[SDCBC] Well it looks like I am not the only one...

[Serge Issakov]

Tom,

I'm not familiar with that particular road, but I have a hard time believing
it could be significantly more challenging or appear be significantly more
dangerous than many of the high speed arterials with narrow outside lanes in
San Diego (including La Jolla Village Drive which is on my commute).

I don't know of any studies that indicate roads with narrow outside lanes
are any more dangerous to cyclists than roads with additional width, but
even if it's true, I suspect the added danger is relatively small, and could
easily be mitigated with cyclist behavior.

Most cyclists are unaware that in most states the "cyclists must keep right"
rule does not apply when the lane is too narrow to be safely shared by a car
and bike side by side.  CA law does not specify what "too close" is, but
states and European countries that do almost universally use 3 feet or 1
meter, so that's a reasonable number to use.  Now, motor vehicles range from
about 5' to 8.5' (max legal limit), so any lane that is 14' or narrower is
arguably too narrow to safely fit a car and bike fully within it side by
side, and the keep right law (CVC 21202) does not apply.  Even if the, say,
7' wide (outside edge of side mirror to outside edge) car moves all the way
to the left edge, in a 14' wide lane that leaves only 7' for the 3' buffer
in between, the 2' wide cyclist, plus 2 more feet on the right side of the
cyclist, arguably a bare minimum.   If the vehicle is any wider, or the
cyclist requires more than 2' to his right, then even 14' is not wide
enough.  If the lane is narrower, than it's definitely not sharable except
maybe with the smallest cars.

That means you can legally ride near the center, including as far left as
the left tire track, which may be appropriate depending on the situation, of
the rightmost narrow lane on Jamacha Blvd, requiring faster traffic
approaching from behind to slow down and change lanes to pass you.  Being
that far out lets them notice you sooner, and realize with still plenty of
time and space that they will have to adjust to pass you.  What might be
unsafe is to right further right, thus inviting them to squeeze in next to
you in a lane too narrow to do that safely.  This is what we teach in the
LAB classes, and even folks with decades of riding experience seem to find
that this approach is new, different, and, dare I say, liberating.

Serge


On Jan 9, 2008 4:02 PM, Thomas Reynolds <thomas.treynolds at gmail.com> wrote:

> I don't want to debate bike lanes.  I have at least as much experience
> riding in traffic as anyone on the list.
>
> I could rephrase my statement to say that a 1.2 mile section of busy
> Jamacha Blvd has been narrowed to the point where the road is
> dangerous for cyclists.
>
> My point is that a wide, safe road has been transformed into a narrow
> dangerous road by a developer, has remained that way for four years,
> and no one cares.  Further, there is no practical alternative for
> cyclists, aside from cutting through private driveways (which is what
> I do).
>
> It's likely that the problem will only be rectified when someone is
> injured or killed there.
>
> Tom
>
> On Jan 9, 2008 3:34 PM, Serge Issakov <serge at issakov.org> wrote:
> >
> >
> > On Jan 9, 2008 11:04 AM, Thomas Reynolds <thomas.treynolds at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > > Out in my neighborhood, Spring Valley, a 1.2 mile section of bike lane
> > > on busy Jamacha Blvd has been taken away by K-rails placed over it,
> > > forcing cyclists out into traffic.
> >
> > This statement implies that the bike lane kept cyclists out of traffic.
> >
> > We may disagree on the pros and cons of bike lanes, but please don't
> make
> > the mistake of thinking that a bike lane is a facility that keeps you
> out of
> > traffic.
> >
> > Whether a street has a bike lane or not, a wide lane or a narrow lane,
> the
> > bicyclist is part of traffic, and needs to think and behave accordingly.
> > Any extent to which a bicyclist thinks a bike lane keeps him out of
> traffic
> > is detrimental to his safety.  This is particularly important whenever
> > approaching any intersection or junction with a place that traffic can
> move
> > in or out of.  But same-direction motorists inadvertently drift into
> bike
> > lanes and bicyclists in them that they have not noticed as well, so I
> stay
> > alert in between junctions too.
> >
> > In order to improve my sight lines and conspicuity, during gaps in
> > same-direction traffic I've developed the habit to merge out of the bike
> > lane until the next platoon approaches, preferably not returning to the
> bike
> > lane until I've been able to verify that I've been noticed.  This
> technique
> > requires the use of a rear view mirror to establish and maintain
> rearward
> > situational awareness.  Not only does this improve my sight lines and
> > conspicuity, but it makes it more likely that I'm already properly
> > positioned as I approach and enter each intersection.
> >
> > Anyway, next time you're riding in a bike lane, try to keep yourself
> from
> > assuming you're not out in traffic.  Don't be deceived by a 6 inch wide
> > stripe of paint!  To be sure, you're in traffic.
> >
> > Serge
> >
> > ---
> >
> > NOTE: Any opinions expressed above are mine and not necessarily shared
> by
> > any organization in which I am involve
> >
>



-- 
NOTE: Any opinions expressed above are mine and not necessarily shared by
any organization in which I am involved.
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