Commuting through the city tips

[Riley Casey]

Simple rules of thumb for city cycling :

1 – Everyone gets home safely.

2 – Every motorized vehicle is out to get you

These to me means doing the safe thing in any situation regardless of the rules. If it means getting on the sidewalk ( which is perfectly legal in all but a small portion of the city core ) to avoid interacting with a large truck then that is the smart thing. If it means rolling thru a stop sign ( assuming I can see the intersecting street well enough ) to stay ahead of traffic that might be gunning for me then I’m all for it. I’m not a road cyclist of course, don’t own a single item of spandex so I can’t answer for them but I have been a cycle commuter for more than a decade. I ride from Takoma to downtown fairly often even though it’s not my daily commute. I do it on or near the routes you describe and I enjoy it too. Love Grant and Sherman Circles. Been doing it for more than ten years and survived with only self inflicted wounds for show for it.

Don’t snicker at the ” out to get you” rule. If you act as if it were true it will serve you well. At the mass and velocity differentials involved between cars, trucks and bikes and more importantly the indifferent amount of attention to their task this armor affords drivers acting as if they really are out to get you could add years of health and well being to your life.

Oh, and watching for potholes is up there as well ( that covers the self inflicted wounds part ).

[jrenaut]

I prefer to stay with traffic for the most part. Hugging the curb or the line of parked cars isn’t safe, and I think bikes should stay far enough left in the lane that it’s clear to drivers that they have to leave the lane to pass. Riding too far right is just an invitation to get buzzed.

Don’t make someone pass you twice. I know there’s some differences of opinion on when it’s appropriate to filter to the front at a stop. My general rule is to not filter unless I know the road is opening up and cars passing me will be easy. Drivers are already annoyed – if they have to pass you every block or two because you’re filtering, they’re going to get more annoyed, and that’s not good for anyone. And NO SHOALING. Never pass another cyclist while he or she is stopped at a light.

I don’t use the sidewalk often. When I do, I absolutely defer to pedestrians.

[TwoWheelsDC]

I’d say my mantra is “follow the rules, except when it’s safer not to.” I’d say my primary rule-breaking maneuver is going through red lights if there are lots of cars behind me. 99 times out of 100, I do this when I can see that the other traffic is getting a yellow light and it’s safe to proceed in order to get out in front of traffic. In my mind it’s better to put yourself out in front of cars at a stop light, where they see you and then move around you, than to hang out beside cars while they’re stopped, because they are almost guaranteed to forget you’re there once they start moving. Also, this list:

-don’t be afraid to take the lane, even if there’s a bike lane. bike lanes sometimes get filled with non-bikes.

-filter to the front of long lines of cars if you have room. drivers’ view is limited when looking anywhere but straight ahead, so it’s good to be in front of cars, not beside them.

-hold your line and be predictable. For instance, don’t weave in and out of parked cars in the right hand lane. If you have to take a full center or left lane to maintain a straight and predictable path, do it.

-use hand signals when you can.

-don’t ride on the sidewalk unless you absolutely have to.

-avoiding confrontations is probably a good thing. Road rage is real and we’re at a disadvantage. If a driver pulls a dick move, just keep riding.

-be gracious. if a driver yields to you, give them a wave or a nod. If you give them a positive interaction, they may be more likely to treat the next cyclist with the same courtesy. I realize this unfairly puts the onus on cyclists to get respect from drivers, but in general it just makes the world a slightly more pleasant place, so it’s not just about drivers/cyclists.

[eminva]

@ebubar 43044 wrote:

Of all the routes,
the one through the city, shockingly, is my preference and seems to be the quickest.

Ha. I thought so! (see fifth response).

May I suggest a WABA Confident City Cycling Class? Classes are on hiatus for the winter, but will start up again soon. Keep checking that website for upcoming dates.

The class will teach you best practices. As you note, some cyclists have bad habits. It is good to learn the recommended ways to do things as well as why they are recommended.

Good luck and great that you are keeping up with the commute!

