There are some excellent points in this video about how bicyclists should interact with traffic. I especially liked the mention of proper lane position and signaling.
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.
Excellent video. I use these skills all the time and they have kept me safe for 30 plus years cycling 5000 to 10000 km per year in all seasons and all types of weather.
Ever since I've been using cameras when cycling people don't mess with me. Before the cameras, a small percentage of people would use their horns or yell out their window even though I follow the statutes to a tee. I've only encountered one obscene verbal by a random passenger in a truck when in the bike lane at an intersection. Normally I take the vehicle lane when stopped at intersections but my mind was in autopilot at that moment. People also don't realise many of us cyclists are also motorists and we also pay our fair share of road taxes.
Whether or not you "like" controlling a lane has no bearing on the safety aspects of the practice. The purpose of controlling a lane is to be highly visible, as this is what protects any driver from those behind. This is just as true for a sedan driver in front of SUVs or large trucks as it is for bicyclists in front of sedans. Though counterintuitive, by "trying" to stay out of the way, you actually invite close passes & crossing conflicts; with sidewalks amplifying the crossing crash risk.
In addition to following the proper safety rules and abiding by the applicable traffic laws as shown in this video, I would strongly recommend that all avid cyclists with auto insurance get Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage with relatively high limits. This coverage will cover you (at least in California) if you get in an accident involving a car whose driver may have no or insufficient insurance coverage. I get calls to my office all the time from cyclists who unfortunately were involved in accidents and they cannot recover for their injuries because the at fault driver did not have insurance or did not have enough coverage. Safe cycling.
Excellent video. I bike commute through DC, where bike lanes are still fairly scarce and cyclists have no option but to ride with traffic. I constantly try and tell cyclists who ride in the far right area of a lane that they are actually much safer "controlling the lane" (i.e., riding in the middle). This video captures that very well.
Nathanael: It's context-sensitive, and depends on your own preference. The most vehicular thing to do would be to wait on or near the center line, allowing traffic to pass you on your right if there's room, and then turning left when there's a gap in oncoming traffic. But there's nothing inherently wrong with pulling over safely and crossing as a pedestrian.
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!
Yep, you still don't want to compromise your own safety. It's give and take, of course, so as soon as I can help the driver(s) behind, I'll make it easy for them to overtake me, but never at the cost of my safety. Try searching out "you forced me to speed to overtake you" for one where I just have to take the lane on a narrow road in Bromley.
Don't worry about cars crossing a solid yellow line to pass you, and don't change lane positions to avoid making them do it. Some states and countries actually have an exception that allows drivers to pass slow-moving vehicles in a no-passing zone. Even for the ones who don't, cops won't generally care, as long as the driver isn't endangering anyone. Your responsibility is yourself, so keep your lane position, and keep a safe distance from parked cars.
@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.
Are you familiar with the concept of a threshold? We are well above the optical response threshold, so the primary determining factor in us being seen by following drivers is our lateral lane position. A cyclist does not need to be at the center frequency of the human optical repsonse curve to be easily visible, and to oversell this notion downplays the more important role of lateral position in being seen, recognized and avoided.
really good video and well-made. I like this quote by John Forester: The greatest defect in American bicycling is the predominance of incompetent, unlawful, fearful, and superstitious cycling behaviors and beliefs among the population, both bicycling and general, and the corresponding paucity of lawful, competent, and confident cyclists.
@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.
Very informative video I didn't know all the rules cyclists had to follow. I recently moved to a big city and bought a Trek 820 to get to a from work. Now I know to obey the same laws at motorists.
There is no easy answer when dealing with prejudice. I usually tell people that the path doesn't go where I need to go, and even on those extremely rare occasions when the path does go where I'm going, they are much more hazardous at driveways and intersections. You can read more about this in our ITC Intro on the CyclistView website, click on the link on our CyclistLorax channel page.
Nathanael, you can do it either way that’s most comfortable for you. If it’s your street, you will likely make this maneuver several times a week or month, and you will get better at moving left a block or two early, when there is a gap in traffic. It is legal, safe and courteous to execute a left turn in this manner, just as if you were on a Harley Davidson that weighs hundreds of pounds.
