When I'm riding narrow lanes, I know I should take the lane but I am hesitant because I feel like a dick ... Just thinking of all the drivers passing me thinking, get this hippie off the road.
thanks a ton for this video. im a student about to purchase a ss bike to commute through the city and i was unsure of how turns are done. thanks again so much,a great help! GOD Bless :)
So much needs to be done to educate the motored-vehicle drivers on the road. They are ignorant to the fact that cyclists have every right to be there.
I am so scared for my life sometimes. I obey the law 100%, and still, I see horrendous things! I have had cars yelling at me, throwing things at me, and have even seen passengers lean out of cars to push cyclists off their bikes in the middle of the road. Unbelievable...
@matrich1983 - All transport is subsidized by general funds, so cyclists, who do 5-6 orders less damage to roads, are actually subsidizing motorists. And how many red lights do we jump in this video? So save you compliants for other videos that feature illegal behavior. The point of this video is to model good behavior.
The problem is that most motorist simply don't know that bikes have the same rights as cars. With the increased popularity of bicycles DMVs all over the country could do more to educate drivers.
@AutodromoF1 Departs of Motor Vehicles all over the country could do more to educate drivers period. A lot more motorist as well as cyclist lives' could be saved if driver education weren't such a joke in most of the U.S.
Btw, great video; I link to this all the time when there are questions about what you should do to be safe on the road. It's clear, concise, with good visual representations.
I really want to bicycle to work but I'm in Cali and I don't want to block traffic... especially when I'm going uphill on the right lane. Also there is this steep and narrow roadway on the way to work. How can bike commuters deal with that safely?
@Aetisse If the lane is not wide enough to share, you have the legal right to the lane in CA. It can be scary at first, especially if it isn't a multi-lane road, but you get used to it fast (a mirror helps your paranoia). The main applicable law is CVC 21202, if you want to look it up. Be visible, and cars will pass you just as they would pass any other slow vehicle.
@saberswordsmen1 oh okay thanks! Yes, it is a one lane road down a big hill. I am still considering whether to go down that road or not and looking up routes with less traffic. I just wish that I saw other bicyclers go down that hill so I know that it's doable.
@TheCOD123456789 - In California, sidewalk riding is governed by city law, and each city can vary in whether they allow sidewalk riding, create special rules or speed limits and how peds must be treated, or restrict sidewalk cycling altogether. While it is counterintuitive to many, sidewalk riding carries a much higher crash risk than riding in the road. Our traffic skills intro is on the CyclistView website
i see u ride right in the middle of the lane , but i wonder if Texas drivers will think i am taking their lane when i shouldn't or if in fact i am not suppose to be right on the middle of the lane because i am on Texas ? .
@wisdomandchange777 - Texas traffic law is essentially equivalent to CA law, similar Far to Right law, which contains a mandatory bike lane law and only requires riding as far right as practicable when the lanes are 14' or wider. Notice also that the shoulder is NOT part of the roadway, so shoulder cycling is optional. However, in light of the Reed Bates case, the city of Ennis cited Reed for not using a shoulder by invoking the nasty impeding traffic law. More in next comment...
@wisdomandchange777 - Only Califoirnia, Michigan, Ohio, Texas and New Hampshire have the unusual wording that makes the impeding traffic law apply to bicyclists. In 43 states, the law only applies to the drivers of motor vehicles (and tw ostates have no such law), so in these 5 states, police can and do use the law to harass bicyclists by using it as a de facto minimum speed limit to kick bicyclists off the roadway. This is what the miscreants in Ennis did to Reed.
@CyclistLorax I don't think this is quite so in CA; AFAIK, the only impeding traffic law cyclists are subject to (aside from the 21202 law saying you must right as far to the right as practicable barring hazards like a narrow lane), is the law that states slow moving vehicles must pull over to allow traffic to pass, and that's only when there are 5 or more vehicles waiting, and they have no other way to pass (another lane, too much oncoming traffic, etc). Is there another law I'm missing?
This is a wonderful video to show how to properly be a vehicular cyclist! I plan on showing this video to my friends so they can learn about why cyclists ride the way they ride!
Great vid. This is stuff you really should practice. Years of cycling in the city and I'd agree that these are the best ways to remain safe. Basically treat your bike just like you would any other vehicle on the road .
It's illegal in a lot of places (over the age of twelve :)). It's very dangerous to ride a bike on the side walk, both for pedestrians and the cyclist.
@hempheadfor20 I honestly feel safer on sidewalks in many places. When my bicycle is doing 15mph in the right lane of a road where everyone else is doing 50mph. However to remain safe on a sidewalk, I restrict speed to just over walking speed, i.e. no more than 6mph.
@MattTheWeedMaster - And who put you above the CA State Legislature that you can dictate to road users? You are yet another ignorant idiot with an opinion. Better still, why don't you get off the road, since your bigotry against other road users makes you unfit to responsibly use public infrastructure.
I am a cyclist, lately my friends has some problems with cars honking and almost running them over; so I went and drive behind them for safety (plus was training for rally). ^^
I've really enjoyed your set of videos, well shot, well paced and making good sense, all cyclists could learn some valuable lessons here, excellent work. Thanks
a good video. I ride exactly like this, and most motorists I am around have learned I am respectful and they treat me with the same respect that I give, but there's always the fucking moron who thinks that just because they drive a vehicle that they are superior to me and decide to heckle, curse out, and overall treat me like shit even though I am respectful and ride responsibly. it's those same moron drivers the world over that need to get a life
@Artelus1 - People just don't "fall off their bikes". Are you talking about road hazards? When cyclists do fall, they get road rash. The crash type you are thinking of is sufficiently rare - cyclists falling down in the middle of a lane - that I don't believe I've ever seen one of these in the crash study data sets I've examined.
@CyclistLorax Ah. well I haven't ridden a bike in a long time so there are a few times on the road where I almost fell, so I'm cautious on riding on the faster streets.
so just to make clear about my comment . i dont disagree with cyclists because in towns and cities its the more practical and cheaper than running cars.
its annoying when you come round a corner and have to suddenly brake for cyclists on a country road , if im ever put in a situation where its hit the cyclist or the on coming car , that cyclist better have his helmet on.
@wheel851 - No one questions a motorist's use of the road, and one shouldn't treat cyclists any differently. If you think your right to speed takes precedence of the safety of others, then you have a problem that needs fixing.
@wheel851 you would rather run someone over with your 2000+ lb. vehicle than hit another car? that's some really sad shit man. you can replace a car, you can't replace a life. fucking jerk
@xExRxIxCxKx what , im suppose to hit a car head on when its going 60mph , are you taken the piss . why should i put the other drivers life at risk for a cyclist going 5 to 10mph along a country road .
i will start giving cyclists more repect on the roads when they pay road tax and are insured , most iv seen barely stick to the highway code.
@wheel851 I'd rather hit the oncoming car, jackass, where you got protection. You would rather seriously injure or kill someone who is not protected and is very vurnable to getting hurt. Think about it long and hard before making anymore stupid comments like this one.
@wheel851 What if it wasn't a bike but a slow-moving farm tractor that weighs as much or more than your car? Would you still plow (pun intended lol) around that, or wait till it's safe to pass? Let's all be safe and remember being meek and mild isn't a character flaw.
@mulljacob dont even get me started on tractors , tractors are doing a job but when there is a 10 to 15 car tail back you would think they would pull over but they dont , they pass multiple layby's and just dont care .
@wheel851 I don't know if you are in the US or in my state of North Carolina, but here a bicycle legally has all the rights of a car, or a tractor with a "job," or without a "job," and people are expected to share the road. I believe the laws guidelines are that if there are 5 or more cars waiting behind you and they can't pass without crossing the middle line, and there's no bike lane or anywhere else to ride but 3 feet out in the road, it's time to safely pull over.
if people want to cycle thats fine in towns and cities .
but when im driving along country roads and get stuck behind a cyclist for 2 miles going about 10mph , why should anyone have to travel at that speed for someone elses fitness.
A couple of weeks ago i got stuck behind a car cruising along this road and shock horror a cyclist in front.
wasnt to bothered cause i was working but going threw a twisty section , a car coming behind me came round the corner and came close to hitting my car!
@wheel851 - The basic speed law requires that all drivers not travel faster than is safe for the conditions. If you come around a blind corner and hit a fallen tree; it's your fault for dirving beyond your sight lines; thus leaving you no time and space to stop. If you hit another slower driver, be it a slower motor vehicle driver or cyclist under similar citcumstances; it's your fault for driving faster than is safe for the conditions.
@TheA340guy - I do believe bicyclists are Drivers in Australia and NZ, but I am not certain because I have not reveiwed the traffic laws in those countries.
@wheel851 It's highly unlikley you would be behind a cyclist for 2 miles @ 10mph. Very unlikley. The most a driver ever had to wait behind me was a half mile, and I was going around 15mph, on a mountain road with heavy traffic. Motorist's waited behind and passed safely, like anyone else would. If you can't deal with slower road users than you need to get off the road.