Liz

[KLizotte]

You should sign up for one of WABA’s confident cycling classes. I don’t think they hold them in the winter but there will surely be some in the spring. They teach you the rules of the road, how to ride in various conditions as well as defensive maneuvers. This is a hand’s on (pedal’s on?) class so you must bring your bike and be prepared to ride.

Whenever possible, be predictable and act like a car as much as possible since that will get you the most courtesy, respect, and safety from drivers. Hand signals and making eye contact can go a long way. Don’t cut in front just cause you can unless your safety is really jeopardized. Don’t blow through red lights!!!! If you must, walk your bike like a ped (for some reason that doesn’t raise the ire of drivers).

Unfortunately cyclists have a public relations problem so nodding thanks or waving whenever possible to drivers/peds helps a lot too.

If you have never been on a route, it’s always a good idea to check Google’s streetview to determine whether it is a bike friendly road and if there are any potential conflict points.

Lots of lights, blinkies, reflective bits at night are a must.

Help newbies when needed (e.g., CaBi riders)

I have found a helmet mounted mirror to be invaluable. I’m always checking to see what is happening behind me and it gives me the opportunity to wave some cars through that may be lagging behind unsure of whether to pass me or not.

Keep to a safe speed. Better arrive 1:00 minute late than at the hospital.

[Riley Casey]

I’d +1, +2 and +3 the suggestion on hand signals for turns. Nothing says I love you to a driver, to other cyclists and pedestrians like clear and ample hand signals. Maybe they convey vulnerability, humaness, what ever but they seem to disarm the crankiest of drivers.

“Lots of lights, blinkies, reflective bits at night are a must.” Another item to +1. Even cyclists get annoyed at other cyclists riding in the dark without lights and so often in dark clothes hrummph.

[Dirt]

Awesome suggestions by everyone. I’ll add one thing: Spend a little time in other people’s shoes… even if figuratively.

Think from the point of view of a driver. What do you see cyclists doing that scares or upsets you or seems unsafe? Behave accordingly.
Think from the point of view of a pedestrian: What do you see cyclists doing that scares or upsets you or seems unsafe? Behave accordingly.

When I say “behave accordingly”, I mean ride in a way that abides by the rules and makes your riding predictable and safe from everyone’s point of view. I know that is a very tough task.

Taking shortcuts, weaving in and out and blowing signals/signs gives us all a bad name. I always try to be the BEST example of a cyclist that I can be. It doesn’t always happen. I always try though.

Enjoy.

Pete

[rcannon100]

Good advice here. I will add only one thought.

Ignore bike lanes (the ones painted in traffic, not the one’s separated from traffic). Most bike lanes are painted in the parked-car-door-zone-of-death. If you go biking down a bike lane, adjacent to parked cars, your risk of getting doored is high.

Someone else said “Take the lane” Generally that is what I will do. In traffic or city riding – I will take the lane and get the gosh golly heck away from parked cars. Also helps protect you from pedestrians popping out between cars.

This pic shows what I am talking about:

[vvill]

@ebubar 43044 wrote:

What approach do you use to city commuting?

I try to avoid it around peak hours, bad weather, or low light/dark. And by city, that includes the busier streets of Arlington as well as DC. In the summer I will often choose to commute more directly but I usually try to stay on trails more this time of year.

That said, all the suggestions in this thread are great. The only things I can think to add are:
– Be hyper-aware.
– Learn the traffic patterns (both motor vehicles and pedestrian!) and pothole locations on the streets you ride everyday – although on a bike that’s almost impossible not to do, unless you ride around in headphones all day. If you know a traffic light pattern will mean it’s safer for you to go on an amber/red light, then it may be worth it. If you know staying in the right lane will possibly block traffic wanting to turn right on a red, then you’ll know to get in the other lane, or maybe run the light if safe, etc.

