Article: Why biking to work is a barrier for most Americans

[Birdstrike]

article wrote:

…54 percent of respondents said fear of getting hit by a car or truck is what holds them back…

Yep, that’s up there. One part of my brain is always saying, “Take the lane, you have every right!” but then the other side responds, “But I want to live!” and reminds me that I have every disadvantage against dysfunctional motorists. So I’m wary and torn, I want to ride more but…

[Tim Kelley]

@Birdstrike 112146 wrote:

Yep, that’s up there. One part of my brain is always saying, “Take the lane, you have every right!” but then the other side responds, “But I want to live!” and reminds me that I have every disadvantage against dysfunctional motorists. So I’m wary and torn, I want to ride more but…

So you’re saying you want protected facilities?

[PotomacCyclist]

If you live in Arlington, you can write or speak out against proposed cuts to the bike planning budget (in the back-up proposed County budget):

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?8274-Arlington-2015-Budget-Proposed-Bike-Ped-cuts-and-ABAC-asks

[Birdstrike]

@Tim Kelley 112147 wrote:

So you’re saying you want protected facilities?

If they build them, we will come. Probably come anyway, look at what we’re riding on now.

[vvill]

Somehow I feel less comfortable riding on the road than I did a few years ago even though I think the area has gotten better for cycling. It’s weird I guess, but having learned more about how poorly protected riders are legally (and how reckless driving occasioning death is basically given a free pass) has made me less likely to ride solo on the road especially during peak hours (and of course there’s bad cycling behavior out there too). I feel like the material/logistical challenges of bike commuting/utility riding mentioned in the article are easily surmountable, relatively speaking. My “solution” is to stick to trails and backroads more, and try to ride outside of peak hours as much as possible. Seems obvious I guess, but not everyone has good access to trails or flexible schedules.

I think protected bike lanes can help if there’s physical separation. Otherwise some drivers seem to think that since you’re in a lane with a painted bike symbol they can pass as close as they like, and/or park there – that, and you should only ride in that lane not the part of the road without a bike symbol on it (and if you get doored, oh well). I often won’t take the lane anymore because I’ve had too many drivers cross the double yellow to overtake me at speed, even with limited visibility up ahead. It’s a bit different on a Sunday/coffee/group ride, fortunately – drivers seem more willing to “share” the road.

/debbiedowner

[Tania]

@Birdstrike 112146 wrote:

Yep, that’s up there. One part of my brain is always saying, “Take the lane, you have every right!” but then the other side responds, “But I want to live!” and reminds me that I have every disadvantage against dysfunctional motorists. So I’m wary and torn, I want to ride more but…

Really? I take the entire lane when I WANT to feel safer (as in, I ride right down the middle of the lane). I get on Gallows in Merrifield about a half mile before the start of the bike lane. I usually ride slowly on the sidewalk for that half mile (I know, I know but I yield to pedestrians) however this winter with all the snow, the side walk was impassible so I had to no choice but to ride in the (busy) road where I didn’t have a bike lane. I took the lane and pedaled hard. Granted, Gallows is two lanes each way.

[Birdstrike]

@Tania 112192 wrote:

Really? I take the entire lane when I WANT to feel safer (as in, I ride right down the middle of the lane). I get on Gallows in Merrifield about a half mile before the start of the bike lane. I usually ride slowly on the sidewalk for that half mile (I know, I know but I yield to pedestrians) however this winter with all the snow, the side walk was impassible so I had to no choice but to ride in the (busy) road where I didn’t have a bike lane. I took the lane and pedaled hard. Granted, Gallows is two lanes each way.

I hope I gain your courage with more experience. Seems like when I have taken the lane, I’m too preoccupied with the car way too close behind me, need to be able to block that out and act/ride like I know what I’m doing. I’m working on it, smaller roads first then building up.

[Phatboing]

@vvill 112185 wrote:

I’ve had too many drivers cross the double yellow to overtake me at speed, even with limited visibility up ahead.

