Bicycle Driving on SoCal Arterials
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- Опубликовано: 17 окт 2024
- Two League of American Bicyclists certified traffic cycling instructors demonstrate how to safely and legally ride on major southern California arterial roads by acting as vehicle drivers. All of the video is un-staged, shot in real daytime traffic. The key lesson of this video is that cyclists who first act as drivers, are then treated as drivers. These advanced traffic skills can be learned in the League of American Bicyclists Bike Ed Program.
Yes Gary, that was a quick "thank you: wave. It is common courtesy to give a little thank you wave when another driver "let's you in" and I do this whether in my car or on my bike. My experience is that many drivers wave back when they eventually pass. I believe this helps humanize driving and fosters future cooperation, by communicating something positive to another driver who helps us out a little.
I've bicycle commuted for the last 5 years, 4 years car-free and since have over 20,000 miles. I have found that giving signals, on roads like these videos are shot on, for atleast 4 or 5 seconds before I start lane change. Longer if I will be stopping in the lane for a left turn. I too use a helmet mirror, but also turn my head to verify no quite cars are there and to show that I am starting the lane change now. Maybe I'm extreme, but new cyclists need to learn safty first. These are good video
Got it. I do the same but I wait until all cars are past me, then go. My speed is 15, while some of the speed limits in the video are 35 (meaning cars go 45) and 45 (meaning cars go 50). I try not to slow down cars at all, whether the driver slows for me or not. It's sort of like crossing a street while someone is waiting and making a right hand turn. If I am walking, I pick up the pace to get out of the way. Though I can legally take my time, I try to show courtesy and move it. That's just me.
i drive like this sometimes but not for such extended periods. I usually only take a middle lane to cross over quite quickly and make it obvious I am going left at the next light. I do see your point here, and I acknowledge that most poeple would not ride like this.
As i make maneuvers like this i always say over and over in my head, "They DONT want to hit you. They DONT want to hit you. They want you to get out of their way so they can move along".
I agree about the wave. I try to wave at any motorist that allows me my space. On urban roads, I sometimes will be sure to hold out my hand or give a hollar that I am there just in case someone doesn't see me in a place there are lots of cars pulling out......Locally here in Chula Vista, such as Bonita Road or Broadway....with all the businesses. Thanks again for posting these.
1) The motorist following us was not revving his engine, and I purposely stayed rightward in the lane so you could get a better view of him in Brian's rear facing camera. We often laterally offset to make the video better.
2) I was rear scanning quite regularly with my mirror (as was Brian), mainly to keep my video stable. Unfortunately my video recorder was failing intermittently, and was "off" during this section, and this is why the clip doesn't have the inset showing my camera view.
The cameras are helmet mounted. There are two riders. The front rider's camera is facing backward and the back rider's camera is facing forward.
@gcziko Personally, I've driven on a 90kph highway with no shoulder, but it was a one-lane country road, so it's a bit different. The highest speed roads we have here in Quebec without shoulders are 50kph, which is generally fine. All in all, however, I've found that the red lights mean that in the end the little streets end up being faster (if the detour isn't too significant). For instance, I will definitely spend an extra 0.5km to eliminate 5km of arterials.
That's an awful lot of lane changing with no visible rear observation. I'm guessing you have a mirror, but the head movement involved in looking back just prior to a manoeuvre ("the life saver") helps everyone to know what's going on, allows eye contact to occur, even, and avoids mirror blind spots.
You've got to be a fit strong cyclist to ride like this, and even then, it sucks: noise, fumes, and real danger from sociopaths disinhibited by their metal carapace. But sometimes it's got to be done to get somewhere. And on the plus side, you get a lot of help from drafting the cars. Gentlemen: I salute your bravery and strength.
The video provided good examples of lane control and lane changing under varying levels of quite dense traffic. It would be of interest if you could have added an estimate of the cyclists' speed to the video as text because it's hard to estimate this from the video.
We were moving at 15mph on Lakewood Blvd to ensure that we would be considerably slower than motorists. The wide angle lenses make the speed look artificially higher to some people. The scenes on Culver near I-5 were done at slightly higher speeds, more like 18mph. And Culver near I-405 was done at closer to 16 mph, similar for the last scene on 7th St. Lane control works at any speed, though very slow cyclists need to merge early so motorists have plenty of time to slow or change lanes.
@cyclenut - Yes, long signals are good. The main point I'd like to make is that so long as the signals are long enough and clear, then the motorists will understand your intention. This makes us more predictable and lowers our risk of a conflict. Also note that the laws in most states do not require bicyclists to hold their hand out continuously for 100 feet, the 100 requirement is usually intended for motor vehicles with automatic shut-off turn signals.