I'm impressed. Something though looked to me that it might a bit of a danger. The cyclist put his hand out to signal without first looking behind it seemed. If a car had been overtaking it could have hit his hand. Would it not be safer to look first before signalling?
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 :)
I also ride 23 - 27mph and 30 to 35 with a tailwind... : ) It's fun to race cars from red light to red light.... If a cop sees it they go after the car for speeding.. And me, a bicycle going how fast?
make a box left turn which is basically you go forward moving straight with traffic staying to the right and then stop once you get to to the opposite streets right lane reposition your bike and go straight once they have a green light
@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.
I have been riding for 45 years and continue to do so, in traffic. “Controlling the lane” is a concept that I have used. However, I have had very negative experiences with motorists and police who will say “Bicycles are required to stay to the right”. So has there been a change in law or attitudes that now allow bikes to control the lanes rather than being forced to the extreme right? I would agree that keeping to the center is better and safer as long as you don’t get a ticket for it.
. Now I am riding an electric bike at a constant 20mph and wow what a differance. I'm glad you put this video. Very helpful. Cars never seem to put it together that I am on electric bike and approche them much faster than they think. I don't get angy because I can understand ther surprise. I'm stilll scared to try some of the things you said. Lane control and not going all the way to the right in a right turn lane when I;m going straight. I do stop at all stop signs and wait for a green light.
Nice video,very informative... I have always wondered if a rider has the right of way for his or her own lane now I know... Thanks for the good information..
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.
Great video. One question though...I noticed when yielding to oncoming traffic prior to making a left turn, the cyclist is not signaling the turn even though it is technically required by law (vehicle code 22108). Is this done intentionally to help avoid the situation where oncoming motorists unnecessarily stop/yield to the left turning cyclist? I've had oncoming vehicles stop for me while I'm stopped/yielding and signaling a left turn, which can be a dangerous/unpredictable situation.
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
I took the cyclist test for Illinois and I passed but I was still confused about the whole intersection thing. I wished that the test covered more on that in detail. Turning left was still the most confusing thing about it, or going straight.
Thanks for sharing. I got my first bike today since I was twelve and I'm a little nervous. I don't plan on going far just around my neighborhood but I thought I'd look up bike safety just to make sure I don't screw up. Now just saying that should I just stick to the side walk or stay on the street? Are there any websites you would recommend so I know what to do? Any and all advice is welcome :) Thank you.
@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.
Jeff, here are the two relevant codes: 22108. Any signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given continuously during the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning. 21200. (a) Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division,..., except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application. The second reply will give the explanation for the behavior.
Great video. I use these same techniques while commuting to and from work. I do get a lot of people who yell at me to use the bike path. How do you handle those situations.
There is a lot of info packed in here! Of course, I get my info from Officer Buttwhype (this video shows him in action): ua-cam.com/video/iiEXo2gvMe8/v-deo.html
@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.
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 :-)
If you approach a traffic light thats been green for awhile and there is traffic behind you. And you are in the middle lane because the right lane is a right-turn only. I always try to barely ride between the right and middle lane. So cars can pass. But a tiny bit of wind might make my bike turn and it can be a scary situation.
No sir, you are oversimplifying the problem. Visibility primarily includes the center field of view (FOV), and secondarily includes optical reception (OR). A cyclist in day-glow lime, who is outside the narrow FOV of a driver is far less visible and recognizable and than a cyclist in less OR prominent, but in the center FOV. You can look at diagrams and video showing these issues on the CyclistView website in the Traffic Skills Intro (Slides 13-28). See our Channel for the link.
A strict semantic interpretation would simply assert that 22108 doesn't apply to bicycles, which per CVC 231 are NOT vehicles, they are devices. However, the more perceptive answer is to recognize that the intent of traffic laws is to promote safe movements, and that when travelling at very low speeds, such as when waiting in an intersection to turn left, it is better to control the bike, and signal when necessary to ensure other drivers are aware of your maneuver. Safety takes precedence...
