The Shoal Report

[83b]

I’ll preface this by admitting that my commute route and stickler-for-the-rules behavior provide perfect conditions for getting shoaled frequently. There are tons of lights along my route down the East Capitol St and Penn Ave lanes. And I stop at every red behind the designated stop line.

But the incidences of shoaling are starting to drive me insane. Today I was shoaled 10 times out of 13 possible interactions (i.e., only three times did someone stop behind me at a light–the same woman in each instance). That seems to be pretty representative for a late morning commute, but I’m going to start keeping track. It’s particularly irritating when the person is (a) someone you just passed and now have to wait to safely pass again, (b) a crap biker who does the awkward hop-shuffle start to get going, (c) someone who is obviously slow but was going to try to run the light and couldn’t find a gap in traffic, or (d) trying to maintain momentum and so tries to shoot past you right as the light changes. Having spelled it out, I realize just how irritating I find shoaling in all it’s infinite colors and variations.

My ire is particularly high today because I almost put (or maybe did put) someone into the barrier poles in the Penn Ave median. Three people in a tight line tried to shoot around me as the light at 14th had just changed to green. I’d already started going–but was still building speed–and things got crowded. The third guy in the line made contact with my bars and I leaned into him hard. He didn’t go down, but I did hear skidding as he stopped just short of (or went into?) the barriers. Enraged, I’m ashamed to admit, I immediately passed the other two shoalers in the intersection and exchanged nasty words about their behavior before speeding off to the 15th street hill. A total failure to channel Dirt’s zen on my part, which thankfully doesn’t happen often.

This latest incident riled me up/shook me enough that I’m thinking about ignoring the stop lines from now on and pulling up as far as possible so that people can’t pull that cute little maneuver. But I really hate obstructing the crosswalks in any way, especially on the Hill. Any other good strategies or options people employ?

Courtesy of the BikeSnob
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Topic

[83b]

@mstone 115244 wrote:

Have you considered that you might need a V8?

The refreshing fruity beverage or a large-block engine in an American-made automobile?

In terms of beverages, I am now fully caffeinated and far less cranky than earlier this AM. In terms of automobiles, I don’t always drive, but when I do, I drive a marginally-emasculating soccer mom car.

[Tim Kelley]

@83(b) 115247 wrote:

In terms of automobiles, I don’t always drive, but when I do, I drive a marginally-emasculating soccer mom car.

Sounds like you need an upgrade!

[mstone]

@83(b) 115247 wrote:

The refreshing fruity beverage or a large-block engine in an American-made automobile?

The beverage that will put you straight! Your picture suggests that you’re a bit tilty.

[AFHokie]

@Tim Kelley 115249 wrote:

Sounds like you need an upgrade!

Now this is an upgrade!

[Supermau]

Shoaled tonight at the intersection of Maine and Ohio heading toward the Jefferson by none other than a gentleman with a “WABA.ORG” tag on his backpack, the bike model shall remain classified. No hard feelings, but you were slow as hell off the line. I don’t waste time lolly gagging at these intersections and it kind of sucked getting bogged down as other cyclists seems to converge from all directions as we so arduously pushed through, further hindering my pass. I thought a WABA guy would know better.

No cutting!

No hard feelings either. It’s not the end of the world. I just wanted to vent.

Safe cycling, and cheers!

[83b]

Venting is 30% of the purpose of the internet! The other 70% is comprised mostly of cat videos, puppy videos, and internecine warring between Team Cat and Team Dog.

[pfunkallstar]

@Supermau 116428 wrote:

Shoaled tonight at the intersection of Maine and Ohio heading toward the Jefferson by none other than a gentleman with a “WABA.ORG” tag on his backpack, the bike model shall remain classified. No hard feelings, but you were slow as hell off the line. I don’t waste time lolly gagging at these intersections and it kind of sucked getting bogged down as other cyclists seems to converge from all directions as we so arduously pushed through, further hindering my pass. I thought a WABA guy would know better.

No cutting!

No hard feelings either. It’s not the end of the world. I just wanted to vent.

