<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><FONT SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">I>>>>n a message dated 10/9/2007 12:01:02 PM Pacific Daylight Time, trevorspoke@cox.net writes:<BR>
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<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">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.<BR>
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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.<BR>
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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.<BR>
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-- Trevor<BR>
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Here's a few thoughts...<BR>
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- 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. <BR>
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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.<BR>
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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. <BR>
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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... <BR>
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It does look like another fine day for a ride, I hope everyone reading this has a great ride sometime to day.<BR>
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Jon Isaacs<BR>
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