FYI, the District of Columbia has no discriminatory laws against cyclists. Even in Virginia the FTR law has similar exceptions to the CA FTR law (turns, narrow lanes, hazards, etc.), so I respectfully submit that the Police in VA to which you refer are unnecessarily discriminating against cyclists. Is there a particualr city PD that is doing as you say? I can refer you to VA state advocates who can help you deal with a police discrimination problem.
Question: If you are going down a street and your driveway is on the left side of the street, and there is dense traffic on both sides of the street, should you pull over and allow the traffic to pass or wait until there is a safe opening and cut through the yellow line?
Has there been any progress made on the issue of traffic lights that do not change for bicycles? You know, the ones that sense the presents of a vehicle before activating the traffic signal. I have been away for some time. Use to be that my bike would NOT cause the signals to change and this made it very difficult to use the traffic signals properly and also created a definite hazard for me caused by motorists who had the benefit of changing signals while I did not.
Great Job! I agree that viewing this video (or one like it) should be manditory for obtaining or renewing a driver's license. It would be easy for the DMV link to such a video and have a person verify that they watched it by answering qestions on content. I would encourage you to make additional videos showing the dangers of being "doored" and how a driver should check and double check before opening a door into traffic. How cyclists can look ahead into the side view mirror, etc.
@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.
I've found the safest way to ride is to leave 5 minutes earlier than necessary for my 30 minute urban commute and to ride slower. When the light turns green, I ride very slowly and let all the cars quickly pass by me. Then I am almost alone until the next light.
A very smart and proper use of a bike. Like drivers, people shouldn't expect to speed to their destination. Know the capabilities and limitations of your ride and plan accordingly.
These techniques work anywhere in the US. I have done so in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Florida and New York. No problems whatsoever.
If I'm at a three way stop sign... say "T" for example, and I'm biking along that top line heading west, would I have to stop or can I ride right through? Trying to figure out the rules of the road because I like biking clockwise around this lake, but there's a lot of three way stop signs and traffic lights along the route. If I go straight through it's not like I risk getting hit by someone heading north since that's not an option, but I also feel hesitant because I don't want to blow through the stop sign or red light if it's not allowed.
My biggest problem is that in thin lanes, cars actually illegally swerve passed the double bar line and go around me when i'm going slow. Many times I've recked into parked cars and fell off because of this from fear. It's also hard when there is much traffic, so I "parallel park" to let the cars go by, but then I'm stuck waiting for ten minutes. I've heard this many times, but is it true that if you just ride the same path that you would if you were driving, everything should be fine?
The strategies illustrated in the video work for multi-lane roads, but what are the strategies for two-lane roads (i.e. one lane each direction)? I live in WV where hills make bikes even slower and twisty roads make passing regions few and far between. I feel comfortable using the techniques in the video in the denser parts of town where the roads are wide or multi-lane, but what about the other roads?
@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.
Thanks for the safety video - in the future, please make sure your riders know how to signal a right turn . When your rider was turning right, he used a left turn signal, not a right.
Nope. He used a right turn signal. Right turns may be signaled either by having the upper left arm straight out and the lower left arm straight up or with the right arm straight out. Both are legal and correct but I consider the second one easier for drivers to understand because most don't remember hand signals from driver's education.
My friend from Thailand used to carry a key in his and when he rode his bike. When people got too close (i.e. so close that he only has to turn the key outwards slightly for it to touch the car, and the side mirrors can actually hit your handlebars), he keyed their cars. It was ecognised by the locals, and if your car got keyed, you knew what you did. It also showed others what you nearly did...
@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.
To anyone who thinks this is unsafe riding, just go look up some videos of bike messengers or alley cat races. Those guys make these guys look like the safest cyclists on the road. BTW good interview with Dan on the Outspoken Cyclist radio show the other night.
You have the legal requirement to share the road with cyclists. If you don't, you might end up in jail, especially now that thousands of us run video cameras all the time because of misbehaviour from a minority of drivers.
