Take the lane. Too big a risk of being doored especially in a school zone where parents and kids are getting in and out. Also since it’s a school zone you won’t be slowing traffic down too much.
What do I mean by take the lane? Ride in the Right hand lane at about the position of where a driver’s seat would be for a car driving in the lane. Force the cars to go around you or follow you. They won’t/ cant pass on your right.
muffinscrub on
The lane, so cars have to go around you.
Danno510 on
Take up the full lane, same as other vehicles.
SirChance5625 on
where the painted bike is, plus allowance for the door zone… so pretty much mid lane
okobojicat on
What does the next street over look like? This looks like a car centric suburban neighborhood. It likely means that the next block over is much safer to ride on as it will have a lot fewer vehicles on it.
You may have to travel slower and slow down at each intersection. I would also imagine crossing the arterial that is two blocks up from this intersection may be frustrating
If I’m commuting on my road bike, and traffic is going 20-25mph, then I take a whole lane. If traffic is going 35-40, then yeah, I’m looking for a different route.
Accomplished-Way1575 on
Road. I don’t do sidewalks. Also, as someone else said: next block over if you don’t feel comfortable
Daneyn on
take the whole lane, if there’s no marked bike lane, block traffic. Right in the middle so that you are visible to all. Will people honk horns are you? Probably. But that’s OK, bikes are allowed to take a lane if there is no marked bike lane.
ancientstephanie on
Assuming there’s no better alternate route available nearby, I’d be just left of center in the rightmost thru lane where drivers won’t have the option to ignore me.
It’s 4 lanes there, so the cars can just change lanes and pass you. The earlier they see you, the earlier they can commit to doing exactly that, and the less close calls you get.
The sidewalk has poor visibility and is a recipe for drive outs and right hooks there – it only looks safer to the naive and inexperienced, but it’s actually trying to kill you every 10-20 feet, while the street’s only trying to kill you once per block if you’re positioned correctly.
shadracko on
Yep. This one’s easy: middle of the right-most non-parking lane.
My general school of thought: if the lane, or lane+shoulder, is wide enough to allow a car to safely pass me without leaving their lane (without crossing a lane line at least partly), then I ride as far right as I can. Otherwise, take the middle of the lane.
The_Mammoth_Hunter on
Right hand side of the right lane as marked for bikes, while swinging a brick in a sock. Or a ‘Cyclist Is Armed’ jersey.
JRZ1967 on
Take. The. Lane.
DIYuntilDawn on
3 options:
1. Ride in the road. – This depends on how rude/unsafe the drivers in the area are.
2. Sidewalk. – This depends on bike laws in your location but assuming it is legal for you, I would still not ride any faster than an average jogger, and also STOP at all intersections.
3. Next street over. – This depends on your destination and time frame. If you need to be 1 block down this road in the next 4 minutes, then pick one of the other two options. if you have 5 miles to go and and an hour to get there, then just take the long way around.
BottleSuccessfully on
Why not have the bike lane on the other side of the parked cars? It’s literally a matter of paint.
boringbasic on
Take the full lane directly behind the white Honda.
guhman123 on
assuming i cant just take a side street instead, i would take the whole lane. if the sharrow tells me to do something dangerous, i have every right to ignore it
LardAmungus on
The lane is marked for bicycles, so, that’s where I ride
Poutingpokemon on
I would take a lane. That is the safest option.
Popular-Impact-7665 on
In the right hand lane of traffic, out of the door zone. The cars need to share that lane with you
wiggywiggywiggy on
I’d ride next to the cars
In my opinion if you can’t maintain a similar speed to traffic you should get out of the way
If the cars can have enough lane to go around you I don’t worry about it as much. But I def don’t ride next to cars going significantly faster than me
If you are riding in high pace traffic, you have to up your speed, or get an e bike or take a different road or ride the sidewalk
icedogs37247 on
Would love for you to run this in my tool https://brakeaway.bike/
See why it says that patch is, goal of the app is to help people avoid this BS
pimpcauldron on
a different road
Gullible-Factor-8927 on
On a dedicated paved bike trail
Jay2323reddit on
Right down the middle of the right lane.
CerebralAccountant on
Center of the lane, another street, or sidewalk. Riding to the right side of the lane like the sharrow suggests is a horrible idea – look at the red sedan and its partner up ahead and you’ll see why.
tsardonicpseudonomi on
Sidewalk.
cosy_number76 on
Footpath.
Patricio_Guapo on
I would find an alternate route.
Freddeh18 on
Take the full lane. Don’t let them think they can get by. If they think they can they will try and then almost hit you. Ask me how I know. Some will honk. Some will be dicks but many will be very respectful.
stiffjalopy on
It’s flat, I’m taking the lane and I bet going the same speed that traffic should be in that situation.
No_Variety1895 on
I agree with the others. I’d take the full lane. Ride right down the middle so they won’t try to skim by you.
