THE SUCKER LANE

THE SUCKER LANE

In my travels on a bicycle around the country, I've seen just about every cycling hazard known to man...some of them are just part of the environment and the fact they are out there is beyond our control...pot holes, bad angle RR tracks, broken pavement, slick manhole covers, loose gravel, blind corners, sun glare in the late afternoon just to name a few. These examples are everywhere and we ride with the knowledge that any one of them could pop up any second and we would have to deal with the danger...and hopefully we have the knowledge and skill level to deal with them safely and survive unscathed. But beyond these "natural" hazards we deal with everyday, there are also countless situations that may be hazardous to our health that we can control, but many cyclists have riding habits that negate that control and defer that responsibility to someone else.

Thinking in these terms would make one think that cycling is inherently dangerous...well, you're right. So why make it even more dangerous by the way we ride? Every ride is full of potentially life changing decisions and the way we handle them is critical to say the least. One such decision is how we control our safety environment when we encounter stopped traffic at traffic control intersections. When you approach a line of cars waiting at a stop light, do you ride up the right side of all the cars and continue through the intersection in disregard for the light or sign? Do you weave in between the cars working your way up to the intersection and then go your merry way? Do you ride up the right side and stop at the light until the control changes? Or do you get in line with the traffic and wait until the traffic starts to move? I hope you see the first two of these scenarios as unacceptable in any situation, the third is maybe OK in some situations, and the last works in all situations. By getting in line with the traffic, you give motorists notice that you are a law abiding vehicle that has a place in traffic, you position yourself in a place where you can be seen, and you won't get pinched against the curb or run over by being in the motorist's blind spot. Now let's discuss the situational one.

Any time you approach a vehicle on the right side, you may be the only one that is aware you are there. You have just created a situation where critical members involved are not aware of the environment...and YOU are the one who is most vulnerable (even more critical considering all the other distractions the driver is dealing with...like talking on their cell phone and items on the edge of the roadway like the photo above left). I know of at least 5 people who have been killed by doing this seemingly harmless maneuver. They pulled up beside a vehicle on the "blind" side and the vehicle turned right and ran over them or just pulled forward with a slight swerve to the right catching the cyclist in a mirror, bumper, or wide trailer. All of these tragic accidents could have been avoided had the cyclists not placed themselves in a blind position...they gave up control of their environment/safety. I've had my own cross country cyclists pull up on my blind side countless times...luckily, I happened to see them at the last second and avoided running over them. As a cyclist I was upset and as a motorist I was startled, irritated, and relieved that I hadn't inadvertently killed someone. And finally, as a ride leader, I performed a little counseling session. Believe me, running over one of my riders isn't something I want on my Ride Leader's Resume whether it was my fault or not.

The situation I'm most referring to is when there is no dedicated cycling or shoulder to the right of the traffic. If there is a bike lane or shoulder and you decide to approach the intersection on the right of a line of traffic as in the third example above, you should still approach on the right with extreme caution. Even then, I recommend not pulling up beside the front car who may still be thinking about a last minute right turn and not see you. I guarantee that anytime you pass a car on the right, you will startle the motorist when you come into their view. They are not expecting anything from the right...so they aren't looking. The most important thing in this situation is position yourself where you will be seen...if you place yourself in a blind spot, you have given up control of your situation and safety.

With no dedicated lane for cyclists, the safest place, and in my view the most responsible place to be when the traffic stops, is to be in line with the traffic about 1/2 or 1/3 into the lane from the right...in front of someone's windshield and right behind the vehicle in front of you. If you can't see the eyes of the motorist in front of you in his rearview mirror, you are not where he or she can see you. As soon as the traffic starts to move faster than you can maintain, then pull to the right the appropriate distance from the road edge and be part of the traffic flow. One other consideration if you have to squeeze in between the shoulder and the cars to move to the front, cars that have already had to pass you on a narrow lane will have to work their way around you again. You may find they won't give you as much room the second or third time they pass you.

Assuming that adhering to traffic laws is a given, one of the most important safety habits you can have is to be visible. That's more than just wearing bright colored clothing...you have to be positioned where you are visible in your environment. That means not ever riding or placing yourself in a blind spot of a motorist. Be aware of your environment and how your actions affect your environment. If you weave in and out of stopped traffic and run stop signs or lights, you have shown the motoring public that you have a disregard for the traffic laws that are in effect to provide a reasonable, safe flow for all who use the roadways. If you get in line with traffic and remain visible to all concerned, motorists will respect you as a law abiding user of the roadway and you would have done your part in making the roadways a safer place for yourself and all cyclists. It's the responsible thing to do...not to mention the safest.