on the street riding.  If it is kept civil here, it will be civil out there despite our different position on shoaling.

I, for one, am excited to read other's thoughts and so on, on this topic.  I am also open to learning something new and how I can best avoid having animosity towards other cyclists.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on September 26, 2014 at 2:26am

I don't do it, and I don't do any of that stuff when I drive either.

Lots of people are jerks, that doesn't somehow make it OK to be a jerk.   'Everybody else is doing it!' is also not a valid excuse to be a jerk.

Shawn Evans said:

What some call 'shoaling' is normal behavior.
How do I know this? Because everyone does it.
Drivers do it. How many times have you seen a car in a long line attempt to squeeze into what appeared to be an empty right lane, only to stop because it was too narrow? Cars also ride on the shoulder. They use the right turning lane, not to turn, but to charge ahead of the cars in the center lane and then merge ahead of those same cars. They look for any available/empty space to forge ahead in their journey. The only thing that stops them is either physical limitations or the law.
Pedestrians do it. Approaching a red light intersection, walkers fill up all of the spaces next to the street, including that narrow space between the street pole and the newspaper box that's a few feet to the left of the intersection. Only then do they mass up behind those hugging the street-side spaces. Some even spill into the street. I dare ANYONE to name ONE PLACE where pedestrians at a light line up single file as they wait to cross the street (and I don't want any absurd examples, such as students waiting to enter school, or tour groups). Even queue-happy Britons, famous for lining up for everything, don't do this.
So this anger/irritation at normal behavior is ridiculous.
And don't tell me 'But biking is different!' No, it really isn't.
The 'crime' of 'shoaling' is a myth, an invention of those displeased with reality.
Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on September 26, 2014 at 2:34am

Having to continually pull into traffic to pass the same person repeatedly is more than a petty annoyance, it is actually putting me into a more dangerous position.

Shawn Evans said:

Most of what is described as 'shoaling' is just basic human behavior. People want to get to where they're going. Simple as that. They're not crashing into anybody. Modern urban designers would call what they're doing 'desire lines' or something and design around it. Maybe they should draw squares in the bike box for them??

This anger at 'shoaling' is just petty annoyance.
It's not 'cutting in line' at the store because they're not buying anything, and ANY delays in your trip are extemely minor.
(Someone cutting in line at the a store delays you by minutes, and a 'shoaler' delays you a few seconds at most.)
Some have claimed it's unsafe. But if you're faster, AND can pass safely, you do. Therefore, it IS safe. The ONLY WAY it could be unsafe if the one 'shoaled', in his anger/rage at being 'shoaled', passes recklessly (too close to cars or bikers).
Since we all know speed kills, the 'shoaler' could be saving lives by 'calming traffic'.
Bike lanes are not 'cycletracks' or whatever they call bike race tracks.
Slow down/calm down. Live longer.
It's a proven fact those crazy motorists who speed thru yellows or reds and swerve through traffic, get to their destination all of like 2.2 minutes sooner. It's not worth it.

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on September 26, 2014 at 4:49am

That's not true at all, even with cabs these days.  And then they do it's to the derision of cars, bikes and pedestrians.  Please don't make the argument that bikes are okay doing something that's reviled when it's done by drivers.  Bad behavior is bad behavior no matter how you're traveling.

Shawn Evans said:

What some call 'shoaling' is normal behavior.
How do I know this? Because everyone does it.
Drivers do it. How many times have you seen a car in a long line attempt to squeeze into what appeared to be an empty right lane, only to stop because it was too narrow? Cars also ride on the shoulder. They use the right turning lane, not to turn, but to charge ahead of the cars in the center lane and then merge ahead of those same cars. They look for any available/empty space to forge ahead in their journey. The only thing that stops them is either physical limitations or the law.
Permalink Reply by Davo on September 26, 2014 at 6:44am

It mostly happens when leaving from a stop light. No real draft is occurring out of the gate.



Chitown_Mike said:

Perhaps they were enjoying the reported 30% more efficiency of your draft?

There should be a thread about wheel suckers that draft but don't offer, or won't, take the pull on the front.

Davo said:

Am I annoyed by shoaling, yes. Does it ruin my day, no. Another phenomenon I encounter is when I try to motion to a faster rider to go ahead of me and they don't only to pass me later.

Permalink Reply by Chitown_Mike on September 26, 2014 at 7:32am

I'd like to see sources on your evidence, unless this is just personal experience then by all means you are entitled to it, but I don't drive to the end of a ramp, or do use the express lane exit lane as a pass by Fullerton on the Kennedy (for those who drive).

However shoaling in an instance like peds is a unbalanced comparison.  I weigh about 215 right now, if I were to "bump" into someone, even at a more brisk pace people won't get seriously hurt or potentially hurt.  Even if cars bump each other at slow merging speeds in traffic human injuries are negligible or non-existent.  However if one rider is passing another rider that shoaled them, the passing rider is now in a situation where injury to their person is increased and could be a lot more severe.

I have experienced plenty of riders that don't shoal, especially after I have already passed them previously.  But then I have experienced entitled riders who shoal, blow traffic control devices, and then get mad at me when I refuse to repeat my pass for the 3rd or 4th time.  Unless human behavior by definition and default is to be a jerk, then I could see how shoaling is "normal".

