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Lots of red herrings above (really, is the honk a issue?) - and some good responses.

Here's my say:

When there's any question that the lane isn't wide enough - take the lane. That's when a lane is a least 14ft wide for side by side sharing of a car and a bike. Measure out 14ft somewhere, and you'll get an idea how rare (or maybe not so rare) that is. Narrower that that is where it's necessary to take the lane.

What seems me to have happened is the bus driver saw room to pass and completely misjudged Karen's rate of speed and returned back to the lane much too soon. And then they were oblivious in their giant vehicle to small people on cycles yelling from behind. Not good bus driving.

Karen, and everyone else, could greatly reduced the possibility of this happening again by riding further to the left. I ride 1/3 of the lane over from the left normally. Yes, it seems less safe until you try it. You'll see cars notice you and pass you when then room to do so. It's much, much safer. The lesson here is to get the cars and buses to notice you.

All this blather above that you're holding up traffic is nonsense: everyone will be stopped at the next red light in urban area, cyclists are traffic just like cars, and when it's safe to pass, a car can go on and pass. The roads are about safe passage, not for holding a continuous race.

Eric W

by Eric W on Jun 7, 2012 3:20 pm • link • report