drunkcyclist

Good points, but I would never suggest running a red light because some cars do it. 99 percent of motorist break the speed limit law, but that's not why I speed. I pedal through red lights only when there is no reason to wait for the light to change. i.e. no one's going to get hurt or hassled. Cheers,

I'm not really feeling the heat, just trying to let other riders know what to expect, and trying to let drivers and traffic cop wannabes know how it works.

I don't believe there's a conflict between what I said and what the article says. And 2000 commuting miles this year should count for something.

Since it hasn't been mentioned directly this one is overly simplistic. The width of the lane; number of lanes; visibility of oncoming traffic (hills, curves, buildings etc.); the type of roadway you're on; and you being courteous enough to let traffic through when the condition improves are all additional reasons enough to be variables on when you should and shouldn't double up, or for that matter ride the center of the lane. In Cincinnati, at least, it's not only perfectly legal to ride two abreast, at times it is actually prudent. Taking up a larger part of the roadway makes you more visible to drivers, and a larger group will encourage safer passing by motorists. It's also clear here that he doesn't know what a paceline is. A paceline is, by definition, single file (though you can do two-abreast pacelines, but if you're doing that in high-traffic areas you're looking for trouble). I know what a paceline is. And neither one of us is wrong. During the time when the lead is coasting back to the tail, that's two abreast. I also agree with the concept of "taking the lane" to prevent drivers from squeezing themselves into the same lane to pass. Taking the lane by riding two abreast is one way to do it, but I would not recommend it.

Yet you probably would walk against a don't walk signal if no one were coming. I know cyclists aren't pedestrians, but they aren't motorists either. Take my example above with the double passing. Wouldn't you rather the cyclist get ahead than have to pass them multiple times? @natininja Some cyclist are fast enough to get through and stay ahead. But some, like me, aren't fast enough, or there isn't enough gridlock to slow the cars down, so I'm trading passes with traffic. Either way it's a judgement call for the cyclist. And I really like your point that cyclist aren't pedestrians, but they aren't motorist either. Don't know how long you've been in Cincy, but this town is known for it's rigid thinking.

Ok David Copperfield, Cars don't materialize out of thin air. Maybe I wasn't clear enough. I'm not talking about alleycat bike messenger races when it's a gamble. I'm talking about clear visibility, zero movement from the cross street. I can either see who's there or I can't see far enough down the road. If I can't see, then I can't say there's zero traffic. If there's zero traffic, then I and anyone else who wants to can roll. If nothing gets hurt but someone's feelings about harmless random anomalies, it's going to be optional.

Are you saying that blowing red lights is an advantage of cycling? That's actually a crime. Even if there's a bike lane, red lights still count the same for everyone. I'm not sure there's any other situation in which a car would have to pass the same bike multiple times. Running red lights is a dangerous and illegal act. If they're passing you twice, you're not making that much headway. And running a redlight is not a crime like theft or assault, it's a moving violation. Like I said, running a red light is not dangerous when the cross traffic doesn't exist. The only caveat is that just because you can't see it, doesn't mean they aren't coming. When I can see a quarter mile down the road and it's empty. I'm rolling.

Forcing the double pass is rude, but rolling the light when your first in the lane doesn't hurt anyone. Laws like traffic laws are created for the safe efficient functioning of society. When a cyclist is first in the lane and rolls a red lights, the only thing that gets hurt are someone's feelings.

1. Live and let live. 2. Single file. Riding Two up or more on a busy road, unless you're in a pace line, makes the cyclists the ass_holes. 3. Be predictable, if you randomly swerve, expect to be run over. 4. Be seen. If you ride without lights, reflectors, etc, don't be surprised when you get run over. Yeah it sucks, but drivers aren't looking out for you. 5. Pedestrians own the side walk, walk it if you're in their way, and say excuse me. 6. Don't make someone pass you twice. When a car passes a bike once and then the cyclist lane cuts to get to the front of the line at the next red light, they have to pass the cyclist again, and the drivers aren't the ass_holes for being frustrated. 7. Rolling intersections: If you're first in the lane and zero cross traffic, it's empty, who gives a sh1t. Just don't make someone double pass you just so you can run the light. The drivers that cry about rolling an empty intersection are the same ones who cried to the teacher when they were kids about fairness. It's not fair and they hate it, only now they're piloting a ton of steel on wheels, so be mindful that they may act on this imagined slight. 8. People honk because they're angry at their sh!tty lives and feel compelled take it out on someone happy, get used to it. It's not personal, but if you fly the bird be ready to back it up, because some of them really need to have a daily conflict. 9. Most people don't have a second thought about you or your bicycle. They don't care about you or me, and they don't owe you anything.