By the way, you are NOT invisible to drivers for the most part, though you are likely to be noticed if you ride "out of the way".
The dining truck driver hit the cyclists not because he didn't see them, but because he didn't want to slam on his brakes. Also, it's not clear where the guys were riding for the 10 seconds prior to the crash. It's likely they were near the wall and appeared to be willing to share the lane instead of riding in the driver position to clearly control the lane.
40yrs (I'm 47) of not being hit for me.
There is no way to eliminate the risk of being hit. But you can mitigate this risk. To most effectively mitigate risk you must study car-bike crash causes and engage in behavior that best avoids crashes. Here again being alert, visible, predictable and following the rules -- acting like a (defensive) driver -- is the best course.
To achieve respect, safety and fun while cycling in traffic, act like a driver. The La Grange tragedy was a rare exception.
Whoa I can always take the whole lane on urban 30mph road, but this one in the video (probably a 40mph limit?) is WAY over my comfort zone!
Dan,
What did your right-hand gesture mean at 3:27 after a motorist gave you space to move into the left lane? Was it a thank-you sign? If so, do motorists recognize this as such?
-- Gary
You're missing a crucial step. After signaling, you WAIT until someone slows and yields to you, you don't just put out your arm and unexpectedly "merge" in front of someone. They are not forced to abruptly slow because you cut in; they CHOOSE to slow down in order to let you in.
Now, once you have established right of way in the lane, then they do have to slow down for you (or change lanes) just as for any slow vehicle. But that's not abrupt.
Making lane changes to control lanes on higher speed roads is different than for lower speed roads. You must start maneuvers earlier, and learn how to negotiate space. It is easy for a fast cyclist at traffic speed to find a gap on lower speed roads, but finding a gap won't always work on higher speed roads. So one must learn to look back and signal, to persuade following drivers to make space for your maneuver, and when you see that they slow, you than change lanes into the space created.
When chainging lanes or turning most states say to signal 100 or more feet before lane change or turn, for all vehicals. Also, use of a mirror and/or turning head to verify yeld of rightaway should be used. I have to say that I feel in these videos that the signals were given longer to show all road uesrs behind of intentions and in this video some lane changes were with little warnings.
Dan,
Assuming a bicycle driving speed of 15 mph, what is the highest posted speed limit where you would recommend bicycle land control?
-- Gary
Of course impacts with cars are bad, this is why one must be highly visible to minimize risk. The only reason cars can co-exist with large trucks is because they drive where the truck drivers can see them, and avoid crashing into them. The same visibility principle applies to bicyclists in front of car drivers. Though counterintuitive, driving at the edge of the road increases your crash risk because it invites too-close passing and crossing maneuvers like right hook turns.
Yes, the left cross is most common. Bicyclists are particularly prone to being overlooked by left-turners when riding "out of the way" in bike lanes or cross walks.
I'm not pretending to be a car, but I do act like a driver of a vehicle (note the difference). No good reason? The good reasons include safety, respect, legal compliance, courtesy and transportation effectiveness.
Yes, acting like a pedestrian on wheels can also be courteous, but it's not as safe at speeds above 6 mph or so.
Regarding the "string" comment. I'm not suicidal, and neither is Brian, so we would NEVER consider any kind of physical attachement between our bicycles. Instead we use our dual chase skill set that we developed to shoot good on-bike video. In other words, we ahve special video shooting skills that must be added to our traffic cycling skills in order to show good quality video of skilled traffic cycling. It isn't easy to shoot good video; it took us years to develop the techniques.
How do you film both the front and back simultaneously with no cameras visible?
Traffic Masters....
@cyclenut - When you talk about signals given longer and some with little warning, were you talking about Brian and I, or the motorists, or both? It would help, if you did think some of our signals were too short, or longer for clarity, if you would cite specific times in the video, that way we can better discuss your observations. I appreciate good perceptive feedback, so please give more detail.
I'm sure having a kit helps getting respect
Do not misunderstand. I only ride in the middle of the lane when I have good reason to do so. Like when there is no other same-direction traffic, to be more visible and have more safety buffer; when the lane is too narrow to be safely shared, so traffic behind me knows ASAP that they must change lanes to pass; when I'm preparing for a left turn; or to avoid hazards near the side.
This visible/predictable approach turns out to be far less annoying to motorists than riding "out of the way".
wesoishi asked if we've ever been hit. The answer is no in over 100k miles of arterial riding in southern California over the last 25 years.
