Traffic jam riding

Jim Higson said:

Twice a day the bigger roads in my town get into a bit of a jam for half an
hour or so. I tend to ride in the five o'clock one.

[...]

Quoted message said:

Anyone with more experience than me have any advice for this situation?

Well, when I find myself in that situation, I try to find a
smaller road with less traffic. Often, in my experience, there's
one nearby that drivers avoid because of a low speed limit, lack
of connection with freeways, etc., that is nevertheless just fine
for biking.
--
"J'avais trouv'e ma religion :
rien ne me parut plus important qu'un livre.
La biblioth`eque, j'y voyais un temple."
--Jean-Paul Sartre

Jim Higson said:

Twice a day the bigger roads in my town get into a bit of a jam for half an
hour or so. I tend to ride in the five o'clock one.

The roads are all two lanes. I've tried a few things to get through:

* Take the lane and stay in traffic (slow, not much fun, polluted)

This is good to do as you approach junctions, driveways, roundabouts,
etc. You're more visible to other vehicle operators and it's harder for
them to squeeze past you in an unsafe manner.

Quoted message said:

* Overtake on the outside (left since I'm in the UK). This is OK, but
drivers tend to not see you coming past and don't give much room. Sometimes
they drift outwards and the gap closes as you pass...

I think this is called undertaking in the UK, and it's dangerous and
illegal. It's distinctly more difficult for a motorist to monitor the
offside (right hand side in US, left hand side in UK) rear view mirror
than to monitor the nearside mirror. The bigger the vehicle, the higher
the odds that the operator won't see you coming up on the wrong (left in
UK) side. I'm told that getting hit by a left turning truck/lorry/HGV is
a leading cause of fatalities for UK cyclists. "Road pizza" is the
phrase I used when trying to dissuade my eldest niece from doing this.

Quoted message said:

* Ride near the centre of the road and overtake.

Most enjoyable and probably safest option, provided you are extremely
alert for vehicles turning across your path from either direction.

Quoted message said:

* Ride on the pavement (riding just faster than walking is still faster than
waiting in traffic)

Frequently illegal, dangerous and annoying to pedestrians, dangerous to
the cyclist at times.

Quoted message said:

* Have a cup of tea and ride when it clears up

Best option if your schedule permit. Of course, if everybody did that
then the 5 o'clock jam would just get put back to 6 o'clock, wouldn't it?

Quoted message said:

Anyone with more experience than me have any advice for this situation?

As Ben said, finding an alternate route can be a good option, if there
is a suitable alternate route.

HTH,
mark

On Mon, 11 Sep 2006 18:56:33 GMT, mark <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Jim Higson wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

* Overtake on the outside (left since I'm in the UK). This is OK, but
drivers tend to not see you coming past and don't give much room. Sometimes
they drift outwards and the gap closes as you pass...

I think this is called undertaking in the UK, and it's dangerous and
illegal.

Yes, not always, and no.

In article <[email hidden]>,

mark said:

Jim Higson wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

* Overtake on the outside (left since I'm in the UK). This is OK, but
drivers tend to not see you coming past and don't give much room. Sometimes
they drift outwards and the gap closes as you pass...

I think this is called undertaking in the UK, and it's dangerous and
illegal.

Are you sure this is illegal? Here in Australia (drive on the same side
as UK), left lane overtaking is specifically permitted for cyclists. Is
UK law different in this regard?

Of course, we are not talking about the safety aspect.
--

Artoi said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

mark said:

Jim Higson wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

* Overtake on the outside (left since I'm in the UK). This is OK, but
drivers tend to not see you coming past and don't give much room. Sometimes
they drift outwards and the gap closes as you pass...

I think this is called undertaking in the UK, and it's dangerous and
illegal.

Are you sure this is illegal? Here in Australia (drive on the same side
as UK), left lane overtaking is specifically permitted for cyclists. Is
UK law different in this regard?

Of course, we are not talking about the safety aspect.
--

My part of the US allows undertaking on roads with two or more lanes in
the direction being traveled, and/or when the vehicle being passed has
signaled a left turn. I have alway understood undertaking to be one of
those universally illegal practices, with the two exceptions I mentioned
being permitted to varying degrees in some, but not all areas. I have
also understood that cyclists on UK roads are treated as vehicles
(except in West Mercia) and expected to follow the same rules that other
vehicles do (at least, that's what I've done when cycling in the UK). If
any British cyclists wish to correct me on this that's fine, but I still
don't think it's a safe thing to do.

mark

mark said:

I think this is called undertaking in the UK, and it's dangerous and
illegal.

