[SDCBC] Del Mar Blvd/Jimmy Durante Merge.

[trevorspoke at cox.net]

I see many cyclists make this crossing of the lane as if they were riding across a crosswalk. The sign is exactly correct that if you are crossing someone else's lane you must yield.

However, the proper way to flow in this traffic engineering situation is to keep left so that you are in the left lane, or at least between the two logical lanes, until they finish their merge. It's the right lane that disappears, the through lane has the right of way. So take the right lane position only when there is no possible room for a vehicle on your right.

Most cyclists, especially in large groups, or in busy Del Mar traffic (which is frequent) compound their error of merging too far right by staying right far too long. There's a right-turn-only lane at 15th street, and that's no place for the cyclist. If you can't be in front of the line, splitting the lanes is safest, making your may right again as you go through the intersection. Of course you then have to say out of the door zone for several more blocks anyway.

-- Trevor

---- Robert Leone <rob_leone at earthlink.net> wrote: 
> Dear SDCBCers:
> 	Hello! I recall there had been a petition to ask the City of Del Mar to 
> do something about the coastal road southbound where there's that sudden 
> merge from the right with Jimmy Durante Blvd.
> 	On yesterday's ride (Fern Kissel's "Sea Level Century," by the way, if 
> you're reading this, thanbks again Fern!) I noted a brand spanking new 
> sign on Coast Highway -- "Bikes Yield to Cross Traffic."
> 	Huh? There isn't cross troffic -- it's a merge. Is THIS the fruit of 
> the petition?
> 
> Robert Leone
> 
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