@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 - 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.
This is really wonderful cycling practice, but I just wish every motorist would not lose their patience and become aggressive about it. If only every motorist tolerated it. Do the police acknowledge this cycling practice? Or would they pull you over if they saw you riding like this?
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 ? .
Bicyclists who follow driver rules are in fact driving. Bicycle driving is what the law allows and is a best practice for bicyclists who seek to minimize crash risk while using public roads. To refer to driving as a "coping mechanism" is little more than anti-bicycle driving propaganda. And what is the alternative on the streets in the video? Also note that we were outside the door zone, and to think otherwise is to imagine doors much wider than they are in reality.
adorei a dica mas a ki fonciona diferente tem ke andara nas ciclovias ou ruas paralelas ou na tua direita cenão é a tropelado mesmo aki no brasil é difisil um forte a braso amigão tamos juntos cenpre
This is a helpful reminder but does not address the issue of rouge vehicle drivers. By rouge vehicle drivers I mean drivers who do not recognize cyclists as designated drivers who share the road. How do you respond to a vehicle driver who screams at you through their window and curb checks you?
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.
@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.
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?
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...
Sure, if you don't value your time. In most of these "cycle friendly" places, such as the Netherlands, a cyclist's time is worth little as those lanes are SLOW (and dangerous if you cycle at more than a moderate running pace). Considering that cyclists are already moving much slower than motor vehicles, this is inexcusable.
As for pulling over: there's no requirement to, but it's a nice courtesy if there's absolutely no other option for the other drivers. On a 4-lane street, they're SOL if they want to stay behind me -- they can easily pass. But on a 2-lane street with a median and narrow lanes -- it's courteous to pull over occasionally and let them pass. My usual policy is to pull over if they're courteous to me -- and don't do anything out of my way at all if they're honking.
Bicyclists riding on sidewalks are at high crossing crash risk because they are poorly visible, and they are in an unexpected location at driveways and intersections. Drivers are looking in the roadway for vehicle drivers, not on the sidewalk.
We did look first. We use eyeglass mounted mirrors to do the rear scanning so the quality of the synchronized video is good. I can assure you that we both always look before sticking our arms out to signal.
I also disagree with the advice to merge into traffic when in a right-turn only lane. Especially in the burbs, there are many major streets with generous shoulders, but many right-turn lanes at minor intersections that cut into the shoulder. It is more comfortable and less disruptive to traffic to simply ride through these lanes (as far left as practicable, to indicate to motorists that you do not intend to turn right).
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?
That's just silly. Blue on gray is not camoflage. You sir are ignoring acceptable visibility thresholds. A cyclist doesn't need to wear day-glo lime to be easily seen. They also don't need to maximize optical response to be highly visible.
this helped me. I ride a bike to and from college. but unfortunately there isn't as much room on roads as this video so it gets tight.
You might want to try the three foot flag from takeyourlane.com - keeps the cars away!
There are some excellent points in this video about how bicyclists should interact with traffic. I especially liked the mention of proper lane position and signaling.
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.
Excellent video. I use these skills all the time and they have kept me safe for 30 plus years cycling 5000 to 10000 km per year in all seasons and all types of weather.
Ever since I've been using cameras when cycling people don't mess with me. Before the cameras, a small percentage of people would use their horns or yell out their window even though I follow the statutes to a tee. I've only encountered one obscene verbal by a random passenger in a truck when in the bike lane at an intersection. Normally I take the vehicle lane when stopped at intersections but my mind was in autopilot at that moment. People also don't realise many of us cyclists are also motorists and we also pay our fair share of road taxes.
Whether or not you "like" controlling a lane has no bearing on the safety aspects of the practice. The purpose of controlling a lane is to be highly visible, as this is what protects any driver from those behind. This is just as true for a sedan driver in front of SUVs or large trucks as it is for bicyclists in front of sedans. Though counterintuitive, by "trying" to stay out of the way, you actually invite close passes & crossing conflicts; with sidewalks amplifying the crossing crash risk.