I (Dan) was assaulted by some gang members on Foothill Blvd. in Sierra Madre in 1995 who were intentionally running a car into bicyclists as an initiation ritual, so I don't consider this intentional assault a traffic "accident" any more than if I were mugged on foot or shot at while I was in my car.
On the subject of where we are suppose to be:
By law and traffic principle, slower drivers are supposed to use the right hand lane for traffic; this we are doing. You may be laboring under the idea that cyclists are always supposed to be at the road edge per "far right as practicable" laws. In general these laws are discriminatory as only cyclists are under this onus, and in states like CA, the laws have exceptions for non-shareable lanes and intersections/driveways. We are riding legally.
The most common bike vs. car crash is the left hand turning car. Drivers are looking for a break in traffic so they can shoot the gap. Any small object, bike/skateboarder is off the radar. But that does not matter to me. When you pretend you are a car and take up a lane for no good reason, you make it hard for riders like me, who just want to be left alone. You've made up your mind as to how you want to ride a bike. But how you ride is not the only way to ride safe & be courteous to drivers.
I prefer to control the lane for this makes it clear EARLY that they will not be able to pass me w/o at least partially leaving the lane. Close to the curb I'm inviting them to maintain speed/position as they approach. When they get close they suddenly realize that they will have to encroach in the adjacent lane. If it's occupied they hit the brakes and get pissed off at me. Looking back can help the situation a bit, but being in a visible controlling position is much safer and less hairy.
I'm not at all convinced there is a limiting speed limit. Part of why we made this video, and others like the Long Beach Traffic Circle video, was to show that acting as a driver works when cyclists are travelling slowly, even as slow as 10-11 mph, in traffic that is moving at speeds above 40 mph. If you look at the comments to that video we talk about having to make merges and lane changes early in such environments, or otherwise learn to negotiate lane changes.
No. My basic philosophy is to stay out of the way, esp. when the speed difference is large. There are other ways to "control" the lane without being right in the middle. What I do is turn around, make eye contact and let the driver know that there is not enough room. Because I am not as wide as a car, if I move a bit to the right, it allows the car driver to make an easier pass. He does not have to go around me as though I am as wide as Hummer.
How one is treated and respected in life, including cycling in traffic, is mostly determined by one's own attitude, knowledge and behavior. Look at all the CyclistLorax videos. These demonstrate cyclist behavior in L.A. traffic that is respected and minimizes conflict.
To minimize conflict: be alert, visible and predictable, and know and follow the rules of the road. To be treated like a driver you must act as one first.
Do you feel your right to ride on the road, even when that impedes motorists, is respected by motorists?
The empowering experience I speak of above is learning how to change my behavior in order to get that respect from motorists.
It starts by understanding our rights and respecting theirs. That's why the CVC, and more importantly the underlying principles of traffic, are so relevant to traveling by bicycle in traffic.
Just getting out of the way sucks and only gets you disrespect.
So, just to be clear, you're still advocating neck-based scanning for Road I students, even the ones with mirrors, right?
Now I have visions in my head of a missile-lock-on camera that will always follow the other bike, regardless of which way your head is pointing. That's because the camera points down a string tied to the other guy's seatpost. The string is kept taught with whatever mechanism causes tape measures to suck themselves back in. The string could be invisible nylon fishing cord.
Yes, of course. I mean there is no way to eliminate risk if you are going to ride on the streets; the best you can do is mitigate that risk by acting like a driver.
The La Grange from-behind tragedy was highly unusual. The vast majority of car-bike crashes involve crossing movements, not from-behind hits.
There is no sense in engaging in behavior that makes you slightly less likely (maybe) to be hit in a very rare type of crash but much more likely to be hit in a very common type of crash.
Do we look like Road I students? We're LCIs demonstrating techniques beyond Road I (over 35 mph speed limit with more than 4 lanes), so we're not avoiding head turn rear scans "for Road I students", we are using techniques we have developed to shoot good video while demonstrating advanced traffic cycling skills. I will also respectfully submit that mirrors can be used exclusively to scan to the rear, we do it when shooting dual chase video, and so do many LCIs that ride recumbent bicycles.
I'm reasonable and cooperative. And I used to wait if there was no gap. I would pull over and wait for a gap at the curb or on the sidewalk. But I got tired of doing that, asked for help, and was advised to read the book Effective Cycling by John Forester to learn about negotiation and what I call "creating gaps". It was an empowering experience.
Do you feel respected by motorists? Do they treat you as if you have the same rights as they per CVC 21200?
@kandiman7979 with the same cars passing by in both views?
Typo: I should have said you are likely to be OVERLOOKED if you ride "out of the way" (or in a sharing position).