@wheel851 Since you don't like being stuck behind bikes, you should be loudly lobbying the state and local governments to install bike lanes and greenways etc, just as loudly as I am on a bike. Ever been tailgated by a sports car wanting to go 20mph faster than you but can't pass? Cyclist go through this constantly, so try to be kind.
@catbells69 - Where is your evidence? John Franklin, author of "Cyclecraft", teaches the same techniques as we do here, just left-right reversed. I suggest you bring this issue of UK drivers to his attention. I have yet to visit the UK, so I have no direct experience, but John is a native, and has lived and taught traffic skille there for many decades.
What about the second cyclist @3:00 that skips the truck? Is this how I should ride? Why did we even wait for the first car if we are going to skip the second?
@lunarone438 - That was done deliberately and specifically to keep the dual chase video intact, since when we were shooting, it was not obvous whether the front or the rear cyclist would remain the subject in a single chase clip. That you can't separate the instruction from the video technique used to show the proper behavior is unfortunate.
The vast majority of those laws, as detailed in the video, are NOT adhered to by the cyclists of San Francisco. Rarely, if EVER, does a cyclist obey a stop sign in The City By The Bay. Hand signals? So rare. S.F. is not a good city for cyclists (despite the new bike lanes). My hometown of Sacramento is: wide, long boulevards in many sections of California's capital, including dedicated bike lanes along the American River.
@SonomaJack - Not all cyclists exercise their rights or follow their duties; this in no way means that the rights and duties show are not legally binding, and in terms of the best practices, advisable. Having cycled there, I do not recall any road following the american river that had bike lanes. What I rode was a path with a 15 mph speed limit; not exactly a bike friendly as a road with a speed limit that would allow me and many others to ride faster than 15mph legally.
Sounds all well and good if everyone obeys the rules. The problem here is that most people don't yield the right of way to cars when they are supposed to, let alone bicycles. Riding on the roads is just a game of death....that is why I stick to paved trails.
@quarvis - Sounds all well and good? Does your computer only play audio? This video shows that driver behavior produces driver treatment. I take it that you only ride along river paths that have no road crossings, sort of like a bike as a recreational toy, rather than using it for transportation.
@CyclistLorax Let me rephrase, most people driving in cars do not yield the right of way to other cars. I am talking about people in cars....I see that I didn't really make that clear. All of the diligent cycling in the world won't save you from the moron death ray (motorist) coming up behind you, texting, or otherwise distracted. I ride on paved trails with many road crossings as well as dirt singletracks. Toy? well, if you feel the need to belittle.
so in the event that angry Norsetenen comes up, I will be sure to get out of his way....so you do have to take into account that there are types like that...for the most part....95+ percentage of drivers will allow you your space to ride safely.
Thanks so much for posting this. Don't worry about that Norsetenen clown. What he doesn't realize is the kinds of cyclists he is crying about not seeing are those who don't ride properly like this. They are the ones that pop out against traffic or are so far to the right they cannot be seen. I could understand the frustration. Videos like this will help prevent people riding to anger someone like Norsensten. What I do is follow the proper techniques and I keep a rearview mirror (cont.)
@Norsetenen3 - I didn't blame you for murder, I simply accepted your statement that you "don't give space for bicyclists that ride like this" (controlling lanes), which logically means that you run them over, so I simply asked how many were dead as opposed to injured. If you do not hit bicyclists who control lanes, then you are giving them space. You can't logically have it both ways. Apparently logic isn't your strong suit.
You do not pay taxes to use your bicycle or pay for insurance, what makes you think bicycles have the same rights as motorists? I know yuppies have pushed through laws yes. This is why motorists are wrongly charged with hitting a bicyclist in the middle of the road.. you aren't easy to see and generally we don't think to look for you in the middle of the road... generally bicycles are to the right or waiting at a cross walk as they should be. I do not give space to bicyclists riding like this.
@norsetenen - All transportation is subsidized by general funds, so you have it exactly bcakwards, bicyclists subsidize motorists, all the more so because bicycles wear out roads about 5 to 6 vorders of magnitude more slowly than private automobiles. Every US state has a law granting cyclists the same rights and duties as other drivers. If you can't see cyclists in the middle of a lane, then you aren't looking at what is in front of you and/or you are violating the basic speed law!
@norsetenen - That many bicyclists choose to act as something other than drivers has nothing to do with the rights of those of us who do. So how many cyclists have you hit, and of those you've hit, how many have died, since you have just claimed that you don't give them space. Be careful how you answer, since there is no statute of limitations on murder.
I rode to soccer field this morning (2 lanes & when I reach at intersection, there's right turn lane so I moved left to middle lane to prepare for going straight) and used same technique as in this vdo but a guy drove a car behind me & honk @ me so I asked him what's wrong & he said "You can't ride at the middle of the road, you have to be on the side so I said I will go straight not turning right then he said "Trust me I've been UCI Pro cyclist for 10 years, check my name" I'm really confused?
@thamaraj1977 - Sadly, a lot of racing coaches think they know best traffic practices when in fact they are teaching unnecessarily high risk behaviors. That UCI coach was in the wrong. One of my instructor colleagues is a racing coach and a League certified instructor; I'll point this thread out to him, he may have some useful thoughts on this subject.
@thamaraj1977 As a USA Cycling Level 1 Coach, and a cycling professional now for over 17 years, I am absolutely certain that the 'Pro' who criticized you is not only wrong, but seriously so. As long as you continue to follow protocol, signal your intentions, CONTROL your lane, and remain aware of what's around you (pros with earbuds and ipods grate my cheese), then you can ignore him. You did NOTHING wrong, and if you'll email me directly, I'll contact him myself. I'm also an LAB instructor.
@OnlineBike Thanks for your response and that makes me more confident and want to ride more on the open road :) He pronounced his name Jacob but I forgot his last name. I will just ignore them and follow the traffic rule as one vehicle and enjoy riding :)
@CyclistLorax Thanks so much and as I reply to "OnlineBike" I will just ignore these type of drivers and follow the traffic rule as one vehicle and enjoy riding :)
@thamaraj1977 As a USA Cycling Level 1 Coach, and a cycling professional now for over 17 years, I am absolutely certain that the 'Pro' who criticized you is not only wrong, but seriously so. As long as you continue to follow protocol, signal your intentions, CONTROL your lane, and remain aware of what's around you (pros with earbuds and ipods grate my cheese), then you can ignore him. You did NOTHING wrong, and if you'll email me directly, I'll contact him myself. I'm also an LAB instructor.
@thamaraj1977 As a USA Cycling Level 1 Coach, and a cycling professional now for over 17 years, I am absolutely certain that the 'Pro' who criticized you is not only wrong, but seriously so. As long as you continue to follow protocol, signal your intentions, CONTROL your lane, and remain aware of what's around you (pros with earbuds and ipods grate my cheese), then you can ignore him. You did NOTHING wrong, and if you'll email me directly, I'll contact him myself. I'm also an LAB instructor.
@thamaraj1977 As a USA Cycling Level 1 Coach, and a cycling professional now for over 17 years, I am absolutely certain that the 'Pro' who criticized you is not only wrong, but seriously so. As long as you continue to follow protocol, signal your intentions, CONTROL your lane, and remain aware of what's around you (pros with earbuds and ipods grate my cheese), then you can ignore him. You did NOTHING wrong, and if you'll email me directly, I'll contact him myself. I'm also an LAB instructor.
@thamaraj1977 As a USA Cycling Level 1 Coach, and a cycling professional now for over 17 years, I am absolutely certain that the 'Pro' who criticized you is not only wrong, but seriously so. As long as you continue to follow protocol, signal your intentions, CONTROL your lane, and remain aware of what's around you (pros with earbuds and ipods grate my cheese), then you can ignore him. You did NOTHING wrong, and if you'll email me directly, I'll contact him myself. I'm also an LAB instructor.
I liked this. The pov stuff really creates the feeling of what it's like in the lane. About 75% comprehensive think about some on screen graphx but keep up the good work dan... Who ever you are :-)
can you show this to cyclists and drivers in Los Angeles. I've noticed most of my fellow cyclists (especially the newer ones) have no respect for the other people around them and have little to no knowledge about riding safely. and the motorists are even worse
The only real contention is the discrepancy between the hand signal for a right turn. When I was young, we were taught (as in drivers manuals at the time) one signals with his left arm with upper arm parallel to the ground and forearm perpendicular to the ground (90 degree angle at the elbow).
Since around 1990 or so cycling advocates have suggested that one simply point where one wishes to go, as many motorists have no clue about hand signals. To this day, I find that uncomfortable.
Aren't you supposed to go straigt ahead to the opposite corner, then turn your bike around towards the left and cross again, when you turn left? Or... is that just in Denmark?
And... how come there weren't any cycling lanes in that vid? Seemed to me to be a relatively big town...
