[SDCBC] Cycling Etiquette

[Neil Brooks]

IMHO, you did the right thing.  I would have done just as you did (sadly, the yelling match most
likely included).  

My favorite example of this is riding westbound, on North Harbor Drive (from the Star of India,
say) and approaching the airport.

There, you have a very similar traffic situation WITH the added bonus that everybody's a tourist
(or a cab driver), and is late for their plane.  

I execute that area in the manner that you describe.  Sometimes, it's STILL far from perfect,
resulting in an angry motorist.

Educating them, face-to-face, is tough.  Doing what's right will eventually be pattern for them to
learn from, and is far more likely to keep us alive.

Glad it worked out (relatively) okay.

--- James Hotchkiss <jhotchkiss at cox.net> wrote:

> I got into a yelling match with a motorist on my way home (on my bike) this
> afternoon.
> I feel bad because I know that the motorist went home with a sour experience
> with a cyclist.  I also question as to whether I was in the right.
> Going west on Fletcher Parkway, coming out of El Cajon, the (3 lane) road
> forks.  2 lanes go to the left and remain Fletcher Parkway, 2 lanes go to
> the right and become Navajo Road.  The center lane splits.  I need to follow
> the road to the left (Fletcher Parkway).  As a cyclist I position myself in
> the middle of the center lane, forcing cars that are going to go to the
> right of the fork to take the lane to my right, and forcing the cars that
> are going to go to the left of the fork to take the lane to my left.  Once
> past the fork, I move over to the right side of the road.
> This motorist came up behind me and leaned on her horn.  I caught her at a
> traffic light and she was furious with me.  She told me that she almost hit
> me and had to take evasive action to get around me.  (When I had moved in to
> occupy the center lane, there was no one within 200 yards of me).
> I told her that I needed to establish myself in the center lane to let
> motorists know my intentions.  She felt that I was cycling recklessly.  I
> think she thought I should have stayed to the extreme right and moved over
> only at the last minute. 
> Was I following proper bicycle/automobile etiquette?
> Is there a quick response that I could have given this motorist to get her
> to see my predicament and maybe come out of the exchange with compassion for
> what it is like to commute on a bicycle?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> JimH
> 
> > _______________________________________________
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