In addition to following the proper safety rules and abiding by the applicable traffic laws as shown in this video, I would strongly recommend that all avid cyclists with auto insurance get Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage with relatively high limits. This coverage will cover you (at least in California) if you get in an accident involving a car whose driver may have no or insufficient insurance coverage. I get calls to my office all the time from cyclists who unfortunately were involved in accidents and they cannot recover for their injuries because the at fault driver did not have insurance or did not have enough coverage. Safe cycling.
Excellent video. I bike commute through DC, where bike lanes are still fairly scarce and cyclists have no option but to ride with traffic. I constantly try and tell cyclists who ride in the far right area of a lane that they are actually much safer "controlling the lane" (i.e., riding in the middle). This video captures that very well.
I work where there are a lot of cyclists and I never know what to do in my car so I'm trying to learn.
Bravo!
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?"
This actually helps. Bicyclists in my area tend to take the entire lane up and I just needed to know what I was allowed to do to pass.
Nathanael: It's context-sensitive, and depends on your own preference. The most vehicular thing to do would be to wait on or near the center line, allowing traffic to pass you on your right if there's room, and then turning left when there's a gap in oncoming traffic. But there's nothing inherently wrong with pulling over safely and crossing as a pedestrian.
This is an excellent video that covers many of the safety issues that the common bicyclist should learn so as to increase their safety.
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!
Yep, you still don't want to compromise your own safety. It's give and take, of course, so as soon as I can help the driver(s) behind, I'll make it easy for them to overtake me, but never at the cost of my safety.
Try searching out "you forced me to speed to overtake you" for one where I just have to take the lane on a narrow road in Bromley.
Don't worry about cars crossing a solid yellow line to pass you, and don't change lane positions to avoid making them do it. Some states and countries actually have an exception that allows drivers to pass slow-moving vehicles in a no-passing zone. Even for the ones who don't, cops won't generally care, as long as the driver isn't endangering anyone. Your responsibility is yourself, so keep your lane position, and keep a safe distance from parked cars.
This could be the best yet, perhaps because of the dubbed narration. Outstanding.
@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.
Are you familiar with the concept of a threshold? We are well above the optical response threshold, so the primary determining factor in us being seen by following drivers is our lateral lane position. A cyclist does not need to be at the center frequency of the human optical repsonse curve to be easily visible, and to oversell this notion downplays the more important role of lateral position in being seen, recognized and avoided.
really good video and well-made. I like this quote by John Forester:
The greatest defect in American bicycling is the predominance of incompetent, unlawful, fearful, and superstitious cycling behaviors and beliefs among the population, both bicycling and general, and the corresponding paucity of lawful, competent, and confident cyclists.
@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.
Very informative video I didn't know all the rules cyclists had to follow. I recently moved to a big city and bought a Trek 820 to get to a from work. Now I know to obey the same laws at motorists.
In Holland we have seperated lanes for cyclists.
And you have a different culture altogether when it comes to transportation. Holland's cycle tracks by themselves will never work in the US.
This includes many excellent tips. As with any type of vehicle, it's important to be predictable and communicate one's intentions before proceeding.
There is no easy answer when dealing with prejudice. I usually tell people that the path doesn't go where I need to go, and even on those extremely rare occasions when the path does go where I'm going, they are much more hazardous at driveways and intersections. You can read more about this in our ITC Intro on the CyclistView website, click on the link on our CyclistLorax channel page.
Nathanael, you can do it either way that’s most comfortable for you. If it’s your street, you will likely make this maneuver several times a week or month, and you will get better at moving left a block or two early, when there is a gap in traffic. It is legal, safe and courteous to execute a left turn in this manner, just as if you were on a Harley Davidson that weighs hundreds of pounds.
I'm impressed. Something though looked to me that it might a bit of a danger. The cyclist put his hand out to signal without first looking behind it seemed. If a car had been overtaking it could have hit his hand. Would it not be safer to look first before signalling?
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 :)
I also ride 23 - 27mph and 30 to 35 with a tailwind... : ) It's fun to race cars from red light to red light.... If a cop sees it they go after the car for speeding.. And me, a bicycle going how fast?