@RedheadDane - Bicyclists in the US have the same rights and duties as other drivers of vehicles, so they are allowed to make normal left turns from left turn lanes as well as the leftmost travel lane. While it is also legal to make a double road crossing to make left turn, it puts the cyclist at the road edge where they are often in conflcit with right turning drivers. The point of the video was to demonstrate cyclists operating as drivers in normal travel lanes.
Well... here if the road is wide enough to have seperate lanes for left turnes changes are rather great there are also a cycling lane... and... it IS kinda hard to get from the cycling lane and into the driver's lane...
@CyclistLorax I've always wondered how you should negotiate double-left turn lanes on three-lane expressways (45 MPH max posted speed). 99% of the time I will avoid trying simply because the speeds are too fast for me to safely get in. Only very rarely during my commute time am I able to get a clear (and safe) run from the bike lane to the turn lanes. Otherwise, I simply cross at the intersection. What's your take? Am I being overly cautious?
@akittenonfire - The main issue higher lane count, higher speed roads is that lane changes need to be started early, and if a natural gap in the traffic (due to platooning from traffic signals) does not occur, then it often requires negotiation, which is the ability to signal and look back to determine if a driver in the lane to the left will let you in, in order to make lane changes. You can see examples in the Bicycle Driving on SoCal arterials video on this same channel.
@CyclistLorax@RedheadDan I do both of these techniques depending on the speed of the traffic and the number of lanes on the road I'm on. If the road is wide and I'm riding on the right, and I can't comfortably match the speed of traffic, I go straight through in the right lane, stop and turn my bike and wait for the cross-street light and cross straight. If the street is only one lane or the speed of the road is lower, I enter the left turn pocket and make the left turn like a car.
@mrcranky01 - To make lane changes into a faster moving lane, you can either wait for a gap in the traffic or negotiate a lane change. Negotiation requires that you look back and then signal and look back again (or just keep your head turned around as you signal) to see if a motorist will give you space. You can see this in anumber of the other videos on this channel, such as Bicycle Driving on SoCal Arterials.
@CyclistLorax Agreed, and I try this when I can, but sometimes either the traffic speed is so much faster than I am going that I can't blend in, or sometimes the cars just don't want to make a hole.
Anyways, I didn't mention in my first comment, but this is a great video and it gives some very useful advice for commuter cyclists who share the road with cars a lot. Thanks for posting it.
@CyclistLorax Agreed, and I try this when I can, but sometimes either the traffic speed is so much faster than I am going that I can't blend in, or sometimes the cars just don't want to make a hole.
Anyways, I didn't mention in my first comment, but this is a great video and it gives some very useful advice for commuter cyclists who share the road with cars a lot. Thanks for posting it.
@ILykToDoDuhDrifting - In 2 US states, there is no "impeding traffic" law, in 43 US states, the impeding traffic laws only apply to the drivers of Motor Vehicles, and in only 5 US states do such laws apply to all drivers. In these 5 states, the impeding traffic laws are not usually applied to bicyclists who are complying with the normal laws governing drivers moving slower than other traffic, or specific laws that apply to cyclists moving slower than other traffic.
@CyclistLorax What is the statue for impeding traffic in the state of Ohio, especially Toledo, since law enforcement here doesn't quite understand the AFRAP rule, especially in narrow lanes. Thanks.
(A) No person shall stop or operate a vehicle, ... at such an unreasonably slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when stopping or reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or to comply with law.
...(C) In a case involving a violation of this section, the trier of fact, in determining whether the vehicle was being operated at an unreasonably slow speed, shall consider the capabilities of the vehicle and its operator.
(A) (8) Regulating the operation of bicycles; provided that no such regulation shall be fundamentally inconsistent with the uniform rules of the road prescribed by this chapter and that no such regulation shall prohibit the use of bicycles on any public street or highway except as provided in section 4511.051 of the Revised Code; [Thus local authorities cannot supersede the vehicle movement codes - CyclistLorax]
@CycleMan2200 - The bottom line is that Ohio, like, CA, TX, NH, and Michigan, makes the mistake of applying the impeding law to drivers of non-motorized vehicles. In the UVC and 42 US states, the law only applies to the driver of a MOTOR VEHICLE, since this law originated in CA and applied to trucks with solid rubber tires slowing state highways (the forerunner to modern freeways). The impeding traffic law is generally a freeway law, not intended to restrict bicycling on public streets.
Watch out for people pulling out from residential and business driveways. There is little to no regard for yielding to anyone on the sidewalk or the curb. I always make sure that I can see down each driveway and that there are no impediments blocking my view down a driveway such as a bush or fence. I also make a full stop and yield to the vehicle that is pulling out from a driveway. Extremely dangerous.
Btw... I also can't understand what are you saying at 50 sec... "they must also be careful not to ride too far to the right".... and after? I'm sorry once more, but I only lern English, it's not my mother tongue..so it's a little bit difficult to understand everything you say.
Thx a lot and sorry... I'm russian that's why I don't understand some word, I'll use this video for my lesson of translation if you don't mind.. I'm a cyclist, so want other students to have some knowledges about this sport))
What is he saying after.. "This behaviour also allows Bryan beeing hit by sudenly open car doors" or motorist... doing what? Can't undestand the word... need the whole text for my lesson if someone can write it to me I'll be very grateful)
Riding double in the lane varies state-by-state. Some states allow it all the time, some only when there are more than 1 lane of traffic in the same direction. Much like motorcyclist often ride.
"Share the road" works both ways as a cyclist I am perturbed when motorist 'just miss' me however this video shows pushing the cyclists right to the limit. I get in the left lane JUST before I turn left, and stay as far to the right as I can safely. Sure when there are parked cars one wants to stay a doors length from the cars to avoid hitting open doors but otherwise I HUG the curb when possible. No sense in pissing of motorist even more.
@samten10a At what time in the video? At 2:35 and 2:50 the light was green for both left turns, the first from a left turn only lane, the second from the left lane.
@Subfightr -- Motorists are gonna yell and shout only because they feel roads are meant for vehicles what they fail to recognize is that the bicycle is a vehicle too (Man Powered). Just tell them "Sidewalk's for walking!" or "We're traffic too asshole!" --Where I'm from you could get busted for riding on the sidewalk if the bike cops catch you. Give it time people were the same way when the "automobile" was first introduced ...GET A HORSE ASSHOLE! lmao! Humans are adorable.
I always do this and people still shout at me daily, I'm hardly slowing them down if any, my bike can go 35 mph when I use the electric engine. People suck :(
@Berlitz777 - Motorists have greater responsibilities than cyclists when it comes to road use privilages; you have to be at least 16 and pass written/in-car exams; cyclists OTOH are born drivers, and have no age limit or exam requirments. Regarding single file behavior, why are you not driving in single file behind the cyclist? Were you not taught this in Kindergarten? You probably don't see the utter hypocrisy in your argument because you don't yet grasp the fact that cyclists are drivers!
Ok, Idiot. I don't ride in groups. i, almost always ride alone. People honk because they are ignorant or don't realize that bicycles can legally ride in the road. Stupid people like you make things dangerous for everyone. If you can't responsabily drive a car then call a cab, or ride a bike!
Commuting during darkness, I put refective bands around my forearms to my wrists. As I signal I move my arm so the reflective is more visable.
I also have rear refectors mounted low, on the chain stay, Head lights hit there first and have the road behind it. 4 of my refectors are there and motorist now start changing lanes more than 100 feet sooner. The bad, stupid people have more time to use thar metal box as a weapon.. That what the mounted camera is for.
It took me about a year of utility cycling before I started bikeing like this... When I controlling a lane and a car waits behind me for ME to MOVE out of HIS way, I point back at the car, bounce my arm and point the the lane to pass in and them move my arm to show overtake me in that lane. I do this often and recomend it to others.
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Why do you think they created motorbikes? all cyclists should upgrade to them. I used to ride a Bike the traffic just has no respect for them. Your video looks awesome but in the real world this just does not work.
The video is the "real world"; it is unstaged "real world" traffic cycling that works in the "real world". Why do you deny "real world" evidence? BTW, who is "they"? Motorcycles don't replace bicycles, they serve a different niche.
ok bad choice of words. I have been out on the road cycling and motorcycling for most of my life. I can tell you now if i had been in the centre of the road whilst on my push bike id have got so much fucking stick, hell, i got enough of it on the side of the road. This may work for you but this certainly does not work everywhere.
That's precisely my point, and the point of the video; when you ride at the road edge, you get treated far worse then when you act like a real driver. It does not follow that being passed closely or honked at when riding at the road edge, that it becomes worse when you control lanes; quite the opposite occurs in practice. All the evidence I have gathered from around the US, is that acting as a driver is the lowest risk best practice for bicyclists.
i have the same dislike for anyone who causes traffic down in houston. it's really not a cyclist friendly city. you really can't get to work with your bike over here. but those competitive cyclists are all over and it is just not a cyclist safe city. i have nothing against them but when your on a road, the speed limit is 50 and traffic is backed up. the cyclists don't help. it just does not fit in down here. wish it did but everything is too spread apart. there are plenty of trails here.
