Useful Article on "Claiming the Lane"

[AJsinVA]

Good article Tim. I just finished a book called Bike for Life and they discussed this in there as well. Just keep in mind that your 18 lb bike is no match for a 5000 lb SUV and be safe.

[invisiblehand]

I always liked John S. Allen’s Street Smarts.

http://bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/index.htm

With the understanding that cycling exposure data is generally pretty bad, I think that there is pretty strong case that the “dangers” of road riding is commonly overblown (and riding on sidewalks/paths underestimated). Nonetheless, staying alert and having knowledge of some basic strategies is a good idea.

[Brendan von Buckingham]

Ha. Good one. I was claiming the lane this morning and someone driving an Arlington County government car came up behind me, honked, passed me on the left and yelled, “That’s what bike lanes are for,” then cut in front of me dangerously close. I passed him two light later as he waited to make a right turn for the Courhouse.

For context, I was eastbound on Clarendon Boulevard between Highland (Clarendon M) and Veitch (Courthouse M). There is a bike lane there, but it’s filled with a temporary covered pedestrian walkway, construction debris, severe potholes at Fillmore, double parkers at Clarendon Common, and backed up parking lot traffic at Starbucks. Not to mention it’s downhill and my speed was 25-30. Not only was I claiming the whole right lane to the left of the unsafe bike lane, but I even passed a car in the left lane immediately after the incident. So I was keeping up with traffic fine.

I’ll still claim the lane on that part of my commute because it’s safer than the bike lane. I’ll just keep hoping Arlington continues to make progress educating its employees. The police have gotten a lot better in the last 2 years, so someone on the inside is helping cyclists out.

[Tim Kelley]

@Brendan von Buckingham 345 wrote:

For context, I was eastbound on Clarendon Boulevard between Highland (Clarendon M) and Veitch (Courthouse M). There is a bike lane there, but it’s filled with a temporary covered pedestrian walkway, construction debris, severe potholes at Fillmore, double parkers at Clarendon Common, and backed up parking lot traffic at Starbucks. Not to mention it’s downhill and my speed was 25-30. Not only was I claiming the whole right lane to the left of the unsafe bike lane, but I even passed a car in the left lane immediately after the incident. So I was keeping up with traffic fine.

I ride that same section on my commute and always make a point to move into the road from the bikes lanes around the pedestrian walkway. So far, I’ve had good luck with courteous drivers.

[Mark Blacknell]

Brendan, I *really* hope you got the car number on that one. Would be great to have a follow up conversation with the driver, no?

[Brendan von Buckingham]

That was my thought. I tried the license plate (too many characters) then looked for a vehicle number like buses have but couldn’t find one. But I only had split seconds. I was still in traffic and didn’t need to be distracted. It wasn’t a horrible incident and I’ve been in more dangerous encounters. It’s just the whole “Get in the bike lane” thing that annoys me despite how common that reaction is from drivers. I get it about once a month between Rhodes and Rosslyn.

[AJsinVA]

I do think that we, the cyclists, need to take some responsibility too. I commute from Fairfax to DC and I see of lot of people running stop signs / lights and cutting in front of cars. I will go if it is clear but I see a lot of people not really even looking before they dart out.

[Brendan von Buckingham]

Don’t know why you’re saying that here. No one in this conversation or the original article is advocating such cycling behavior. Furthermore, I did not commit any of those lawless maneuvers this morning in my incident. Which, really, just shows that cyclists can follow the letter of the regulations precisely and STILL be harassed and endangered by drivers who are ignorant of the rules of the road.

[Mark Blacknell]

@Brendan von Buckingham 353 wrote:

Don’t know why you’re saying that here.

It’s like a Law of the Internet or something. If someone mentions cyclists and safety, someone else must – within three replies – point out that cyclists are scofflaws who don’t stop for lights or signs. If that doesn’t happen, then . . . well, I’m not sure. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a discussion where that doesn’t happen.

[AJsinVA]

Well, my point was, and I believe I actually stated that we need to take some personal responsibility as well. Taking personal responsibility is the only way we can expect the same from others. The fact you some people become immediately defensive over someone saying they should take some personal responsibility is a clear indication of that persons thought process and mental state. It is also indicative of a large systemic problem. So please let me apologize for suggesting that someone take some personal responsibility.

[Brendan von Buckingham]

So you’re saying I need to take personal responsibility, and you’re implying my mental state is not sufficient to the task. So help me out. Exactly what should I have done in addition to riding according to the regulations and AASHTO recommendations. Tell me.

[AJsinVA]

The fact that your taking a general statement of safety so personally is what I was referring to. I too ride that area from time to time and I agree with what you are saying, it’s not a good as it should be and we are forced to ride out of the bike lane due to the debris and construction. But as a general statement, we, meaning all of us and not a personal attack on you or anyone here, should be mindful of our surroundings, aware that cars often do not care about us and take some personal responsibility for our own safety.

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