@MattTheWeedMaster
Matt, sidewalks are for pedestrians. Streets are for bicycles, cars, and motorcycles.
make a box left turn which is basically you go forward moving straight with traffic staying to the right and then stop once you get to to the opposite streets right lane reposition your bike and go straight once they have a green light
@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.
Yes. Nearly all of the footage in this video was shot in Long Beach, CA.
I have been riding for 45 years and continue to do so, in traffic. “Controlling the lane” is a concept that I have used. However, I have had very negative experiences with motorists and police who will say “Bicycles are required to stay to the right”. So has there been a change in law or attitudes that now allow bikes to control the lanes rather than being forced to the extreme right? I would agree that keeping to the center is better and safer as long as you don’t get a ticket for it.
Gettng back to basics is a good thing - thanks
. Now I am riding an electric bike at a constant 20mph and wow what a differance. I'm glad you put this video. Very helpful. Cars never seem to put it together that I am on electric bike and approche them much faster than they think. I don't get angy because I can understand ther surprise. I'm stilll scared to try some of the things you said. Lane control and not going all the way to the right in a right turn lane when I;m going straight. I do stop at all stop signs and wait for a green light.
Nice video,very informative...
I have always wondered if a rider has the right of way for his or her own lane now I know...
Thanks for the good information..
I'm new to America. this will gonna help me a lot, since in my country you only allowed to
ride your bike on the sidewalk.... THANKS!!!
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.
one of the best videos on the web , im happy to see that I do these practices myself when I ride
Great video.
One question though...I noticed when yielding to oncoming traffic prior to making a left turn, the cyclist is not signaling the turn even though it is technically required by law (vehicle code 22108).
Is this done intentionally to help avoid the situation where oncoming motorists unnecessarily stop/yield to the left turning cyclist?
I've had oncoming vehicles stop for me while I'm stopped/yielding and signaling a left turn, which can be a dangerous/unpredictable situation.
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
I took the cyclist test for Illinois and I passed but I was still confused about the whole intersection thing. I wished that the test covered more on that in detail. Turning left was still the most confusing thing about it, or going straight.
Thanks for sharing. I got my first bike today since I was twelve and I'm a little nervous. I don't plan on going far just around my neighborhood but I thought I'd look up bike safety just to make sure I don't screw up. Now just saying that should I just stick to the side walk or stay on the street? Are there any websites you would recommend so I know what to do? Any and all advice is welcome :) Thank you.
@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.
Great video! I think the motorist that are ignorant and thinks bicyclist don't belong on the road should see these videos.
We just shot some of the same types of video in Dallas, Texas, Same results, too. It works everywhere in the USA.
Jeff, here are the two relevant codes:
22108. Any signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given continuously during the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning.
21200. (a) Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division,..., except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application. The second reply will give the explanation for the behavior.
Great video. I use these same techniques while commuting to and from work. I do get a lot of people who yell at me to use the bike path. How do you handle those situations.
Try the 'Copenhagen' left. It will take a bit longer to make the turn, but is well worth the extra safety.
Excellent and informative video. Thank you CyclistLorax.
+BikeBlogger didn't expect to see you here XD
There is a lot of info packed in here! Of course, I get my info from Officer Buttwhype (this video shows him in action):
ua-cam.com/video/iiEXo2gvMe8/v-deo.html
@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.
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 :-)
If you approach a traffic light thats been green for awhile and there is traffic behind you. And you are in the middle lane because the right lane is a right-turn only. I always try to barely ride between the right and middle lane. So cars can pass. But a tiny bit of wind might make my bike turn and it can be a scary situation.
No sir, you are oversimplifying the problem. Visibility primarily includes the center field of view (FOV), and secondarily includes optical reception (OR). A cyclist in day-glow lime, who is outside the narrow FOV of a driver is far less visible and recognizable and than a cyclist in less OR prominent, but in the center FOV. You can look at diagrams and video showing these issues on the CyclistView website in the Traffic Skills Intro (Slides 13-28). See our Channel for the link.
