Good article in the NY Times to day about bikes & cars sharing the road

[Anthony A.]

I thought Jane Brody did a good job of running down the basics for
both groups:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/05/health/05brod.html?ref=health
I really liked this particular admonition to drivers:

Like it or not, bicyclists have the right to "take the lane" under
certain conditions:

¶When overtaking a vehicle moving in the same direction.

¶When getting ready to turn left.

¶When a lane is too narrow to share with a car or truck.

¶When there are unsafe conditions on the road like double-parked
vehicles, animals, pedestrians and potholes.

 

[Wayne Pein]

Anthony A. wrote:

> I thought Jane Brody did a good job of running down the basics for
> both groups:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/05/health/05brod.html?ref=health
> I really liked this particular admonition to drivers:
>
> Like it or not, bicyclists have the right to "take the lane" under
> certain conditions:
>
> ¶When overtaking a vehicle moving in the same direction.
>
> ¶When getting ready to turn left.
>
> ¶When a lane is too narrow to share with a car or truck.
>
> ¶When there are unsafe conditions on the road like double-parked
> vehicles, animals, pedestrians and potholes.
>

I wish people would quit using "take the lane" and instead say "use the
full lane." "Take" sounds as if bicyclists are stealing.

Wayne

 

[David Horwitt]

Anthony A. wrote:
> I thought Jane Brody did a good job of running down the basics for
> both groups:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/05/health/05brod.html?ref=health

Yes, mostly good, except for some incorrect information:
When turning right, signal well ahead of time,
*turn from the middle of the intersection rather than across the bike path*,
and make sure no bike is on your right before you turn. Do not pass a cyclist if you will be turning right immediately after.

Motor vehicles should merge into the bike path to make a right turn.
If there were no bike path, they wouldn't turn right from the left lane of a two lane street, would they?

It drives me nuts when vehicles pass me and, instead of merging in front of me (bike path or no), wait for me
to pass on their right before they make a right turn. They usually end up waiting much longer
than they expect, as I don't put myself in the unsafe position they are finessing me into.

DH