Hi, Brian replying this time - I've been to Houston,and if you're commuting to work, chances are you're not using the rural two lane FM roads - you'd be using four lane or wider roads, and it's easy for motorists to change lanes to pass, just like in the video.
actually there is alot of two lane roads that are not rural in the city of houston. don't know what part you were in. i know what kind of roads i use brian. it really doesn't matter if it is a fm road or a boulevard. there is going to be traffic. it's houston. like i said it's not a cyclist friendly city. maybe downtown and the westheimer area is but not really anywhere else. it's really not that easy to pass buddy. if you don't live here you don't understand. the traffic is overwhelming.
If the issue is motorist delay on high traffic two lane roads, the better solution is to widen the road, not make a special path for cyclists. Luckily in my area roads with any significant traffic are four lanes or wider. If the traffic is too heavy for motorists to change lanes to pass me right way, then it's really the motorists delaying things more than me. Drivers that have to wait a little bit before passing end up catching up to the other motorists at the next traffic light anyway.
Well the difference between your city and mine. Plus if they widen the road then that means people's houses have to get knocked down. So it doesn't make much sense. I would love for Houston to be a city like NY or Boston (not people wise) but easier transportation wise. Here it is the cyclists fault but where you live it is the drivers fault. Do you get what I'm trying to say?
We might as well just get ride of all the cyclists in your city then! Obviously you have no respect for people who use an alternate source of transportation. Maybe we should out you on a bike and see how you like being honked at or maybe you should simply leave earlier. Its impatient people like you who have this entitlement mentality that think everything shoud revolve around you and your needs are more important than respect for you fellow man. How about a positive idea instead of whining.
There's a particular road in my city that is one narrow lane each way, which the city decided it was more important to have parking on than bike lanes. As a result, motorists get upset that a cyclist takes up the only lane and forces them down the street at 15-20 (as opposed to 30).
If you don't like cyclists backing up traffic, push your city to provide bikeway infrastructure, bike lanes, wide right lanes (hopefully with sharrows) and other amenities. It will speed up travel for everyone. :)
i really think they should make a seperate sidewalk for cyclists. if you want to ride your bike that's ok. but when you make me and 10 other people behind miss a light because your riding your bike in the middle of the road. when the speed limit is 50 and a cyclist is riding 20 on a two lane road it kind of gets annoying. and very dangerous. your putting your lives in the hands of people that drive drunk, driving while texting and all of that.
A sidewalk? Sidewalk = side + walk, as in a pedestraion facility at the side of the road. Apparently you missed the whole point of the video; namely that cyclists are drivers and have the lowest crash risk when engaging in driver behavior on public roadways. Do you have the same dislike of bus or truck drivers who delay traffic on two lane roads, or are you just prejudiced against cyclists?
Although I think warning should be given to newbie bikers... depending where you live, expect get honked at sometimes from ignorant motorists. Most people don't know bikes are supposed to act as traffic and will honk. Don't sweat it. RIDE YOUR BIKE and be safe.
If you are holding your lane position as you should be, drivers will see you. That's where they are looking for traffic. A bright vest won't make a huge difference, except maybe reflective vest for night riding (even then, if you have proper lights, you are probably fine). Most important aspect of driving with traffic, in my experience, is no doubt "taking the lane" and behaving as standard traffic.
It's a fact that more bicyclists get hit while cars are trying to "squeeze by" then get hit from behind. Behind dooring, it's one of the most common accidents (that, and cars turning into you). Not only that, but drivers are far more likely to see something in the center of the road rather than something at the edge of their vision.
Yes indeed, your much more likely to be seen by traffic if you ride in the center of the road, and not along the side. I used to ride on the white line but after being nearly hit almost everyday, I use the center of the lanes.
Road workers are not drivers; the comparison is not related to the questiohn we are discussing. Given that road workers MUST be out of the normal place motorists are looking for other drivers, the best they can do is maximize their optical response. In spite of wearing such highly optically responsive colors, they still get hit with alarming frequency.
I think you are assuming that I don't think your cycling suggestions are effective. Well, I DO think they are effective. My point is that is that chartreuse would make you EVEN MORE visible.
Not if they are in lane positions that are out of the normal field of view. Position maters more than optical repsonse. The extreme cases are easiest to cover: imagine a cyclist riding on the sidewalk against traffic, they are approaching drivers waiting to pull out of a driveway, and are not seen. I realize this is causing you some serious cognitive dissonance, but please try to think about where drivers are looking for other traffic; if you aren't there then day-glow lime isn't helpful.
When I'm riding narrow lanes, I know I should take the lane but I am hesitant because I feel like a dick ... Just thinking of all the drivers passing me thinking, get this hippie off the road.
distortion041 1 week ago
thanks a ton for this video. im a student about to purchase a ss bike to commute through the city and i was unsure of how turns are done. thanks again so much,a great help! GOD Bless :)
milkmilkmilkbread 2 weeks ago
Every time I do this the cars start to honk and get road rage they dont understand that bikes have the same rights as cars.
univegRider 1 month ago
Cycling and driving on the wrong side of the road
TheSkeimo 1 month ago
Thank-you so much for this video!
So much needs to be done to educate the motored-vehicle drivers on the road. They are ignorant to the fact that cyclists have every right to be there.
I am so scared for my life sometimes. I obey the law 100%, and still, I see horrendous things! I have had cars yelling at me, throwing things at me, and have even seen passengers lean out of cars to push cyclists off their bikes in the middle of the road. Unbelievable...
simplyxblonde 1 month ago
I am about to go back to college which is about 6 miles away from where I live. I might purchase a bike just to do this from now on lol.
VietSquat 1 month ago
one of the rights of cyclists should be paying some god damn ROAD TAX!!! oh and not jump red lights all the time!!! they are a nuisance!!
matrich1983 5 months ago
@matrich1983 - All transport is subsidized by general funds, so cyclists, who do 5-6 orders less damage to roads, are actually subsidizing motorists. And how many red lights do we jump in this video? So save you compliants for other videos that feature illegal behavior. The point of this video is to model good behavior.
CyclistLorax 5 months ago 12
The problem is that most motorist simply don't know that bikes have the same rights as cars. With the increased popularity of bicycles DMVs all over the country could do more to educate drivers.
AutodromoF1 5 months ago
@AutodromoF1 Departs of Motor Vehicles all over the country could do more to educate drivers period. A lot more motorist as well as cyclist lives' could be saved if driver education weren't such a joke in most of the U.S.
Strideo1 2 months ago 2
love the music
thefutureispeace 5 months ago
Nice educational video but, gosh, the music was so throwing me off!!!
nauaj13 6 months ago
Btw, great video; I link to this all the time when there are questions about what you should do to be safe on the road. It's clear, concise, with good visual representations.
saberswordsmen1 6 months ago
I really want to bicycle to work but I'm in Cali and I don't want to block traffic... especially when I'm going uphill on the right lane. Also there is this steep and narrow roadway on the way to work. How can bike commuters deal with that safely?
Aetisse 6 months ago
@Aetisse If the lane is not wide enough to share, you have the legal right to the lane in CA. It can be scary at first, especially if it isn't a multi-lane road, but you get used to it fast (a mirror helps your paranoia). The main applicable law is CVC 21202, if you want to look it up. Be visible, and cars will pass you just as they would pass any other slow vehicle.
saberswordsmen1 6 months ago
@saberswordsmen1 oh okay thanks! Yes, it is a one lane road down a big hill. I am still considering whether to go down that road or not and looking up routes with less traffic. I just wish that I saw other bicyclers go down that hill so I know that it's doable.
Aetisse 6 months ago
why cant you ride on the sidewalk when there is one... is it that hard
TheCOD123456789 8 months ago
@TheCOD123456789 - In California, sidewalk riding is governed by city law, and each city can vary in whether they allow sidewalk riding, create special rules or speed limits and how peds must be treated, or restrict sidewalk cycling altogether. While it is counterintuitive to many, sidewalk riding carries a much higher crash risk than riding in the road. Our traffic skills intro is on the CyclistView website
CyclistLorax 8 months ago 10
If only lanes in England were that wide!
JazzMoe 8 months ago in playlist Safety Tips / Share the Road
i see u ride right in the middle of the lane , but i wonder if Texas drivers will think i am taking their lane when i shouldn't or if in fact i am not suppose to be right on the middle of the lane because i am on Texas ? .
wisdomandchange777 9 months ago
@wisdomandchange777 - Texas traffic law is essentially equivalent to CA law, similar Far to Right law, which contains a mandatory bike lane law and only requires riding as far right as practicable when the lanes are 14' or wider. Notice also that the shoulder is NOT part of the roadway, so shoulder cycling is optional. However, in light of the Reed Bates case, the city of Ennis cited Reed for not using a shoulder by invoking the nasty impeding traffic law. More in next comment...