Tombstone epitaph: "I was in the right!"
Would it be reasonable to ride on these arterial roads if you weren't a fast cyclist (around 10-15 MPH on flat roads)? It looks like they were moving pretty fast in the video. I'm comfortable with lane changes and lane control if traffic isn't moving that fast but don't have much experience on roads like that in the video.
At 3:52 is how I cycle. I feel that the cyclists at 1:24 signals were to short and did not give proper warning. I have leant to use my helmet mirror but not give it so much trust... I'm sure those cyclists have experience, but someone learning VC may copy it with out the experience...
I've have been wokring hard to signal for 4 or 5 seconds before, even if lane is clear. I feel there is not enugh communitcation between traffic and I don't want to be that way. These are good videos... : )
I make that same assumption. A single cyclist doesn't seem to mean nearly as much to the motorists.
We are both after the same thing...safe cycling. I just want drivers to slow and give me space. I have not seen any changes to this in 30 yrs on the rd. What is written in the CVC is not reality and has nothing to do with how drivers view and deal with us. My beef w/ "driving my bike" is that it often impedes drivers, pissing them off, when there is an alternative. If I am at a signal & there are 4 cars in back of me, I go into the crosswalk, let them pass, then go. The "rights" guys don't.
Yes, it's reasonable if you aren't a fast cyclist. And safe.
I would do it with my child in tow on a trailercycle. It's not about speed. It's about skill, knowledge, habits and experience.
Of course there is a way to eliminate the risk, don't ride a bike. Take the bus or car. No one puts a gun to your head and says, "ride your bike". Agree with being alert, but for the most part, you are invisible to drivers. Acting like a "bike" rider is the best course. Both La Grange deaths were riders being slammed from behind, as they rode where the CVC allowed. It's the image portrayed by riders who act like they own the road & piss off drivers. I started road racing at Como St. in 1975.
"demonstrating techniques beyond Road I (over 35 mph speed limit with more than 4 lanes)"
I didn't realize there was any surface street considered beyond Road I.
Thanks for s'plainin! I am hunting around for video for a Road I class next week, and just trying to reconcile the competing demands put on a new LCI from the various "authoritative sources", who dispense absolutes to LCIs by the bucketload, e.g. "mirrors are not sufficient for scanning".
The car is king, at least in L.A. Whatever is written or whatever you think, will not change how we are viewed by motorists. No, there is no respect, as we are looked upon as a nuisance. Drivers do not read the CVC and for the most part, the CVC is written for cars. Moving over and letting cars pass as I described has nothing to do with respect, but just eliminates conflict. They go on their way and so do I. I don't care about respect, I just don't want to get hit. Riding a bike is not noble.
The basic problem w/ "driving a bike" is that any impact w/ a car is bad. 2 La Grange members, one of which was a girl I coached, were killed by getting hit. No matter how lofty you think of yourself, cars go fast and you go slow. Although we are governed by the CVC, the reality of cycling in dense, fast traffic is that one must avoid getting hit at all costs. Seeing as I have not been hit by a car in 30 yrs, I think I can speak from experience. Have you been hit? CyclistLorax guys been hit?
Selfish? No more selfish than any other road user, because cyclists have the same rights and duties as other drivers.
Don't you have it backwards? When there is only one lane, cyclists can be distruptive of traffic flow, when there are multiple lanes, the speed positioning principle dictates that faster traffic move to leftward lanes and slower traffic moves to the right lane, which is what we are doing. We are not sharing the lane because it is to narrow for safe side-by-side sharing when motorists speeds are high. Controlling a lane is safer precisely because motorists MUST make lane changes to pass.
I wonder what effect two cyclists have on motorist behavior vs. a single cyclist. I assume there is an affect; that motorists give a little more respect to two cyclists.
Considering that 400,000 people have viewed dudes riding brakeless bikes however they well please, and only 900 have looked at this video, does it really how we "lane control"? Every situation and street is different, mainly depending on speed of cars. The problem I see is a cyclist putting out their arm and "merging" into traffic that is moving at 45mph. This forces the driver to abruptly slow so as to not hit you. As much as I'd like to think of myself as a car, I am not. I go slow.
No.
When there are 3 lanes of traffic moving the same way and a wide streets, I see no reason why one should ride your bike in the middle of the road. Doing so forces the overtaking driver to move very far over. It is less disruptive to traffic flow if you ride where you are supposed to. If you were close to the curb, it would be easier for him to pass. The only time I control a lane is when there is no alternative for the driver but to sit back and wait. Getting hit by a fast car is to be avoided.