Safe cycling, and cheers!

Got uberShoaled at the Lynn Street crossing yesterday – I tend to stop a bit before the curb so that people coming from Georgetown can traverse the 66 crossing without having to weave through a ton of bikes.

The three gentlemen that shoaled me appeared to be having a CAT 8 race that I hadn’t gotten the memo about. To add shoalinsult to shoalinjury, two of the gentlemen then decided to ride side-by-side up the hill. I bailed out onto to the road after the hotel to get around them. Also, what is with all of the MTB shorts – own the spandex because it owns you.

[creadinger]

@pfunkallstar 116468 wrote:

Also, what is with all of the MTB shorts – own the spandex because it owns you.

Pockets? Or, maybe they’re a little self conscious about walking around their professional work environment in skin hugging, bulge showing lycra?

Shoalers are indeed the worst though.

[bentbike33]

@pfunkallstar 116468 wrote:

…at the Lynn Street crossing …- I tend to stop a bit before the curb so that people coming from Georgetown can traverse the 66 crossing without having to weave through a ton of bikes.

As do I, and often PALs do line up behind me. Maybe we need a “Bike Box” painted here to help other get with the program?

[sjclaeys]

@bentbike33 116472 wrote:

As do I, and often PALs do line up behind me. Maybe we need a “Bike Box” painted here to help other get with the program?

I also do this, and then move up to the curb when the countdown gets to about 10 so that turning cars can better see that I am there. For doing this, I also get shoaled.

[bobco85]

@bentbike33 116472 wrote:

As do I, and often PALs do line up behind me. Maybe we need a “Bike Box” painted here to help other get with the program?

I think a stop line would be useful even if it would not completely solve the problem of shoaling.

In my experience, the average shoaler stops where they think is the most advantageous spot. The shoaler will make sure that there is nothing obstructing their intended path. They could be at the edge of a curb, a foot or 2 from the corner/stop line, a few feet in the intersection itself, or in the middle of the crosswalk if there is one. They do not look at the ground in front of them (lines would therefore largely be useless) and tend to be looking only for vehicles (pedestrians in crosswalks be damned). Their stance will be in a way that allows them to get a quick start and even run the red light if there happens to be a gap in cross traffic. (My hypothesis) Although more likely to get hit by red-light runners in cross traffic, they are more visible to drivers and are therefore less likely to get right-hooked.

I don’t endorse nor do I practice shoaling, but I can see the benefits from doing it. My understanding is that people (shoalers, drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, etc.) will do what is most efficient for them, even if it is selfish and only benefits them.

[rcannon100]

@Supermau 116428 wrote:

Shoaled tonight at the intersection of Maine and Ohio heading toward the Jefferson by none other than a gentleman with a “WABA.ORG” tag on his backpack, the bike model shall remain classified.

Oh, that’s good. For a moment I was afraid it might have been me.

@bentbike33 116472 wrote:

As do I, and often PALs do line up behind me. Maybe we need a “Bike Box” painted here to help other get with the program?

My dog trainer says that a good way to train a dog doing something you do like is with a water bottle. When they lunge at a mailman or at Steve O, you just hit the dog with a healthy squirt of water. Should work for Shoalers at IOD as well.

[mstone]

I look forward to Milloy’s coverage of cyclist on cyclist road rage

Just don’t read the comments

[Tania]

I think the reason I’ve gotten better on hills/faster in general is because I usually get shoaled at most stop signs/signals (because, you know, I’m a GIRL and clearly we’re slow). Which just makes me want to pass you going uphill that much more. 😎

[bentbike33]

@rcannon100 116483 wrote:

When they lunge at a mailman or at Steve O, you just hit the dog with a healthy squirt of water. Should work for Shoalers at IOD as well.

Interesting idea, but since I use a Camelback, I would have to spit the water at the shoalers rather than squirt them.

I suppose it might work with a sort of outraged spit-take act: “Ppfftt! Where the [choice expletive] do you think you’re going! Stay in line you [vulgar anatomical reference]!”

Worth some consideration.

[Author]

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