CyclistLorax 8 months ago
@wisdomandchange777 - Only Califoirnia, Michigan, Ohio, Texas and New Hampshire have the unusual wording that makes the impeding traffic law apply to bicyclists. In 43 states, the law only applies to the drivers of motor vehicles (and tw ostates have no such law), so in these 5 states, police can and do use the law to harass bicyclists by using it as a de facto minimum speed limit to kick bicyclists off the roadway. This is what the miscreants in Ennis did to Reed.
CyclistLorax 8 months ago 3
@CyclistLorax I don't think this is quite so in CA; AFAIK, the only impeding traffic law cyclists are subject to (aside from the 21202 law saying you must right as far to the right as practicable barring hazards like a narrow lane), is the law that states slow moving vehicles must pull over to allow traffic to pass, and that's only when there are 5 or more vehicles waiting, and they have no other way to pass (another lane, too much oncoming traffic, etc). Is there another law I'm missing?
saberswordsmen1 6 months ago
Anyone else cycle not because of the environmental, but to save money and just have fun?
TheMango121 9 months ago 9
This is a wonderful video to show how to properly be a vehicular cyclist! I plan on showing this video to my friends so they can learn about why cyclists ride the way they ride!
MadlyMadly 9 months ago 4
Good video on cycling road safety. I liked it! The one thing that really sucks about cycling is that many motorists pass you way too closely.
NebulaSteam 10 months ago 3
Great vid. This is stuff you really should practice. Years of cycling in the city and I'd agree that these are the best ways to remain safe. Basically treat your bike just like you would any other vehicle on the road .
@MattTheWeedMaster " or use the sidewalk"
It's illegal in a lot of places (over the age of twelve :)). It's very dangerous to ride a bike on the side walk, both for pedestrians and the cyclist.
hempheadfor20 10 months ago 4
@hempheadfor20 I honestly feel safer on sidewalks in many places. When my bicycle is doing 15mph in the right lane of a road where everyone else is doing 50mph. However to remain safe on a sidewalk, I restrict speed to just over walking speed, i.e. no more than 6mph.
swidd2 9 months ago
Very informative video on how to ride your bicycle in traffic. This was the perfect video for my question, "HOw to ride my bicycle in the streets?"
Ceasar91706 10 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
get off the road, is there not like lanes or use the sidewalk
MattTheWeedMaster 10 months ago
@MattTheWeedMaster - And who put you above the CA State Legislature that you can dictate to road users? You are yet another ignorant idiot with an opinion. Better still, why don't you get off the road, since your bigotry against other road users makes you unfit to responsibly use public infrastructure.
CyclistLorax 10 months ago 14
@MattTheWeedMaster
Matt, sidewalks are for pedestrians. Streets are for bicycles, cars, and motorcycles.
KawaiiChele 9 months ago
Hate.
PaloRoyHenderson 11 months ago
@PaloRoyHenderson - Hate what? Or are you just full of hate with no specific hatred to report?
CyclistLorax 10 months ago
I am a cyclist, lately my friends has some problems with cars honking and almost running them over; so I went and drive behind them for safety (plus was training for rally). ^^
phanggrl 11 months ago
Thank you
Ka1981100 11 months ago
I was busting my head on how to make a correct left turn thanks!
osvaldo2k5 1 year ago
I've really enjoyed your set of videos, well shot, well paced and making good sense, all cyclists could learn some valuable lessons here, excellent work. Thanks
CyclingBristol 1 year ago
this music makes you a better cyclist
senorspiegel 1 year ago 14
@senorspiegel - Really? How So?
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
@senorspiegel - It does! 8-)
CyclistLorax 9 months ago
a good video. I ride exactly like this, and most motorists I am around have learned I am respectful and they treat me with the same respect that I give, but there's always the fucking moron who thinks that just because they drive a vehicle that they are superior to me and decide to heckle, curse out, and overall treat me like shit even though I am respectful and ride responsibly. it's those same moron drivers the world over that need to get a life
experimental0000 1 year ago
I always wonder...what if you fall on your bike while on the road? Does that mean you will die?
Artelus1 1 year ago
@Artelus1 - People just don't "fall off their bikes". Are you talking about road hazards? When cyclists do fall, they get road rash. The crash type you are thinking of is sufficiently rare - cyclists falling down in the middle of a lane - that I don't believe I've ever seen one of these in the crash study data sets I've examined.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
@CyclistLorax Ah. well I haven't ridden a bike in a long time so there are a few times on the road where I almost fell, so I'm cautious on riding on the faster streets.
Artelus1 1 year ago
Nice, informative vid. Clever camerawork helped a great deal. The music in the background was a bit distracting with it's 1980's royalty-free flavor.
Ebbonified 1 year ago
so just to make clear about my comment . i dont disagree with cyclists because in towns and cities its the more practical and cheaper than running cars.
its annoying when you come round a corner and have to suddenly brake for cyclists on a country road , if im ever put in a situation where its hit the cyclist or the on coming car , that cyclist better have his helmet on.
wheel851 1 year ago
@wheel851 - No one questions a motorist's use of the road, and one shouldn't treat cyclists any differently. If you think your right to speed takes precedence of the safety of others, then you have a problem that needs fixing.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago 7
@wheel851 you would rather run someone over with your 2000+ lb. vehicle than hit another car? that's some really sad shit man. you can replace a car, you can't replace a life. fucking jerk
xExRxIxCxKx 1 year ago 4
@xExRxIxCxKx what , im suppose to hit a car head on when its going 60mph , are you taken the piss . why should i put the other drivers life at risk for a cyclist going 5 to 10mph along a country road .
i will start giving cyclists more repect on the roads when they pay road tax and are insured , most iv seen barely stick to the highway code.
wheel851 1 year ago
@wheel851 country roads are straight are they not? how are u going to drive so wreckless that you can possibly hit someone on one of those?
xExRxIxCxKx 1 year ago
@xExRxIxCxKx agreed. sadly alot of people don't think that way hence why there's road rage incidents of people getting hurt or killed etc.
experimental0000 1 year ago
@wheel851 I'd rather hit the oncoming car, jackass, where you got protection. You would rather seriously injure or kill someone who is not protected and is very vurnable to getting hurt. Think about it long and hard before making anymore stupid comments like this one.
CycleMan2200 1 year ago 2
@wheel851 What if it wasn't a bike but a slow-moving farm tractor that weighs as much or more than your car? Would you still plow (pun intended lol) around that, or wait till it's safe to pass? Let's all be safe and remember being meek and mild isn't a character flaw.
mulljacob 1 year ago 2
@mulljacob dont even get me started on tractors , tractors are doing a job but when there is a 10 to 15 car tail back you would think they would pull over but they dont , they pass multiple layby's and just dont care .
wheel851 1 year ago
@wheel851 I don't know if you are in the US or in my state of North Carolina, but here a bicycle legally has all the rights of a car, or a tractor with a "job," or without a "job," and people are expected to share the road. I believe the laws guidelines are that if there are 5 or more cars waiting behind you and they can't pass without crossing the middle line, and there's no bike lane or anywhere else to ride but 3 feet out in the road, it's time to safely pull over.
mulljacob 1 year ago
if people want to cycle thats fine in towns and cities .
but when im driving along country roads and get stuck behind a cyclist for 2 miles going about 10mph , why should anyone have to travel at that speed for someone elses fitness.
A couple of weeks ago i got stuck behind a car cruising along this road and shock horror a cyclist in front.
wasnt to bothered cause i was working but going threw a twisty section , a car coming behind me came round the corner and came close to hitting my car!
wheel851 1 year ago
@wheel851 - The basic speed law requires that all drivers not travel faster than is safe for the conditions. If you come around a blind corner and hit a fallen tree; it's your fault for dirving beyond your sight lines; thus leaving you no time and space to stop. If you hit another slower driver, be it a slower motor vehicle driver or cyclist under similar citcumstances; it's your fault for driving faster than is safe for the conditions.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago 3
@CyclistLorax do the same laws apply to Australia and New Zealand? If not, are they similar?
TheA340guy 1 year ago
@TheA340guy - I do believe bicyclists are Drivers in Australia and NZ, but I am not certain because I have not reveiwed the traffic laws in those countries.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
@TheA340guy Yes.
cyclist from Adelaide, South Australia
samihasib 1 year ago
@wheel851 It's highly unlikley you would be behind a cyclist for 2 miles @ 10mph. Very unlikley. The most a driver ever had to wait behind me was a half mile, and I was going around 15mph, on a mountain road with heavy traffic. Motorist's waited behind and passed safely, like anyone else would. If you can't deal with slower road users than you need to get off the road.