And by no means is shoaling criminal, but I appreciate the thoughts.


Shawn Evans said:

What some call 'shoaling' is normal behavior.
How do I know this? Because everyone does it.

And don't tell me 'But biking is different!' No, it really isn't.
The 'crime' of 'shoaling' is a myth, an invention of those displeased with reality.
Permalink Reply by Ifi Susana on September 26, 2014 at 8:22am

As someone who is shoal-ed a lot of times only from me to pass them again and again, this behavior infuriates me. As a person who is a lady and a fattie, I get the sense that many who try to shoal me believe me to be slow (I am not fast, but I am faster than the average cyclist-lighter bike, clipped in, etc). I end up having to draft (which is rude) behind them because they won't stop at lights probably because they want to beat me at life or something (goodness knows how demoralizing it is to be passed by a fattie...). Now if you are faster than me, by all means please pass, but if you are slower than me and constantly try to get in front of me, just let me go. Several times I have passed guys on heavier, slower bikes shoal me at the intersections by not stopping at all for the lights only to pass them again and again. Sometimes I will just draft of them for a bit to be a jerk, but their relaxed pace some how fatigues me more. Sure I have been pass a few times probably by people who are not use to riding much, but usually when I pass them, they do not try to catch up to me to pass me and go slow. So in my mind, that type of shoaling is not a big deal. I just get the sense that those who shoal me again and again are trying to send me some sort of message. IDK.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on September 26, 2014 at 8:58am

It's not you; it's them.

Ifi Susana said:

As someone who is shoal-ed a lot of times only from me to pass them again and again, this behavior infuriates me. As a person who is a lady and a fattie, I get the sense that many who try to shoal me believe me to be slow (I am not fast, but I am faster than the average cyclist-lighter bike, clipped in, etc). I end up having to draft (which is rude) behind them because they won't stop at lights probably because they want to beat me at life or something (goodness knows how demoralizing it is to be passed by a fattie...). Now if you are faster than me, by all means please pass, but if you are slower than me and constantly try to get in front of me, just let me go. Several times I have passed guys on heavier, slower bikes shoal me at the intersections by not stopping at all for the lights only to pass them again and again. Sometimes I will just draft of them for a bit to be a jerk, but their relaxed pace some how fatigues me more. Sure I have been pass a few times probably by people who are not use to riding much, but usually when I pass them, they do not try to catch up to me to pass me and go slow. So in my mind, that type of shoaling is not a big deal. I just get the sense that those who shoal me again and again are trying to send me some sort of message. IDK.

Permalink Reply by NYC (7.0 mi) on September 26, 2014 at 9:14am

This is exactly what I do to a chronic shoaler.  And then while on his ass, I ask "I thought you were the fastest, bro?  Let's go!"

Chitown_Mike said:

Perhaps they were enjoying the reported 30% more efficiency of your draft?

There should be a thread about wheel suckers that draft but don't offer, or won't, take the pull on the front.

Davo said:

Am I annoyed by shoaling, yes. Does it ruin my day, no. Another phenomenon I encounter is when I try to motion to a faster rider to go ahead of me and they don't only to pass me later.

Permalink Reply by Holly H on September 26, 2014 at 9:28am


I second your sentiments, Ifi.  I often am left with the feeling that people pull around me when I'm stopped because they think they are faster than I.  When it happens with 3 or more bikes scooching up in front of me I refer to this event as a "douche pocket." 


Ifi Susana said:

As someone who is shoal-ed a lot of times only from me to pass them again and again, this behavior infuriates me. As a person who is a lady and a fattie, I get the sense that many who try to shoal me believe me to be slow (I am not fast, but I am faster than the average cyclist-lighter bike, clipped in, etc). I end up having to draft (which is rude) behind them because they won't stop at lights probably because they want to beat me at life or something (goodness knows how demoralizing it is to be passed by a fattie...). Now if you are faster than me, by all means please pass, but if you are slower than me and constantly try to get in front of me, just let me go. Several times I have passed guys on heavier, slower bikes shoal me at the intersections by not stopping at all for the lights only to pass them again and again. Sometimes I will just draft of them for a bit to be a jerk, but their relaxed pace some how fatigues me more. Sure I have been pass a few times probably by people who are not use to riding much, but usually when I pass them, they do not try to catch up to me to pass me and go slow. So in my mind, that type of shoaling is not a big deal. I just get the sense that those who shoal me again and again are trying to send me some sort of message. IDK.

Permalink Reply by Joe Studer 8.0 mi on September 26, 2014 at 10:56am

I will now have to use this phrase.  Nice.  Elegant, even.  

Holly H said:


>>>>I refer to this event as a "douche pocket." 

Permalink Reply by Thomas Bruzan on September 26, 2014 at 12:52pm

If you include a couple of years of tricycle time, I've had a seat glued to my ass for fifty years. Can't say I've ever felt shoaled.

Permalink Reply by Tandemonium on September 26, 2014 at 2:39pm

Come on, you can do better than that. You got spunk, kid, keep your chin up!



rwein5 said:



Tandemonium said:

so meta...



rwein5 said:

Chainlink, AKA:

bicycle community passive aggression


Tandemonium said:

Shoaling, AKA:
bicycle commuting microagression

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