Friday, February 22, 2013
Cyclist: Take thy lane!
Posted by Katelyn Coyne on Fri, Feb 22, 2013 at 10:10 AM
Taking the lane is an important step for any commuter, but like anything, doing so is a process, easier said than done. I think most commuters would agree that they prefer trails to busy streets where drivers rush to the next red light. Trail riding allows me to take my alert level down a notch and just enjoy the ride. But street riding forces me into a state of hyper-awareness and fear that at any moment a motorist who is not alert will come flying from behind to knock me off my two wheels.
I'm lucky to live close enough to the Indianapolis Cultural Trail that I can take it for most of my ride. And as I begin to scout out a new place to live, proximity to bikeways and roads with bike lanes has taken a higher spot on my list of "musts" than ever before. While I'm lucky to live near one of our city's most beautiful urban bike paths, I'm not lucky enough to live directly on said bike path. To get there, I have to navigate some pretty harried rush-hour roads filled with crazed motorists doing their best to slurp down coffee or apply mascara before they arrive at work.
When I first began biking, I opted to stay on the sidewalk rather than use the road at all. Before I had any real concept of laws as they apply to bikes, I would jump on and off the cement pedestrian paths, making people on foot feel as fearful as I was when I was on the road with cars. Eventually, I womaned-up and made the transition to riding on streets, using the sidewalks sparingly and mostly as a short cut.
When I did first start riding the road, I stayed as far to the right as possible - I'm talking in the gutter. I did this so that rushed cars wouldn't be bothered by my slackened pace. In trying to make myself visible but not "in-the-way," I left myself vulnerable on the road.
My spacing and body language essentially signaled to motorists: "Go ahead, you're more important than me and it's right that you feel the need to speed past me. The closer you get to me the further I will move over to let you zoom by in all too close proximity."
But as I've gained more experience, talked to other cyclists and read more bicycle blogs, I've started to position myself with confidence on our urban streets. By fully taking the lane and waiting my turn behind cars at stoplights, I've started to act more like a vehicle that belongs on the streets and thus I feel I'm being treated (in part, anyway) as a vehicle that belongs on the streets.
Part of this statement is important to note. As tempting as it is, we as cyclists cannot run through a red light ahead of a line of cars. If we want to enjoy all of the rights of the road, we have to follow all of the rules as well.
While the odd rush-hour-warrior will honk at me from behind and fly by at the first chance nearly nicking my front wheel as they pull in front of me, I truly believe that as more cyclists make their presence known on the streets by taking the lane and following the rules, all Indianapolis motorists will adjust to seeing us as equal street vehicles.
Oh, and by the way. If you are looking for help planning your commute, here is a great resource from IndyCog that breaks down urban streets and bikeways by "most bikeable" to "least bikeable."
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Re: Dealing with angry drivers in the spring
@MichaelRousseau. Did you completely miss the point of this blog entry? Cyclists can (and should)…
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