[UrbanEngineer]

Kansas is mostly down hill with on-street parking and a bike lane most of the way. Riding in the door zone is not a good idea; doing so while riding fast down a hill, even worse of an idea. Use your best judgement here. There are parts of Kansas that have a center median that won’t allow traffic to pull into an adjacent lane to pass you. Depends on the situation, but I take the lane on the down hill portions where on-street parking and a median is present.

I take the lane when I ride 13th. There are so many stop signs and red lights. Nobody is going anywhere fast. I get honked at from time to time on the up-hills (and yelled at by my fiance for being in their way), but typically I’m stuck in car traffic more than car traffic is stuck behind me. I don’t filter because the cars that do pass me don’t want to have to pass me again and because filtering requires one to ride between lanes, which puts me in a not so visible position. This isn’t typical, as I tend to get passed by filtering cyclists as I queue up in line with the traffic. I turn at Euclid and then ride to 14th because I don’t like the hill at 13th and Florida. It’s designed for destroying bikes and brakes.

I don’t like riding R because the bike traffic almost always flows faster than the car traffic. It isn’t so bad, but you definitely need to be alert and expect to be right hooked. If you’re riding drops, don’t ride with your hands on the tops.

21st street. A blissful few blocks in the downtown area. One lane of traffic that could be as wide as 30 feet and very few motor vehicles. Nice ride.

On M-Street I take the lane, I don’t filter, nor do I go straight in the right turn only lanes. It’s worked for me so far. Not sure what the best way to cross Key Bridge. I’ve only rode it once and I did so by hopping the sidewalk (at a curb cut, not bunny hop style) at 34th, and then crossed at the crosswalk to then ride the sidewalk on the far side of the bridge to the custis trail/sidewalk.

I do a route similar to this frequently, and I take 13th to Euclid to 14th to Florida to New Hampshire to R to Florida to P.

I then ride Q Street all the way back to 15th up and over the hill to Euclid then onto 13th.

[jnva]

If you do filter up beside a row of parked cars, watch out out for jaywalking pedestrians popping out to cross the street. Also, make sure your brakes are in perfect condition.

[fuzzy]

I second the advise for the WABA class, I took it and absorbed everything they went over.

Question for community- What is bad about shoaling- Passing another cyclist who is stopped? Is it like flying pass them or just slowly riding by?

[Tim Kelley]

@fuzzy 43185 wrote:

Question for community- What is bad about shoaling- Passing another cyclist who is stopped? Is it like flying pass them or just slowly riding by?

“Shoaling” is an incredibly rude practice, and it’s tantamount to cutting in front of someone at an ATM, supermarket checkout, or urinal line.”

http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2009/10/indignity-of-commuting-by-bicycle.html

[DismalScientist]

Some people must be shoaled.

Like some guy wearing flip flops track-standing a mountain bike with an empty baby seat on back.:rolleyes:

There is no way he could keep up with me.

[jrenaut]

@fuzzy 43185 wrote:

Question for community- What is bad about shoaling- Passing another cyclist who is stopped? Is it like flying pass them or just slowly riding by?

It’s rude. You don’t do that to the car in front of you when you’re driving. Anecdotally, it’s almost always done by really slow-moving cyclists. I don’t remember ever being shoaled by anyone I didn’t then have to pass before the midpoint of the next block.

If you’re moving faster than the bike in front of you, pass like a normal polite person. Wait until it’s clear, then bell ring, “On your left”, pass. Easy. If you’re moving slower than the bike in front of you, the only reason to shoal is to jump the light, so now you’re being rude AND breaking the law. I am willing to make an exception if you are jumping the light for safety reasons and the cyclist you are shoaling chooses not to, though I understand it’s hard to know when this is or isn’t the case. I’m willing to excuse an awful lot if done for the sake of safety.

But the vast majority of shoalers I’ve seen do it out of laziness and rudeness. If we’re in a bike lane, and the lane continues through the intersection, there are no reasonable safety concerns that are alleviated by shoaling and/or jumping the light.

At no point is flying past a stopped cyclist okay. Then it’s not safety. You’re just an a$$.

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