It's legal here in Australia, at least when the traffic is stationary.
Agreed that it's dangerous when the traffic is merely slow - I prefer to
push in and be seen when our speed is similar, rather than ride
alongside a particular vehicle.

And you need to very watchful for left turners - not just indicators, but
braking and turning front wheels.

--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw

Jim Higson said:

Twice a day the bigger roads in my town get into a bit of a jam for half an
hour or so. I tend to ride in the five o'clock one.

The roads are all two lanes. I've tried a few things to get through:

* Have a cup of tea and ride when it clears up

My favorite. Flex time lets me miss the worst of rush hour (4:45-5:15
in the afternoon), and the traffic is usually at tolerable levels
early or late.

Pat

Email address works as is.

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 11 Sep 2006 18:56:33 GMT, mark <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Jim Higson wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

* Overtake on the outside (left since I'm in the UK). This is OK, but
drivers tend to not see you coming past and don't give much room.
Sometimes
they drift outwards and the gap closes as you pass...

I think this is called undertaking in the UK, and it's dangerous and
illegal.

I don't know if it legal or not but I don't do it. I know that it makes car
drivers angry and I try to keep them happy. I followed two riders through a
busy town this afternoon. They were vehicles when it was an advantage to
them and pedestrians on bikes when it wasn't. One car had to pass them
three times and the driver finally blew her horn during the third pass where
one of the riders was taking the lane.

mark said:

Quoted message said:

* Ride on the pavement (riding just faster than walking is still faster
than waiting in traffic)

Frequently illegal, dangerous and annoying to pedestrians, dangerous to
the cyclist at times.

I should probably point out that this it is just one long road, without any
houses or buildings, so you'd see any pedestrians in good time. Normally
there aren't any.

Not that I'd usually advocate riding on the pavement, but in this case it
isn't very dangerous.

--
Jim

Ben Pfaff said:

Jim Higson said:

Twice a day the bigger roads in my town get into a bit of a jam for half
an hour or so. I tend to ride in the five o'clock one.

[...]

Quoted message said:

Anyone with more experience than me have any advice for this situation?

Well, when I find myself in that situation, I try to find a
smaller road with less traffic. Often, in my experience, there's
one nearby that drivers avoid because of a low speed limit, lack
of connection with freeways, etc., that is nevertheless just fine
for biking.

Afraid there aren't any in this case for most of the way. My town pretty
much only has two roads in/out, and I don't live on the other one!

--
Jim

mark said:

Quoted message said:

* Ride near the centre of the road and overtake.

Most enjoyable and probably safest option, provided you are extremely
alert for vehicles turning across your path from either direction.

That was what I've been thinking too. Recently I've been going this way and
not had any problems. The road is long and straight with only a few
junctions so this isn't particularly hazardous. The only issue is it leaves
me on the wrong side of the lane for turning left when I get to a large
roundabout at the end of the road, which is usually where traffic frees up
again.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

* Ride on the pavement (riding just faster than walking is still faster
than waiting in traffic)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

* Have a cup of tea and ride when it clears up

Best option if your schedule permit. Of course, if everybody did that
then the 5 o'clock jam would just get put back to 6 o'clock, wouldn't it?

Ah, true.

--
Jim

From time to time, I find myself on a street at rush hour that is used as a
sort of waiting spot for cars trying to get on the freeway. Howell Street, I
think it is. The whole thing is a CM of cars, corking up the intersection
and otherwise making it impossible for non-motorized wheeled vehicles to get
through. What is inconceivable to me is that there are motorists who do this
*every day*. Can you possibly imagine? No wonder everyone's afflicted with
road rage.

I've taken the sidewalk, as suggested, from time to time, because the
pedestrians and cross streets on this stretch are so few. The problem with
that is that the on-ramp to the freeway is on the right, and cars are
unpredictable about making that turn.

An alternate route would have to be really alternate -- there's a lot of one
way streets and things coming at odd angles through those blocks, and I'd be
trying to cross a busy streets without the right of way at a stop sign, as
opposed to getting a signal light.

I will confess that my usual practice is to split the lane, calling out,
"coming through!" as I do so. I find it hair-raising. If that was my usual
PM commute, as opposed to something I do once or twice a month, I'd consider
trying to find something better.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

You're in town, right?

Find another road.

