please help me know the best way to take lanes in these situations:
1) going uphill on one-lane roads without shoulder
-example: Braddock avenue from 376 ramp up to Square Cafe. Cars parked on your right.
2) flat road, one lane, no shoulder
-example Braddock after the hill going towards Forbes.
3) one lane downhill (I'm guessing always take the lane in this case)
4) two lanes, heavy trafficked
-example: penn ave between Braddock and 5th. Or, 5th ave between penn and Craig.
5) bridge, two lane
example- 40th St bridge heading towards millvale
6) bridge, one lane
example- 40th st, other way
any other situations please comment. I'm trying to have more lane-taking confidence. I tend to care less and less about inconveniencing cars and more and more about my safety. It has taken me a while because I really tend to think of others first and I don't like to inconvenience anyone. Yes, even drivers.
so, I generally feel it's so much safer to take a lane if traffic has an extra lane to my left, I usually just take it. One lane situations are different I tend to ride to the right of the lane near parked cars, but lately I've been taking lanes more
going uphill, is tough you know you're much slower than traffic. I usually stay right
downhill, I absolutely take the lane. almost no exceptions.
italianblend
2016-09-11 21:07:12
The basic rule I use is, if there is enough space for someone to pass me safely (i.e., with a 4 foot gap), I ride to the right. Otherwise I take the lane. And I always take the lane on a road with two or more lanes going in my direction.
There is a little flexibility, depending on whether there are cars parked, and whether there is oncoming traffic. If there's oncoming traffic I'm more strict because I expect cars will try to squeeze past me. I also take the lane approaching a stop sign or light.
This doesn't depend on going uphill, downhill.
jonawebb
2016-09-12 09:01:38
@jonawebb +1
Another case to take the lane: when going through a shoulder-less curve while going uphill. I usually do this, particularly on blind curves, as it not only makes you more visible (especially on a right-handed blind curve) but it also discourages unsafe passing. I don't care about slowing down any motorists behind me in these cases, though I will occasionally wave them through once I can see that there are no cars coming the other way.
chrishent
2016-09-12 10:00:47
I think sometimes we actually make it easier on the driver by taking the lane too - it limits the car driver's options and thus reduces their stress to just slowing down for a bit rather than nervous contemplation of whether to pass or not.
Another thing to add to Jon's list: if the driver has been behind me for a long time I will make an extra effort to move over (and wave thanks!) once a safe opportunity presents itself.
I find some of the videos from Cycling Savvy to be helpful too, especially the ones shot from the car driver's perspective
http://cyclingsavvy.org/hows-my-driving/
marko82
2016-09-12 20:25:10
I could and should post a lot of stills from all the video I roll. Spots like Butler St inbound between 40th and 39th are super wide, no problem letting cars pass in-lane. But on-street parking starts at 39th, so I swing back into the lane at that point. I have a snippet of video from just yesterday showing this.
I second what @chrishent said above about blind right curves. I have one very near my house, on an uphill. Without question, I get flat up against the yellow line while going around this, even though I'm only going 7 mph. As soon as I can see that the road ahead is clear, I move right and wave cars by. A clear case of "control and release". I'm controlling the lane; I release it to you when I determine the danger to both of us has passed, even if you can't see around me yet.
It would really help if we could cut back on on-street parking, particularly on uphills. Perry Hwy climbing north out of West View, there isn't anywhere to move over to, so I hold the lane the whole way up. It's about 250 yards, so it's going to take a while. Sometimes there is a space about three cars long in the line of parked cars, but I will not pull in there. Only when there is a very long space, and/or there are only a couple cars behind me, will I cede the lane to following traffic. Some would label that arrogant. I reply, what's more arrogant, me looking out for my own safety, or you asserting that your rights overrule mine because you have a greater horsepower to weight ratio?
stuinmccandless
2016-09-13 14:03:50
