[SDCBC] FW: bike safety and good neighbor relations

[JonIsaacs at aol.com]

I>>>>n a message dated 10/9/2007 12:01:02 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
trevorspoke at cox.net writes:

> Kathy, thanks for the friendly note from our roadway neighbors with too 
> many wheels (wink). We all have to remember to avoid being judgemental about 
> others' driving choices that cross the line from unlawful into merely "different 
> from our style". Those in the weekend group rides know that the writer is 
> completely backward about what works well on a "well-traveled road". It is 
> better, in fact, for all the bikes to stay out of the bike lanes altogether so 
> that we don't get so many conflicts at right turns, where motorists end up on 
> the wrong side of the bunch because they didn't know the rules of the road 
> require them to merge into the bike lane to make their turn.
> 
> Companions riding and chatting side by side are neither more dangerous, nor 
> more bothersome to other road users, than loner motorists chatting to their 
> buds on the cell phone. We all want the same thing, to make our travel more 
> enjoyable.
> 
> I don't regularly travel Del Dios, but even if I did I would avoid calling 
> into question someone else's choice of riding style. I would merely remind 
> them to ride safely, lawfully, and cooperatively. Mayhap that's already what 
> they're doing.
> 
> -- Trevor
> 
> --------

Here's a few thoughts...

-  As cyclists it is our responsibility to ride as far to the right as is 
"practicable."  There are many legitimate reasons leave the bike lane and  I am 
one who certainly takes the lane when there are right turns parked cars, a 
right turn, merging traffic and many other situations.   

But there is something inconsistent about two riders alongside each other 
chatting, one in the bike lane,  one not.  If the bike lane is not the right 
place to be, then both should be in the traffic lane, if it is the safe/legally 
required place to be both ought to be in the bike lane.

As far as Del Dios goes, it has been quite some years since I have ridden 
there on a regular basis but I think it changed little over the nearly 60 years I 
have been traveling that route.  Certainly there are many places where the 
road is sufficiently narrow that "controlling the lane" is the practicible 
choice.  But there are also wide spots where the road is more than sufficiently 
wide to allow safe operation of a bicycle along side a car.   

It is my understanding that when riding a bicycle you are still responsible 
for obeying the traffic laws as an individual whether you are riding in a group 
or by yourself.  To me that suggests that each rider needs to ride as close 
to the right side of the road as practicable...  If there is room for safe 
riding car and motorist side by side, and there are motorists waiting to get by, 
then single file would seem to be the order of the day...  

It does look like another fine day for a ride, I hope everyone reading this 
has a great ride sometime to day.

Jon Isaacs




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