Here is a little snippet of my commute, which I have only fairly recently started to ride 2-3 times a week. The issue is Dayton Blvd, a 40 mph 4-lane stroad with a two-way left turning lane in the middle. Speed limit is 40 mph, average car speed is about 50 mph. The segment of it that I have to ride is about a quarter mile. So far I have been riding in the right lane for about half of this length before merging left twice to get in the turn lane. Usually not a problem, but sometimes I get caught in a bad part of the cycle and there is a steady stream of cars passing as I am trying to merge. So far have always made it without issue, but I don't like it. My question, I guess, is would it be appropriate to turn directly into the left lane when making the right turn onto Dayton, riding in that lane the entire stretch to remove the need for merging except into the turn lane when it is time? Or is that too far to ride in the left ahead of a turn and a dick move? It IS possible for me to avoid this leg altogether, but going that route adds a little over a mile and 160 feet of climbing. What do y'all experienced people think?
Edit: Just want to express my gratitude at how many helpful solutions I've gotten from you folks. I did not expect people to be looking up the area on maps and coming up with their own route suggestions, even drawing them out, but a lot of y'all have really gone out of your way to be helpful. What a wonderful community. Thank you.
by willm1123
14 Comments
Taking the full lane would be the safest option. Just gotta deal with the harassment from drivers.
Take the back streets. There’s a side road right there
I can’t tell just by looking at the map, but I’m guessing cutting through the greenbelt off Charlotte Ave isn’t an option? If you have to go down Dayton I’d stick to the right lane as long as possible until you get to within a couple hundred feet of your turn.
I see two safe options:
– Take a big detour through the neighborhood via Sims Dr / California Ave. Come out on Dayton Blvd by the Taco Bell and utilize the pedestrian crossing signal to reach Memorial Drive.
– Use the sidewalk for this stretch if it isn’t too rough. I wouldn’t trust early morning commuters to notice a bike trying to merge. You only have the one small neighborhood street and the Taco Bell entrance to cross before hitting the crosswalk.
Personally, because there are a fair amount of traffic lights prior to that stretch (in either direction), I would probably stick in the right lane, then move left, trying your best to time with the “platoons” of traffic created by the lights (although this isn’t perfect given all the businesses and non-signalized side roads, which can disrupt platoons by causing more steady traffic).
CyclingSavvy has a pretty good page about using signal timing (assuming the signals are in any way predictably timed) to your advantage and safety, including in a left-turn situation: https://cyclingsavvy.org/2024/05/all-to-myself-thanks-to-traffic-signal-timing/
I used to have a rather identical-length stretch (~1,500 feet) on a similar road during one of my internships, albeit with a right turn instead of a left. My road was 35 mph, but most people did 40+. I found that if I turned right onto the road immediately after the last car passed, I could get almost to my turn before their light cycled green again and they caught up to me. If I had to make a left turn it might have been a bit more difficult, as they were just reaching me at that point, but I might have been able to move over either before or after that next platoon.
Finally, if you don’t have a mirror, I’d recommend getting one, as it makes traffic management and moving over much easier.
As much as I despise the “pedestrian ” style of crossing, if there’s a traffic light where you have to cross, that’s what I would do. Ride through on Dayton, stop and wait for a light to make the left.
I would second u/advamputee. Take the sidewalk if it’s just this much.
Otherwise Sims to Peace seems safest.
Hello fellow Redbankian! I ride this area often (recreationally, my commute begins a little more south of here).
I would really advise against the center turn lane for a quarter mile. People enter them at speed and don’t always signal or check clearly. Having someone annoyed at you in a lane of traffic is safer than being hit accidentally in the CTL.
My only advice would be to consider taking the back roads from Simms to Peace and using the Taco Bell light to cross to the other side.
P.S. I don’t think there is anything wrong with using the sidewalks if you can do it more safely, regardless of whether you are riding a MTB or a roadie.
Good luck!
If you absolutely must ride on Dayton boulevard, I would suggest doing a Copenhagen left when you need to turn left.
Otherwise, I would probably take this route instead. It is more circuitous, but takes less busy Lyndon Ave instead. For the little part where it goes along Dayton Avenue, I would probably just ride on the sidewalk: https://imgur.com/a/LStvv2w
Take the one mile and 160ft.
NEVER PUT YOUR SAFETY IN THE HANDS OF DRIVERS. A split-second of a driver’s attention being on their phone can change your life.
On the other hand, putting in an extra mile and a bit of climbing everyday is money in your leg banks!
A) take the sidewalk
B) Man up, take the lane and just ride in the road like a car
C) Cross the road, dismount, sneak through the line of trees and/or toss your bike over the guardrails and fences as needed, cross the tracks and take Lyndon.
D) Ride several miles out of your way
I’d take Lyndon by the tracks and cut through the woods by the Trophy store
Looking at street view, I’d use the sidewalk. That road looks dangerous. It’s under 0.5mi.
Anything we suggest is just a bad bandaid. The real solution involves writing your city council for a street redesign bc it is too dangerous to exist outside of a car.