CycleMan2200 1 year ago 3
@wheel851 Since you don't like being stuck behind bikes, you should be loudly lobbying the state and local governments to install bike lanes and greenways etc, just as loudly as I am on a bike. Ever been tailgated by a sports car wanting to go 20mph faster than you but can't pass? Cyclist go through this constantly, so try to be kind.
mulljacob 1 year ago 4
already knew all of the comments were gonna be paragraphs before i even looked
jckstnly 1 year ago 2
@jckstnly - Could you be more specific? It's not clear what you mean by your comment.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
Riding as demonstrated in this video will get you nothing but grief in the UK.
catbells69 1 year ago
@catbells69 - Where is your evidence? John Franklin, author of "Cyclecraft", teaches the same techniques as we do here, just left-right reversed. I suggest you bring this issue of UK drivers to his attention. I have yet to visit the UK, so I have no direct experience, but John is a native, and has lived and taught traffic skille there for many decades.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
@CyclistLorax I'm not criticisng the techniques, just their application in cycling hostile Britain.
catbells69 1 year ago
What about the second cyclist @3:00 that skips the truck? Is this how I should ride? Why did we even wait for the first car if we are going to skip the second?
lunarone438 1 year ago
@lunarone438 - That was done deliberately and specifically to keep the dual chase video intact, since when we were shooting, it was not obvous whether the front or the rear cyclist would remain the subject in a single chase clip. That you can't separate the instruction from the video technique used to show the proper behavior is unfortunate.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
In Holland we have separate bike lanes to prevent accidents which you probably going to get with these situations.
MarjWas 1 year ago
The vast majority of those laws, as detailed in the video, are NOT adhered to by the cyclists of San Francisco. Rarely, if EVER, does a cyclist obey a stop sign in The City By The Bay. Hand signals? So rare. S.F. is not a good city for cyclists (despite the new bike lanes). My hometown of Sacramento is: wide, long boulevards in many sections of California's capital, including dedicated bike lanes along the American River.
SonomaJack 1 year ago
@SonomaJack - Not all cyclists exercise their rights or follow their duties; this in no way means that the rights and duties show are not legally binding, and in terms of the best practices, advisable. Having cycled there, I do not recall any road following the american river that had bike lanes. What I rode was a path with a 15 mph speed limit; not exactly a bike friendly as a road with a speed limit that would allow me and many others to ride faster than 15mph legally.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
Dope ass beat.
poisonpixel 1 year ago
Sounds all well and good if everyone obeys the rules. The problem here is that most people don't yield the right of way to cars when they are supposed to, let alone bicycles. Riding on the roads is just a game of death....that is why I stick to paved trails.
quarvis 1 year ago
@quarvis - Sounds all well and good? Does your computer only play audio? This video shows that driver behavior produces driver treatment. I take it that you only ride along river paths that have no road crossings, sort of like a bike as a recreational toy, rather than using it for transportation.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
@CyclistLorax Let me rephrase, most people driving in cars do not yield the right of way to other cars. I am talking about people in cars....I see that I didn't really make that clear. All of the diligent cycling in the world won't save you from the moron death ray (motorist) coming up behind you, texting, or otherwise distracted. I ride on paved trails with many road crossings as well as dirt singletracks. Toy? well, if you feel the need to belittle.
quarvis 1 year ago
so in the event that angry Norsetenen comes up, I will be sure to get out of his way....so you do have to take into account that there are types like that...for the most part....95+ percentage of drivers will allow you your space to ride safely.
ulfthegoon 1 year ago
Thanks so much for posting this. Don't worry about that Norsetenen clown. What he doesn't realize is the kinds of cyclists he is crying about not seeing are those who don't ride properly like this. They are the ones that pop out against traffic or are so far to the right they cannot be seen. I could understand the frustration. Videos like this will help prevent people riding to anger someone like Norsensten. What I do is follow the proper techniques and I keep a rearview mirror (cont.)
ulfthegoon 1 year ago
Blame me for murder then block my other account lol. Anyways to refute your claims, I have not killed any riders. Winged maybe. See you on the road.
Norsetenen3 1 year ago
@Norsetenen3 - I didn't blame you for murder, I simply accepted your statement that you "don't give space for bicyclists that ride like this" (controlling lanes), which logically means that you run them over, so I simply asked how many were dead as opposed to injured. If you do not hit bicyclists who control lanes, then you are giving them space. You can't logically have it both ways. Apparently logic isn't your strong suit.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
You do not pay taxes to use your bicycle or pay for insurance, what makes you think bicycles have the same rights as motorists? I know yuppies have pushed through laws yes. This is why motorists are wrongly charged with hitting a bicyclist in the middle of the road.. you aren't easy to see and generally we don't think to look for you in the middle of the road... generally bicycles are to the right or waiting at a cross walk as they should be. I do not give space to bicyclists riding like this.
norsetenen 1 year ago
@norsetenen - All transportation is subsidized by general funds, so you have it exactly bcakwards, bicyclists subsidize motorists, all the more so because bicycles wear out roads about 5 to 6 vorders of magnitude more slowly than private automobiles. Every US state has a law granting cyclists the same rights and duties as other drivers. If you can't see cyclists in the middle of a lane, then you aren't looking at what is in front of you and/or you are violating the basic speed law!
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
@norsetenen - That many bicyclists choose to act as something other than drivers has nothing to do with the rights of those of us who do. So how many cyclists have you hit, and of those you've hit, how many have died, since you have just claimed that you don't give them space. Be careful how you answer, since there is no statute of limitations on murder.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
I rode to soccer field this morning (2 lanes & when I reach at intersection, there's right turn lane so I moved left to middle lane to prepare for going straight) and used same technique as in this vdo but a guy drove a car behind me & honk @ me so I asked him what's wrong & he said "You can't ride at the middle of the road, you have to be on the side so I said I will go straight not turning right then he said "Trust me I've been UCI Pro cyclist for 10 years, check my name" I'm really confused?
thamaraj1977 1 year ago
@thamaraj1977 - Sadly, a lot of racing coaches think they know best traffic practices when in fact they are teaching unnecessarily high risk behaviors. That UCI coach was in the wrong. One of my instructor colleagues is a racing coach and a League certified instructor; I'll point this thread out to him, he may have some useful thoughts on this subject.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
@thamaraj1977 As a USA Cycling Level 1 Coach, and a cycling professional now for over 17 years, I am absolutely certain that the 'Pro' who criticized you is not only wrong, but seriously so. As long as you continue to follow protocol, signal your intentions, CONTROL your lane, and remain aware of what's around you (pros with earbuds and ipods grate my cheese), then you can ignore him. You did NOTHING wrong, and if you'll email me directly, I'll contact him myself. I'm also an LAB instructor.
OnlineBike 1 year ago
@OnlineBike Thanks for your response and that makes me more confident and want to ride more on the open road :) He pronounced his name Jacob but I forgot his last name. I will just ignore them and follow the traffic rule as one vehicle and enjoy riding :)
thamaraj1977 1 year ago
@CyclistLorax Thanks so much and as I reply to "OnlineBike" I will just ignore these type of drivers and follow the traffic rule as one vehicle and enjoy riding :)
thamaraj1977 1 year ago
@thamaraj1977 As a USA Cycling Level 1 Coach, and a cycling professional now for over 17 years, I am absolutely certain that the 'Pro' who criticized you is not only wrong, but seriously so. As long as you continue to follow protocol, signal your intentions, CONTROL your lane, and remain aware of what's around you (pros with earbuds and ipods grate my cheese), then you can ignore him. You did NOTHING wrong, and if you'll email me directly, I'll contact him myself. I'm also an LAB instructor.
OnlineBike 1 year ago
@thamaraj1977 As a USA Cycling Level 1 Coach, and a cycling professional now for over 17 years, I am absolutely certain that the 'Pro' who criticized you is not only wrong, but seriously so. As long as you continue to follow protocol, signal your intentions, CONTROL your lane, and remain aware of what's around you (pros with earbuds and ipods grate my cheese), then you can ignore him. You did NOTHING wrong, and if you'll email me directly, I'll contact him myself. I'm also an LAB instructor.
OnlineBike 1 year ago
@thamaraj1977 As a USA Cycling Level 1 Coach, and a cycling professional now for over 17 years, I am absolutely certain that the 'Pro' who criticized you is not only wrong, but seriously so. As long as you continue to follow protocol, signal your intentions, CONTROL your lane, and remain aware of what's around you (pros with earbuds and ipods grate my cheese), then you can ignore him. You did NOTHING wrong, and if you'll email me directly, I'll contact him myself. I'm also an LAB instructor.
OnlineBike 1 year ago
@thamaraj1977 As a USA Cycling Level 1 Coach, and a cycling professional now for over 17 years, I am absolutely certain that the 'Pro' who criticized you is not only wrong, but seriously so. As long as you continue to follow protocol, signal your intentions, CONTROL your lane, and remain aware of what's around you (pros with earbuds and ipods grate my cheese), then you can ignore him. You did NOTHING wrong, and if you'll email me directly, I'll contact him myself. I'm also an LAB instructor.