I take the lane to make sure they do exactly this, because that forces them to overtake like they would another vehicle. Then I slow down a bit when they come up beside me. That way I’m less likely to be in the way if they have to swerve to avoid oncoming traffic.

They want to pull some crazy passing to get to their traffic jams on time, fine. I just adjust my speed to make sure that mine isn’t one of the lives they’re risking.

And for all the silly behavior, I’m constantly surprised by the odd person who drives like a decent human being.

[Tania]

@Birdstrike 112194 wrote:

I hope I gain your courage with more experience. Seems like when I have taken the lane, I’m too preoccupied with the car way too close behind me, need to be able to block that out and act/ride like I know what I’m doing. I’m working on it, smaller roads first then building up.

First, I am a big chicken. Huge. Second, my experience is limited as I just started commuting with any kind of regularity last month!

My bike commute is half a mile on a road with no bike lane, then maybe 3/4 mile of bike line to W&OD. Then I’m pretty much ALL protected bike path (w&od, custis, MVT) until I get into the city. Maybe that’s where my courage comes from: my first handful of trips I was chaperoned by dcv and/or Dirt and I just did what they did and became comfortable biking in traffic. I really thought biking in downtown DC would freak me the *@&#& out but all of my close calls have been due to crazy insane bicyclists or pedestrians – not cars.

[vvill]

@Phatboing 112196 wrote:

I take the lane to make sure they do exactly this, because that forces them to overtake like they would another vehicle. Then I slow down a bit when they come up beside me. That way I’m less likely to be in the way if they have to swerve to avoid oncoming traffic.

They would not overtake another motor vehicle like this though. The sight of a bike doing 20 in a 35 zone is just too much for some drivers to wait for a safe clear place to pass.

I’ve since rerouted the part of my commute where I’ve had this happen a few times.

[Phatboing]

@vvill 112201 wrote:

They would not overtake another motor vehicle like this though. The sight of a bike doing 20 in a 35 zone is just too much for some drivers to wait for a safe clear place to pass.

Oh yeah. And then if you’re in the middle of the lane you can drift right and put some distance between you and Captain Doofyhead. But after a point, crazies gonna crazy.

My most disappointing reroute has been avoiding the Trap Rd > Beulah > Clarks Crossing bit of my extendy commute, because Beulah seems to be one of those roads where the toll is 60 IQ points.

[Anonymous]

This. It’s counterintuitive (at least for me) but drivers are much more aggressive about trying to squeeze past when there is not really enough room if you’re hugging the right of the lane. Or so is my experience.

@Tania 112192 wrote:

Really? I take the entire lane when I WANT to feel safer (as in, I ride right down the middle of the lane).

[TwoWheelsDC]

This interaction happened at work once:

Me: In bike clothing, about to get my bike off the rack.

Random other employee getting into their car, and without a hint of irony: “I couldn’t ride to work, people around here drive like maniacs!”

Me:

[dasgeh]

@vvill 112185 wrote:

Otherwise some drivers seem to think that since you’re in a lane with a painted bike symbol they can pass as close as they like, and/or park there – that, and you should only ride in that lane not the part of the road without a bike symbol on it (and if you get doored, oh well). I often won’t take the lane anymore because I’ve had too many drivers cross the double yellow to overtake me at speed, even with limited visibility up ahead.

THIS! When I’m being pessimistic, I wonder whether “regular” bike lanes are worse than nothing.

[dplasters]

@Birdstrike 112194 wrote:

I hope I gain your courage with more experience. Seems like when I have taken the lane, I’m too preoccupied with the car way too close behind me, need to be able to block that out and act/ride like I know what I’m doing. I’m working on it, smaller roads first then building up.

This is a personal choice, and also one that can be limited by physical ability, but I ride without a mirror because I don’t want a constant reminder of how big of a jerk is behind me. I can hear them or see their lights etc. I know they are there and I check my rear regularly. I know my stress level would increase if I saw the idiocy that actually occurred behind me.

Call it willful ignorance.

[Author]

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