[SDCBC] ignoring a detour & bike lane closed signs

[Serge Issakov]

This has been an interesting side discussion between Gene, Dan and myself,
and I think I'll add the coalition back on the CC list for general comments.

On 6/10/07, Dan Gutierrez <Dan.Gutierrez at charter.net> wrote:
>
> One of the counterintuitive aspects of a more leftward lane position
> is that I receive more honking if I'm trying to control the lane but ride
> closer to the right tire track of motorists.  I believe this results from
> motorists thinking they have room to pass, but get frustrated when they
> get
> closer and realize there isn't room, thus they have to slow suddenly and
> this annoys them, so they vent by honking.  OTOH, when motorists can tell
> very early on that an in-lane pass is impossible, they almost always make
> a
> lane change early and when in the new lane there is no stress requiring
> venting.



Ha!  I was writing to Gene about this the other day!  I call it "wishy-washy
lane positioning".
I haven't decided how best to present it yet, but it's based on the premise
that motorists look,
often unconsciously, to the cyclist up ahead for implied direction on what
to do, which is also based
on the idea that, in general, cyclists know (or should know) more about
cycling in traffic, and
motorist-cyclist interaction in traffic, than most motorists.  This puts the
practical (not legal) onus
on the cyclist to inform the motorist on what to do.   And probably the most
important method
of communication is lane position.

One of the areas where cyclists clearly have more expertise than motorists
is on the question
of whether a given lane in a given situation is wide enough to be safely
shared for side-by-side
passing, or not.

A clear lane position is one that broadcasts, in no uncertain terms, whether
or not it is reasonable
to share the lane while passing.

A wishy-washy lane position is one that does not do that, and leaves the
motorist unclear
about what he's supposed to do.  This leads to frustration, and, more often
than when clear
lane positioning is used, to the cyclist receiving "negative feedback" in
the form of close passing,
honking, sideswiping, gunning of engines, yelling, throwing of eggs, etc.

One situation where this is common is on a "marginally wide" outside lane
with onstreet parking where riding just outside the door zone puts the
cyclist
in a wishy-washy lane position.

Serge
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