OnlineBike 1 year ago
I liked this. The pov stuff really creates the feeling of what it's like in the lane. About 75% comprehensive think about some on screen graphx but keep up the good work dan... Who ever you are :-)
NicChristie 1 year ago
wonderful video! i plan to share it with everyone i know online.
boogabaah 1 year ago
can you show this to cyclists and drivers in Los Angeles. I've noticed most of my fellow cyclists (especially the newer ones) have no respect for the other people around them and have little to no knowledge about riding safely. and the motorists are even worse
xhappyxscreamingx 1 year ago
The only real contention is the discrepancy between the hand signal for a right turn. When I was young, we were taught (as in drivers manuals at the time) one signals with his left arm with upper arm parallel to the ground and forearm perpendicular to the ground (90 degree angle at the elbow).
Since around 1990 or so cycling advocates have suggested that one simply point where one wishes to go, as many motorists have no clue about hand signals. To this day, I find that uncomfortable.
ajcavanaugh 1 year ago
that was very informative.
Long Beach is an amazing city!
matthewandrew 1 year ago
Gettng back to basics is a good thing - thanks
w011500 1 year ago
Aren't you supposed to go straigt ahead to the opposite corner, then turn your bike around towards the left and cross again, when you turn left? Or... is that just in Denmark?
And... how come there weren't any cycling lanes in that vid? Seemed to me to be a relatively big town...
RedheadDane 1 year ago
@RedheadDane - Bicyclists in the US have the same rights and duties as other drivers of vehicles, so they are allowed to make normal left turns from left turn lanes as well as the leftmost travel lane. While it is also legal to make a double road crossing to make left turn, it puts the cyclist at the road edge where they are often in conflcit with right turning drivers. The point of the video was to demonstrate cyclists operating as drivers in normal travel lanes.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
@CyclistLorax
Well... here if the road is wide enough to have seperate lanes for left turnes changes are rather great there are also a cycling lane... and... it IS kinda hard to get from the cycling lane and into the driver's lane...
RedheadDane 1 year ago
@CyclistLorax I've always wondered how you should negotiate double-left turn lanes on three-lane expressways (45 MPH max posted speed). 99% of the time I will avoid trying simply because the speeds are too fast for me to safely get in. Only very rarely during my commute time am I able to get a clear (and safe) run from the bike lane to the turn lanes. Otherwise, I simply cross at the intersection. What's your take? Am I being overly cautious?
akittenonfire 1 year ago
@akittenonfire - The main issue higher lane count, higher speed roads is that lane changes need to be started early, and if a natural gap in the traffic (due to platooning from traffic signals) does not occur, then it often requires negotiation, which is the ability to signal and look back to determine if a driver in the lane to the left will let you in, in order to make lane changes. You can see examples in the Bicycle Driving on SoCal arterials video on this same channel.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
@CyclistLorax @RedheadDan I do both of these techniques depending on the speed of the traffic and the number of lanes on the road I'm on. If the road is wide and I'm riding on the right, and I can't comfortably match the speed of traffic, I go straight through in the right lane, stop and turn my bike and wait for the cross-street light and cross straight. If the street is only one lane or the speed of the road is lower, I enter the left turn pocket and make the left turn like a car.
mrcranky01 1 year ago
@mrcranky01 - To make lane changes into a faster moving lane, you can either wait for a gap in the traffic or negotiate a lane change. Negotiation requires that you look back and then signal and look back again (or just keep your head turned around as you signal) to see if a motorist will give you space. You can see this in anumber of the other videos on this channel, such as Bicycle Driving on SoCal Arterials.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
@CyclistLorax Agreed, and I try this when I can, but sometimes either the traffic speed is so much faster than I am going that I can't blend in, or sometimes the cars just don't want to make a hole.
Anyways, I didn't mention in my first comment, but this is a great video and it gives some very useful advice for commuter cyclists who share the road with cars a lot. Thanks for posting it.
mrcranky01 1 year ago
@CyclistLorax Agreed, and I try this when I can, but sometimes either the traffic speed is so much faster than I am going that I can't blend in, or sometimes the cars just don't want to make a hole.
Anyways, I didn't mention in my first comment, but this is a great video and it gives some very useful advice for commuter cyclists who share the road with cars a lot. Thanks for posting it.
mrcranky01 1 year ago
Are cyclists exempt from "Impeding normal flow of traffic" law(s)?
ILykToDoDuhDrifting 1 year ago
@ILykToDoDuhDrifting - In 2 US states, there is no "impeding traffic" law, in 43 US states, the impeding traffic laws only apply to the drivers of Motor Vehicles, and in only 5 US states do such laws apply to all drivers. In these 5 states, the impeding traffic laws are not usually applied to bicyclists who are complying with the normal laws governing drivers moving slower than other traffic, or specific laws that apply to cyclists moving slower than other traffic.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
@CyclistLorax What is the statue for impeding traffic in the state of Ohio, especially Toledo, since law enforcement here doesn't quite understand the AFRAP rule, especially in narrow lanes. Thanks.
CycleMan2200 1 year ago
4511.22 Slow speed.
(A) No person shall stop or operate a vehicle, ... at such an unreasonably slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when stopping or reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or to comply with law.
...(C) In a case involving a violation of this section, the trier of fact, in determining whether the vehicle was being operated at an unreasonably slow speed, shall consider the capabilities of the vehicle and its operator.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
4511.07 Local traffic regulations.
(A) (8) Regulating the operation of bicycles; provided that no such regulation shall be fundamentally inconsistent with the uniform rules of the road prescribed by this chapter and that no such regulation shall prohibit the use of bicycles on any public street or highway except as provided in section 4511.051 of the Revised Code; [Thus local authorities cannot supersede the vehicle movement codes - CyclistLorax]
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
@CycleMan2200 - The bottom line is that Ohio, like, CA, TX, NH, and Michigan, makes the mistake of applying the impeding law to drivers of non-motorized vehicles. In the UVC and 42 US states, the law only applies to the driver of a MOTOR VEHICLE, since this law originated in CA and applied to trucks with solid rubber tires slowing state highways (the forerunner to modern freeways). The impeding traffic law is generally a freeway law, not intended to restrict bicycling on public streets.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
Watch out for people pulling out from residential and business driveways. There is little to no regard for yielding to anyone on the sidewalk or the curb. I always make sure that I can see down each driveway and that there are no impediments blocking my view down a driveway such as a bush or fence. I also make a full stop and yield to the vehicle that is pulling out from a driveway. Extremely dangerous.
BoundaryShift 1 year ago
Thx a lot for video...it helped me on my lesson ))
Pantero4ka 1 year ago
Btw... I also can't understand what are you saying at 50 sec... "they must also be careful not to ride too far to the right".... and after? I'm sorry once more, but I only lern English, it's not my mother tongue..so it's a little bit difficult to understand everything you say.
Pantero4ka 1 year ago
Thx a lot and sorry... I'm russian that's why I don't understand some word, I'll use this video for my lesson of translation if you don't mind.. I'm a cyclist, so want other students to have some knowledges about this sport))
Pantero4ka 1 year ago
What is he saying after.. "This behaviour also allows Bryan beeing hit by sudenly open car doors" or motorist... doing what? Can't undestand the word... need the whole text for my lesson if someone can write it to me I'll be very grateful)
Pantero4ka 1 year ago
@Pantero4ka - Hi, this is Dan, and I said, "...or motorists pulling into or out of driveways, or motorists making right turns across his path."
So far, your are the first person who has reported that he didn't understand what I was saying.
Take care,
- Dan -
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Riding double in the lane varies state-by-state. Some states allow it all the time, some only when there are more than 1 lane of traffic in the same direction. Much like motorcyclist often ride.
ADaleR1 1 year ago
Comment removed
ADaleR1 1 year ago
"Share the road" works both ways as a cyclist I am perturbed when motorist 'just miss' me however this video shows pushing the cyclists right to the limit. I get in the left lane JUST before I turn left, and stay as far to the right as I can safely. Sure when there are parked cars one wants to stay a doors length from the cars to avoid hitting open doors but otherwise I HUG the curb when possible. No sense in pissing of motorist even more.
lowteck1955 1 year ago
left trurn pocet red light he he did not stop.
samten10a 1 year ago
@samten10a At what time in the video? At 2:35 and 2:50 the light was green for both left turns, the first from a left turn only lane, the second from the left lane.
CyclistLorax 1 year ago
great vid and nice cruise through long beach. i now have a better idea on how to ride on the streets.
thank you for the video.
ngloe 1 year ago
@Subfightr -- Motorists are gonna yell and shout only because they feel roads are meant for vehicles what they fail to recognize is that the bicycle is a vehicle too (Man Powered). Just tell them "Sidewalk's for walking!" or "We're traffic too asshole!" --Where I'm from you could get busted for riding on the sidewalk if the bike cops catch you. Give it time people were the same way when the "automobile" was first introduced ...GET A HORSE ASSHOLE! lmao! Humans are adorable.
ohadrean 2 years ago
I always do this and people still shout at me daily, I'm hardly slowing them down if any, my bike can go 35 mph when I use the electric engine. People suck :(
Subfightr 2 years ago
Comment removed
Berlitz777 2 years ago
@Berlitz777 - Motorists have greater responsibilities than cyclists when it comes to road use privilages; you have to be at least 16 and pass written/in-car exams; cyclists OTOH are born drivers, and have no age limit or exam requirments. Regarding single file behavior, why are you not driving in single file behind the cyclist? Were you not taught this in Kindergarten? You probably don't see the utter hypocrisy in your argument because you don't yet grasp the fact that cyclists are drivers!