- -
Comments and opinions compliments of,
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

My web Site:
http://geocities.com/czcorner

To E-mail me:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net

Jim Higson said:

Anyone with more experience than me have any advice for this situation?

I don't think there is a correct answer to this one. I'd try to ride
up the centre of the road if there's room and the oncoming traffic is
not too scarey, then weave to the kerb side and shuffle along that way
for a bit. At least you can feel smug that you aren't stuck in the
queue like the motorists.
This might be one of the occasions when a white-paint cycle lane might
help? You might be vulnerable to drivers opening doors, but no worse
than you've already got if approached with caution.

Chris Z The Wheelman said:

You're in town, right?

A quite small town in Wales, yes.

Quoted message said:

Find another road.

I'd have to petition for it to be built first 🙂

Well, I suppose there *is* a another way, but it is about three times as
far, goes up two very steep hills and is usually only slightly less jammed.

--
Jim

Group: rec.bicycles.misc Date: Tue, Sep 12, 2006, 6:56pm (EDT+5)
From: [email hidden] (Jim Higson)

Quoted message said:

I'd have to petition for it to be built first 🙂
Well, I suppose there *is* a another way,
but it is about three times as far, goes up
two very steep hills and is usually only
slightly less jammed.

Well, personally, I'de take the hillier, less traveled route if that was
my only choice. Hills hurt, but they make you a stronger rider, where as
the hurt you could get from traffic, well...

When I was in El Lay, I lived in the canyons for a long time and it
seemed there was only one way over Mulholland Drive into the S.F.
Valley, Beverly Glen Blvd. (another death trap, esp. around rush hour).
That was until I got my first mountain bike and discovered the fire
roads. Maybe there is a less conventional route in your town?

- -
Comments and opinions compliments of,
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

My web Site:
http://geocities.com/czcorner

To E-mail me:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net

"Michael Warner" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

mark said:

I think this is called undertaking in the UK, and it's dangerous and
illegal.

It's legal here in Australia, at least when the traffic is stationary.
Agreed that it's dangerous when the traffic is merely slow - I prefer to
push in and be seen when our speed is similar, rather than ride
alongside a particular vehicle.

And you need to very watchful for left turners - not just indicators, but
braking and turning front wheels.

--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw

Come to Sydney where car drivers actively go for cyclists and move so far
left nothing can get through. Or may as well be drunk at the wheel (cell
phones) or get super rage at you because they lost 0.001 seconds of journey
time making allowance for a cycle doing 40km/h - it's a [censored] fight here -
where the car rules and the government does zilch because it's too busy
raking in revenue from licence fees, fines, green slips, compulsory 3rd
party insurance, road tax and petrol excises.

We just lost 90% of new cycle ways in the city to the almighty combustion
engined vehicle, over a tunnel for the poor blighters.

Surely one day they'll realise that if they are within 10km of anywhere a
bike ride will get them there faster with all of it's health benefits -
what's that I hear now? Over 50% of Australians are now "obese" - I wonder
why? 😉

Oz

Ozdude said:

Come to Sydney where car drivers actively go for cyclists and move so far
left nothing can get through. Or may as well be drunk at the wheel (cell
phones) or get super rage at you because they lost 0.001 seconds of journey
time making allowance for a cycle doing 40km/h - it's a [censored] fight here -
where the car rules and the government does zilch because it's too busy
raking in revenue from licence fees, fines, green slips, compulsory 3rd
party insurance, road tax and petrol excises.

Actually, Sydney has less of a car culture than many places, due to
its very effective mass transit system. But it's certainly NOT a
rider's paradise. I lived in the North Shore area (Killara) for a
couple years, and did almost no road riding. The MTBing was some of
my favorite anywhere though. Ahhhhh.....

Quoted message said:

Surely one day they'll realise that if they are within 10km of anywhere a
bike ride will get them there faster with all of it's health benefits -
what's that I hear now? Over 50% of Australians are now "obese" - I wonder
why? 😉

It's mainly 'cuz you've got GREAT beer, mate! :-)

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $795 ti frame

In article <[email hidden]>,

Mark Hickey said:

Actually, Sydney has less of a car culture than many places, due to
its very effective mass transit system. But it's certainly NOT a
rider's paradise. I lived in the North Shore area (Killara) for a
couple years, and did almost no road riding. The MTBing was some of
my favorite anywhere though. Ahhhhh.....

It's those damn hills that stops many wannabe cyclists...
--