Acceptable to shoal in this circumstance?

I am approaching an intersection with a red light.

 

There is a car stopped at the intersection with its right turn signal on. The car is somewhat pulled over to the right in preparation for the turn, so there is no room on the car's right side for a cyclist to squeeze past.

 

Based on the pedestrians waiting at the crosswalk, it is obvious to me that, once the light turns green, the car is not going to be able to turn immediately, but rather it will have to wait for the pedestrians to clear the intersection.

 

Normally, then, I would go around the car's left side, so that I can proceed straight away once the light turns green.

 

However, in this instance the cyclist in front of me stops behind the car that has its turn signal on.

 

Can I "shoal" the cyclist by moving around to the car's left side? I have no idea whether I am the faster of the two cyclists, but I'm not particularly interested in sitting behind the other cyclist while the car waiting to turn spews exhaust fumes at us (which is what happened).

 

Thoughts appreciated. :)

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Permalink Reply by Rich S on October 29, 2014 at 3:41pm

Ah yeah got it! Cool! 

yai danche said:

I'm agreeing with you.  I was saying the other person was a jerk for calling you a jerk.  If you were in any danger of a crash, the other person would've said you were a jerk for not passing safely but instead of was just huffy about shoaling.  

Permalink Reply by Chitown_Mike on October 30, 2014 at 10:28am

I dislike shoaling, but I also dislike the teetering ballet that takes place when stuck behind a car that is turning and you're standing on the pedals.  I'd give a verbal warning I was passing and think nothing of it (I don't have a bell).  I'd assume, as I would if we were all in cars, that the stopped rider is turning right with the car otherwise they would have pulled left of the car.  If it was a new intersection to me, I'd probably wait.

If I am shoaled, unless my safety is or will be jeopardized, I try not to say anything.  I also try not to shoal either.

Permalink Reply by yai danche on October 30, 2014 at 10:44am


I agree.  This applies when others pass me to go through a red light.  They're jeopardizing their own safety but not mine so I don't say anything.


Chitown_Mike said:

If I am shoaled, unless my safety is or will be jeopardized, I try not to say anything.  I also try not to shoal either.

Permalink Reply by David P. on October 31, 2014 at 4:09am

Good (and safe) positioning wrt other traffic is a lot more important than supposed shoaling.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on October 31, 2014 at 6:15am

It's only shoaling if you're in the way. 

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