CyclistLorax 2 years ago
Ok, Idiot. I don't ride in groups. i, almost always ride alone. People honk because they are ignorant or don't realize that bicycles can legally ride in the road. Stupid people like you make things dangerous for everyone. If you can't responsabily drive a car then call a cab, or ride a bike!
CycleMan2200 2 years ago 6
Commuting during darkness, I put refective bands around my forearms to my wrists. As I signal I move my arm so the reflective is more visable.
I also have rear refectors mounted low, on the chain stay, Head lights hit there first and have the road behind it. 4 of my refectors are there and motorist now start changing lanes more than 100 feet sooner. The bad, stupid people have more time to use thar metal box as a weapon.. That what the mounted camera is for.
cyclenut 2 years ago 2
It took me about a year of utility cycling before I started bikeing like this... When I controlling a lane and a car waits behind me for ME to MOVE out of HIS way, I point back at the car, bounce my arm and point the the lane to pass in and them move my arm to show overtake me in that lane. I do this often and recomend it to others.
cyclenut 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Why do you think they created motorbikes? all cyclists should upgrade to them. I used to ride a Bike the traffic just has no respect for them. Your video looks awesome but in the real world this just does not work.
Steelyflint 2 years ago
The video is the "real world"; it is unstaged "real world" traffic cycling that works in the "real world". Why do you deny "real world" evidence? BTW, who is "they"? Motorcycles don't replace bicycles, they serve a different niche.
CyclistLorax 2 years ago
ok bad choice of words. I have been out on the road cycling and motorcycling for most of my life. I can tell you now if i had been in the centre of the road whilst on my push bike id have got so much fucking stick, hell, i got enough of it on the side of the road. This may work for you but this certainly does not work everywhere.
Steelyflint 2 years ago
That's precisely my point, and the point of the video; when you ride at the road edge, you get treated far worse then when you act like a real driver. It does not follow that being passed closely or honked at when riding at the road edge, that it becomes worse when you control lanes; quite the opposite occurs in practice. All the evidence I have gathered from around the US, is that acting as a driver is the lowest risk best practice for bicyclists.
CyclistLorax 2 years ago
wow the other day i was following every rule and some punk girl goes "get off the f******* road"
xxdtothejizixx 2 years ago
And your point is...?
CyclistLorax 2 years ago
good vid, the cyclist needs to get repected on the road!
mattsnow81 2 years ago
i have the same dislike for anyone who causes traffic down in houston. it's really not a cyclist friendly city. you really can't get to work with your bike over here. but those competitive cyclists are all over and it is just not a cyclist safe city. i have nothing against them but when your on a road, the speed limit is 50 and traffic is backed up. the cyclists don't help. it just does not fit in down here. wish it did but everything is too spread apart. there are plenty of trails here.
sbarudzija 2 years ago
Hi, Brian replying this time - I've been to Houston,and if you're commuting to work, chances are you're not using the rural two lane FM roads - you'd be using four lane or wider roads, and it's easy for motorists to change lanes to pass, just like in the video.
CyclistLorax 2 years ago
actually there is alot of two lane roads that are not rural in the city of houston. don't know what part you were in. i know what kind of roads i use brian. it really doesn't matter if it is a fm road or a boulevard. there is going to be traffic. it's houston. like i said it's not a cyclist friendly city. maybe downtown and the westheimer area is but not really anywhere else. it's really not that easy to pass buddy. if you don't live here you don't understand. the traffic is overwhelming.
sbarudzija 2 years ago
If the issue is motorist delay on high traffic two lane roads, the better solution is to widen the road, not make a special path for cyclists. Luckily in my area roads with any significant traffic are four lanes or wider. If the traffic is too heavy for motorists to change lanes to pass me right way, then it's really the motorists delaying things more than me. Drivers that have to wait a little bit before passing end up catching up to the other motorists at the next traffic light anyway.
CyclistLorax 2 years ago
Well the difference between your city and mine. Plus if they widen the road then that means people's houses have to get knocked down. So it doesn't make much sense. I would love for Houston to be a city like NY or Boston (not people wise) but easier transportation wise. Here it is the cyclists fault but where you live it is the drivers fault. Do you get what I'm trying to say?
sbarudzija 2 years ago
We might as well just get ride of all the cyclists in your city then! Obviously you have no respect for people who use an alternate source of transportation. Maybe we should out you on a bike and see how you like being honked at or maybe you should simply leave earlier. Its impatient people like you who have this entitlement mentality that think everything shoud revolve around you and your needs are more important than respect for you fellow man. How about a positive idea instead of whining.
metaphae 2 years ago 9
This comment has received too many negative votes show
get rid of all cyclists in my city...hmm. that is genius.
sbarudzija 2 years ago
There's a particular road in my city that is one narrow lane each way, which the city decided it was more important to have parking on than bike lanes. As a result, motorists get upset that a cyclist takes up the only lane and forces them down the street at 15-20 (as opposed to 30).
If you don't like cyclists backing up traffic, push your city to provide bikeway infrastructure, bike lanes, wide right lanes (hopefully with sharrows) and other amenities. It will speed up travel for everyone. :)
nexked 2 years ago
i really think they should make a seperate sidewalk for cyclists. if you want to ride your bike that's ok. but when you make me and 10 other people behind miss a light because your riding your bike in the middle of the road. when the speed limit is 50 and a cyclist is riding 20 on a two lane road it kind of gets annoying. and very dangerous. your putting your lives in the hands of people that drive drunk, driving while texting and all of that.
sbarudzija 2 years ago
A sidewalk? Sidewalk = side + walk, as in a pedestraion facility at the side of the road. Apparently you missed the whole point of the video; namely that cyclists are drivers and have the lowest crash risk when engaging in driver behavior on public roadways. Do you have the same dislike of bus or truck drivers who delay traffic on two lane roads, or are you just prejudiced against cyclists?
CyclistLorax 2 years ago
yes sir
sbarudzija 2 years ago
Although I think warning should be given to newbie bikers... depending where you live, expect get honked at sometimes from ignorant motorists. Most people don't know bikes are supposed to act as traffic and will honk. Don't sweat it. RIDE YOUR BIKE and be safe.
saberswordsmen1 2 years ago
If you are holding your lane position as you should be, drivers will see you. That's where they are looking for traffic. A bright vest won't make a huge difference, except maybe reflective vest for night riding (even then, if you have proper lights, you are probably fine). Most important aspect of driving with traffic, in my experience, is no doubt "taking the lane" and behaving as standard traffic.
saberswordsmen1 2 years ago
You give drivers a lot of credit. There are lot drivers out there who do not watch the road or are looking for cars only.
gusfromflorida 2 years ago
It's a fact that more bicyclists get hit while cars are trying to "squeeze by" then get hit from behind. Behind dooring, it's one of the most common accidents (that, and cars turning into you). Not only that, but drivers are far more likely to see something in the center of the road rather than something at the edge of their vision.
saberswordsmen1 2 years ago
Yes indeed, your much more likely to be seen by traffic if you ride in the center of the road, and not along the side. I used to ride on the white line but after being nearly hit almost everyday, I use the center of the lanes.
CycleMan2200 2 years ago
Explain to me why road workers wear chartreuse.
gusfromflorida 2 years ago
Road workers are not drivers; the comparison is not related to the questiohn we are discussing. Given that road workers MUST be out of the normal place motorists are looking for other drivers, the best they can do is maximize their optical response. In spite of wearing such highly optically responsive colors, they still get hit with alarming frequency.
CyclistLorax 2 years ago
I think you are assuming that I don't think your cycling suggestions are effective. Well, I DO think they are effective. My point is that is that chartreuse would make you EVEN MORE visible.
gusfromflorida 2 years ago
"A cyclist doesn't need to wear day-glo lime to be easily seen." No, but they will be soon sooner.
gusfromflorida 2 years ago
Not if they are in lane positions that are out of the normal field of view. Position maters more than optical repsonse. The extreme cases are easiest to cover: imagine a cyclist riding on the sidewalk against traffic, they are approaching drivers waiting to pull out of a driveway, and are not seen. I realize this is causing you some serious cognitive dissonance, but please try to think about where drivers are looking for other traffic; if you aren't there then day-glow lime isn't helpful.
CyclistLorax 2 years ago
If I were to go out of my way to maximize my camouflage, I could stand directly in your FOV and you would not see me.
gusfromflorida 2 years ago
This has nothing to do with the video, which clearly shows that a visible lane positions elicits the appropriate motorist response.
CyclistLorax 2 years ago