It is a perfect example of how to ride on the road with traffic. It is welly adopted in all advanced cities in the world.
A strict semantic interpretation would simply assert that 22108 doesn't apply to bicycles, which per CVC 231 are NOT vehicles, they are devices. However, the more perceptive answer is to recognize that the intent of traffic laws is to promote safe movements, and that when travelling at very low speeds, such as when waiting in an intersection to turn left, it is better to control the bike, and signal when necessary to ensure other drivers are aware of your maneuver. Safety takes precedence...
FYI, the District of Columbia has no discriminatory laws against cyclists. Even in Virginia the FTR law has similar exceptions to the CA FTR law (turns, narrow lanes, hazards, etc.), so I respectfully submit that the Police in VA to which you refer are unnecessarily discriminating against cyclists. Is there a particualr city PD that is doing as you say? I can refer you to VA state advocates who can help you deal with a police discrimination problem.
Question: If you are going down a street and your driveway is on the left side of the street, and there is dense traffic on both sides of the street, should you pull over and allow the traffic to pass or wait until there is a safe opening and cut through the yellow line?
Has there been any progress made on the issue of traffic lights that do not change for bicycles? You know, the ones that sense the presents of a vehicle before activating the traffic signal. I have been away for some time. Use to be that my bike would NOT cause the signals to change and this made it very difficult to use the traffic signals properly and also created a definite hazard for me caused by motorists who had the benefit of changing signals while I did not.
Great Job! I agree that viewing this video (or one like it) should be manditory for obtaining or renewing a driver's license. It would be easy for the DMV link to such a video and have a person verify that they watched it by answering qestions on content. I would encourage you to make additional videos showing the dangers of being "doored" and how a driver should check and double check before opening a door into traffic. How cyclists can look ahead into the side view mirror, etc.
@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.
I've found the safest way to ride is to leave 5 minutes earlier than necessary for my 30 minute urban commute and to ride slower.
When the light turns green, I ride very slowly and let all the cars
quickly pass by me. Then I am almost alone until the next light.
A very smart and proper use of a bike. Like drivers, people shouldn't expect to speed to their destination. Know the capabilities and limitations of your ride and plan accordingly.
These techniques work anywhere in the US. I have done so in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Florida and New York. No problems whatsoever.
If I'm at a three way stop sign... say "T" for example, and I'm biking along that top line heading west, would I have to stop or can I ride right through? Trying to figure out the rules of the road because I like biking clockwise around this lake, but there's a lot of three way stop signs and traffic lights along the route. If I go straight through it's not like I risk getting hit by someone heading north since that's not an option, but I also feel hesitant because I don't want to blow through the stop sign or red light if it's not allowed.
My biggest problem is that in thin lanes, cars actually illegally swerve passed the double bar line and go around me when i'm going slow. Many times I've recked into parked cars and fell off because of this from fear. It's also hard when there is much traffic, so I "parallel park" to let the cars go by, but then I'm stuck waiting for ten minutes. I've heard this many times, but is it true that if you just ride the same path that you would if you were driving, everything should be fine?
The strategies illustrated in the video work for multi-lane roads, but what are the strategies for two-lane roads (i.e. one lane each direction)? I live in WV where hills make bikes even slower and twisty roads make passing regions few and far between. I feel comfortable using the techniques in the video in the denser parts of town where the roads are wide or multi-lane, but what about the other roads?
+ebflagg See my reply to BarefootBotanist, who asked the same question above.
@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.
Thanks for the safety video - in the future, please make sure your riders know how to signal a right turn . When your rider was turning right, he used a left turn signal, not a right.
Nope. He used a right turn signal. Right turns may be signaled either by having the upper left arm straight out and the lower left arm straight up or with the right arm straight out. Both are legal and correct but I consider the second one easier for drivers to understand because most don't remember hand signals from driver's education.