BicycleIndividual on
Take the lane. But the sharrow is in the wrong lane position. I’d position myself left of center in the right lane so cars would know they need to fully move to the left lane to pass me. Cars behind you honking are just letting you know that they see you (which means you are safer).
rjlawrencejr on
Where I have ridden since I was 12. Right third of lane #2.
33 Comments
Next block over.
Take the lane. Too big a risk of being doored especially in a school zone where parents and kids are getting in and out. Also since it’s a school zone you won’t be slowing traffic down too much.
What do I mean by take the lane? Ride in the Right hand lane at about the position of where a driver’s seat would be for a car driving in the lane. Force the cars to go around you or follow you. They won’t/ cant pass on your right.
The lane, so cars have to go around you.
Take up the full lane, same as other vehicles.
where the painted bike is, plus allowance for the door zone… so pretty much mid lane
What does the next street over look like? This looks like a car centric suburban neighborhood. It likely means that the next block over is much safer to ride on as it will have a lot fewer vehicles on it.
You may have to travel slower and slow down at each intersection. I would also imagine crossing the arterial that is two blocks up from this intersection may be frustrating
If I’m commuting on my road bike, and traffic is going 20-25mph, then I take a whole lane. If traffic is going 35-40, then yeah, I’m looking for a different route.
Road. I don’t do sidewalks. Also, as someone else said: next block over if you don’t feel comfortable
take the whole lane, if there’s no marked bike lane, block traffic. Right in the middle so that you are visible to all. Will people honk horns are you? Probably. But that’s OK, bikes are allowed to take a lane if there is no marked bike lane.
Assuming there’s no better alternate route available nearby, I’d be just left of center in the rightmost thru lane where drivers won’t have the option to ignore me.
It’s 4 lanes there, so the cars can just change lanes and pass you. The earlier they see you, the earlier they can commit to doing exactly that, and the less close calls you get.
The sidewalk has poor visibility and is a recipe for drive outs and right hooks there – it only looks safer to the naive and inexperienced, but it’s actually trying to kill you every 10-20 feet, while the street’s only trying to kill you once per block if you’re positioned correctly.
Yep. This one’s easy: middle of the right-most non-parking lane.
My general school of thought: if the lane, or lane+shoulder, is wide enough to allow a car to safely pass me without leaving their lane (without crossing a lane line at least partly), then I ride as far right as I can. Otherwise, take the middle of the lane.
Right hand side of the right lane as marked for bikes, while swinging a brick in a sock. Or a ‘Cyclist Is Armed’ jersey.
Take. The. Lane.
3 options:
1. Ride in the road. – This depends on how rude/unsafe the drivers in the area are.
2. Sidewalk. – This depends on bike laws in your location but assuming it is legal for you, I would still not ride any faster than an average jogger, and also STOP at all intersections.
3. Next street over. – This depends on your destination and time frame. If you need to be 1 block down this road in the next 4 minutes, then pick one of the other two options. if you have 5 miles to go and and an hour to get there, then just take the long way around.
Why not have the bike lane on the other side of the parked cars? It’s literally a matter of paint.
Take the full lane directly behind the white Honda.
assuming i cant just take a side street instead, i would take the whole lane. if the sharrow tells me to do something dangerous, i have every right to ignore it
The lane is marked for bicycles, so, that’s where I ride
I would take a lane. That is the safest option.
In the right hand lane of traffic, out of the door zone. The cars need to share that lane with you
I’d ride next to the cars
In my opinion if you can’t maintain a similar speed to traffic you should get out of the way
If the cars can have enough lane to go around you I don’t worry about it as much. But I def don’t ride next to cars going significantly faster than me
If you are riding in high pace traffic, you have to up your speed, or get an e bike or take a different road or ride the sidewalk
Would love for you to run this in my tool https://brakeaway.bike/
See why it says that patch is, goal of the app is to help people avoid this BS
a different road
On a dedicated paved bike trail
Right down the middle of the right lane.
Center of the lane, another street, or sidewalk. Riding to the right side of the lane like the sharrow suggests is a horrible idea – look at the red sedan and its partner up ahead and you’ll see why.
Sidewalk.
Footpath.
I would find an alternate route.
Take the full lane. Don’t let them think they can get by. If they think they can they will try and then almost hit you. Ask me how I know. Some will honk. Some will be dicks but many will be very respectful.
It’s flat, I’m taking the lane and I bet going the same speed that traffic should be in that situation.
I agree with the others. I’d take the full lane. Ride right down the middle so they won’t try to skim by you.
Take the lane. But the sharrow is in the wrong lane position. I’d position myself left of center in the right lane so cars would know they need to fully move to the left lane to pass me. Cars behind you honking are just letting you know that they see you (which means you are safer).
Where I have ridden since I was 12. Right third of lane #2.
What street is this?