The Shoal Report

[Tim Kelley]

@Dickie 83352 wrote:

Nearly took down the Bike Admin himself this morning, not sure who if anyone was to blame but I did yell “Nice Shoal” for good measure, Regardless it was good to see the Tim Man if only briefly. In other news, 100 yards later I was harassed by a driver… sigh!

Figured it was you and wanted to surprise you!

[krazygl00]

@creadinger 83629 wrote:

On Saturday afternoon I was riding home via the MVT. I caught up to an attractive woman on a bike and because she was going kinda fast (slow enough for me to catch up, but too fast for me to pass on a busy trail) I followed her for a mile or so. The whole time I was thinking I hope she hasn’t read this thread lately because she probably thinks I’m creepin because of baiskeli. Damn.

Best excuse ever.

[83b]

…

[dasgeh]

And I thought this would be a post about this lovely bit of journalism: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2014/07/30/gear-prudence-help-ive-been-shoaled/

But I think I may heard a saying once that applies to 83(b)… something about two wrongs…?

[Subby]

Yeah no offense 83(b) but that one might be best kept to yourself.

[83b]

Consider me sufficiently shamed. Headbutted with shame even.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6337[/ATTACH]

[creadinger]

@dasgeh 91586 wrote:

And I thought this would be a post about this lovely bit of journalism: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2014/07/30/gear-prudence-help-ive-been-shoaled/

But I think I may heard a saying once that applies to 83(b)… something about two wrongs…?

Reading that and some of the comments for some reason made my slightly evil side pop out and made me start to think about writing a piece from the opposite perspective. Instead of I hate being shoaled or shoalers, “I hate people that I have to shoal”.

Fortunately on my commutes, errands and weekend rides I don’t really have the problem of congestion at stop lights, but given the existence of shoalers who seem to have no guilt, remorse, or possibly that they’re not even aware that they’re being jerks, someone out there exists who could write it. Come on anonymous person. What is your perspective?

[Geoff]

Generally the people who shoal me look like they aren’t familiar with, or don’t care about, the social norms assumed on this forum. I mean, they aren’t wearing “the uniform”, probably not even a helmet, and are riding a CaBi or a beater. The people who are likely to pass me generally wait their turn. Possibly because I’m a guy in bike shorts they’re showing deference?

I don’t worry too much about the few who shoal me, but I do stare in amazement at the guys (always guys) who don’t even stop for the red even though traffic is moving on the cross street.

[consularrider]

Well, I always wonder why pedestrians/runners feel like they have to get up and stand in front of me at trail crossings and in crosswalk curb cuts. I usually assume they think they are going to be able to start crossing before the light changes, but that rarely happens. I really love the southeast corner of Wilson/Lynn and the northeast corner of the Lynn/Lee Intersection of Doom. I try to stay back from the street edge and keep a the sidewalks clear so that people passing in the other direction can get through.

[hozn]

@consularrider 91622 wrote:

Well, I always wonder why pedestrians/runners feel like they have to get up and stand in front of me at trail crossings and in crosswalk curb cuts.

It might be a similar reason to why I ride up alongside / in front of the cars at intersections. I want them to get out there and be visible, even if they’re going to pass me during or shortly after the intersection.

[dasgeh]

@hozn 91624 wrote:

It might be a similar reason to why I ride up alongside / in front of the cars at intersections. I want them to get out there and be visible, even if they’re going to pass me during or shortly after the intersection.

I don’t buy this one. Cyclists don’t “not see” peds and certainly don’t kill or seriously injure peds if somehow they go ped-blind at intersections.

At the Intersection at Doom, it’s particularly annoying because peds blocking the ONE curb cut often strand other peds and cyclists in the intersection. When it’s possible, I try to politely say something like “please don’t block the curb cut – this line of people is waiting to cross” or similar. I admit though, it’s tough because THERE’S NO GOOD SPACE TO WAIT THERE.

[hozn]

@dasgeh 91635 wrote:

I don’t buy this one. Cyclists don’t “not see” peds and certainly don’t kill or seriously injure peds if somehow they go ped-blind at intersections.

Perhaps, but it seems reasonable to suggest that the “lesser” participants in the equation have some right to make themselves known to the more-dangerous participants.

I suppose I would sympathize with the annoyance of someone standing in front of me at the intersection if I actually commuted with traffic. As it is, the trails aren’t busy enough for me for this to really matter. I get shoaled on occasion by slower people (and occasionally by faster people), but it’s never struck me as anything but humorous. I guess it sucks to ride slowly behind someone until it’s safe to pass. I’m sure I impart that sentiment to motorists far more often than I experience it myself.

[sethpo]

@hozn 91639 wrote:

Perhaps, but it seems reasonable to suggest that the “lesser” participants in the equation have some right to make themselves known to the more-dangerous participants.

I suppose I would sympathize with the annoyance of someone standing in front of me at the intersection if I actually commuted with traffic. As it is, the trails aren’t busy enough for me for this to really matter. I get shoaled on occasion by slower people (and occasionally by faster people), but it’s never struck me as anything but humorous. I guess it sucks to ride slowly behind someone until it’s safe to pass. I’m sure I impart that sentiment to motorists far more often than I experience it myself.

Maybe it’s more like the law(s) of fluid mechanics and the smaller objects will always fill the voids. I mean, and this might be heresy to say in public, but I don’t always ride between lanes or along side of cars for safety reasons. Sometimes, it’s just about going where you can go until something forces you to stop.

[jnva]

I don’t mind people shoaling me. The guy at the front is more likely to get hit by a car. I just don’t get why you’d want to be that guy…

[dasgeh]

@hozn 91639 wrote:

Perhaps, but it seems reasonable to suggest that the “lesser” participants in the equation have some right to make themselves known to the more-dangerous participants.

My point is that cyclists are not more dangerous.

Also, my real gripe with peds shoaling at the Intersection of Doom is that they make it even more dangerous for others, because they block other cyclists and peds from getting on to the curb. Sure, I get annoyed that they block the way, potentially making me miss the green at Fort Myer, but since I stop at the light at Nash, anyway, I don’t really care.

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