I'm always glad to see videos like this! Together we can help educate drivers and bicyclists! :)
My friend from Thailand used to carry a key in his and when he rode his bike. When people got too close (i.e. so close that he only has to turn the key outwards slightly for it to touch the car, and the side mirrors can actually hit your handlebars), he keyed their cars. It was ecognised by the locals, and if your car got keyed, you knew what you did. It also showed others what you nearly did...
@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.
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.
To anyone who thinks this is unsafe riding, just go look up some videos of bike messengers or alley cat races. Those guys make these guys look like the safest cyclists on the road. BTW good interview with Dan on the Outspoken Cyclist radio show the other night.
The rights and duties of cyclists include red light jumping ?
You have the legal requirement to share the road with cyclists. If you don't, you might end up in jail, especially now that thousands of us run video cameras all the time because of misbehaviour from a minority of drivers.
@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 - 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.
This is really wonderful cycling practice, but I just wish every motorist would not lose their patience and become aggressive about it. If only every motorist tolerated it.
Do the police acknowledge this cycling practice? Or would they pull you over if they saw you riding like this?
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 ? .
Bicyclists who follow driver rules are in fact driving. Bicycle driving is what the law allows and is a best practice for bicyclists who seek to minimize crash risk while using public roads. To refer to driving as a "coping mechanism" is little more than anti-bicycle driving propaganda. And what is the alternative on the streets in the video? Also note that we were outside the door zone, and to think otherwise is to imagine doors much wider than they are in reality.
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.
adorei a dica mas a ki fonciona diferente tem ke andara nas ciclovias ou ruas paralelas ou na tua direita cenão é a tropelado mesmo aki no brasil é difisil um forte a braso amigão tamos juntos cenpre
This is a helpful reminder but does not address the issue of rouge vehicle drivers. By rouge vehicle drivers I mean drivers who do not recognize cyclists as designated drivers who share the road.
How do you respond to a vehicle driver who screams at you through their window and curb checks you?
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.
@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.
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?
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...
Sure, if you don't value your time. In most of these "cycle friendly" places, such as the Netherlands, a cyclist's time is worth little as those lanes are SLOW (and dangerous if you cycle at more than a moderate running pace). Considering that cyclists are already moving much slower than motor vehicles, this is inexcusable.
I just wonder what sign had the white car at the scene 3:08 and why the bike get second and not last
Three way stop signs. The bike got there after the oncoming car, but before the truck on the right.
As for pulling over: there's no requirement to, but it's a nice courtesy if there's absolutely no other option for the other drivers. On a 4-lane street, they're SOL if they want to stay behind me -- they can easily pass. But on a 2-lane street with a median and narrow lanes -- it's courteous to pull over occasionally and let them pass. My usual policy is to pull over if they're courteous to me -- and don't do anything out of my way at all if they're honking.
Bicyclists riding on sidewalks are at high crossing crash risk because they are poorly visible, and they are in an unexpected location at driveways and intersections. Drivers are looking in the roadway for vehicle drivers, not on the sidewalk.
hey bro, ccould you provide me a link that explains the rights and duties of a cyclists ?
We did look first. We use eyeglass mounted mirrors to do the rear scanning so the quality of the synchronized video is good. I can assure you that we both always look before sticking our arms out to signal.
I also disagree with the advice to merge into traffic when in a right-turn only lane. Especially in the burbs, there are many major streets with generous shoulders, but many right-turn lanes at minor intersections that cut into the shoulder. It is more comfortable and less disruptive to traffic to simply ride through these lanes (as far left as practicable, to indicate to motorists that you do not intend to turn right).
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?
It isn't in Belgiums, the Netherlands and many other countries. We have physically seperated bicycle lanes.
Which suck because they are slow and dangerous when ridden at more than a moderate running pace.
Thank you for keeping us safe!!
That's just silly. Blue on gray is not camoflage. You sir are ignoring acceptable visibility thresholds. A cyclist doesn't need to wear day-glo lime to be easily seen. They also don't need to maximize optical response to be highly visible.
Very informative video, thanks a lot for making it. This and Ken Kifers web site helped me a lot in understanding my rights and duties.
What places in the US? I know of no places like this in the US.