Passing IN Bike Lane - Slowdown Please !!!

[Mountainman]

Well - I am fairly new to riding MBs in bike lanes. Here in Ca - if a MB is going slower than traffic we are to stay in the bicycle lane - my top speed is 22 mph - thus bike lane for me.

In my short time of riding in bike lanes I have noticed MANY OBSTACLES -
just to name a few --

Walkers, runners, wheelchairs, bicycles, blind people, strollers, cars
and as we know - the list goes on and on.


Point that I wish to make -- and also burn into my minds eye

Is for us on MBs to be very careful while passing or coming close to others while we are in bike lanes.

As we know - at times it's a test to avoid hitting ones not paying attention while they are walking, riding, running and everything else that ones do in bike lanes.

I have been thinking about bike lane passing speeds - while coming close to others - here's the question

When in the bike lane and coming close to others in the bike lane --
WHILE PASSING OTHERS ON OUR MBs HOW FAST SHOULD WE BE GOING ?

I am thinking that at a speed of 20 to 30 mph - is just to DARN FAST - if something goes wrong - someone jumps to the side that we are passing on - they don't know that we are passing - or - as we have seen - come up head on - to ones walking together towards us blocking the whole bike lane ect, ect..

POINT BEING
I think that we need to be very careful when close to ANYONE in the bike lane - we wish not to hit anyone - many times they do not hear us coming - have no idea that someone (MB) may be coming at high speed in b-lane.

This may be an important issue --- SPEED WHILE PASSING !!!

Just putting this out there - thinking that when close to others in the b-lane - my speed should be held down to 10 to 15 mph - reason - in case someone does the unexpected - WE DO NOT WISH TO HURT ANYONE - and - if we are seen passing close to ones in the b-lane at high speeds 20 to 35 mph - is this truly safe - NO -- and if we do not act right - or hit someone - I think - the time may come - when we are not allowed in b-lanes at all ---- MAY BE THE END OF - A GOOD THING !!

All comments and stories pertaining appreciated

Happy Riding from - Mountainman ---- Ride That Thing !

 

[CoconutFriction]

Good post, Mine cruises along at 30mph, which after wizzing by a few people is far to fast for passing. I make it a practice of slowing considerably when overtaking someone.

 

[Mountainman]

Good post, Mine cruises along at 30mph, which after wizzing by a few people is far to fast for passing. I make it a practice of slowing considerably when overtaking someone.

Thank you Coconut - for being safe - not wanting to hurt others - hoping that ones will say after an encounter with a MB - HEY THE BIKE WAS COOL AND SO WAS THE RIDER.. Happy Riding from - Mountainman

 

[rjwenzel]

Pass as wide as possible

Depending on the traffic on the road, I like to swing as far to the left as possible and sometimes (if there are no cars) I'll just go out into the road to make sure I'll miss them. You can't go wrong if you can do that. However, sometimes I get a bad feeling about somebody and I'll just slow down. Better safe than sorry (sorry about the cliche ).

 

[dwsutton]

All good tips - What I have noticed round here is runners pretty much stay out of the way as well as walkers . We have a few bike lanes in the newer streets but many roads have a small riding area and you are stuck in the street. I have also noticed somewhat of an indifference in the "bikers" ..... you know who Im talking about, the folks with the spandex - round here they will ride in the middle of he road, at rush hour, to me it seems as if they enjoy creating a traffic jam. I pulled up to one of these purists the other day at a stop sign and he looked at my bike with a look of disapproval and said " you dont get any exercise with "that" . I said nope not much then smiled and said " but Id be happy to race you " After we took off from the stop sign I let him get a bit of a head start then a few hundred feet later blew his doors off. Later sweat boy ......

 

[Mountainman]

I have also noticed somewhat of an indifference in the "bikers" ..... you know who Im talking about, the folks with the spandex - round here they will ride in the middle of he road, at rush hour, to me it seems as if they enjoy creating a traffic jam. I pulled up to one of these purists the other day at a stop sign and he looked at my bike with a look of disapproval

Excellent Point dwsutton -- it seems at times - that these bicycle riders - would perfer us - to be off the road.. OK - this may be a test for us - keeping very cool in our actions while around them -- VERY IMPORTANT - why - because many of them have big time connections with ones in high places - we do not want them against us !!!! Think what you all will - but - I know this to be a fact - I am a retired Government Employee - many who I know - ride bicycles - these ones if teed off - will go to any measure - TO GET US OFF THE ROAD !! Just some food for thought here.. Happy Riding from - Mountainman

 

[dwsutton]

- why - because many of them have big time connections with ones in high places - we do not want them against us !!!! Think what you all will - but - I know this to be a fact -

That is funny - but I agree 100% Mountain that many wearing spandex have a position of power and are not the folks to p%$# off

They are usually greenies too. I have a guy working for me in my locksmith business that is a greenie and rides a bike - sadly it is almost a religion to him but he is always spouting off about how I need to be more green - ride a bike, save gas, hug a tree, yack..... but when I showed my new bike he was almost disgusted asking why would you want to do that - I told him about the difference between going to the store in my Ford Ambulance that gets around 12 to 14 mpg to my bike that still does have pedals on it and on three gallons I can go hundreds of miles ......... nope only a 1200.00 bike with spandex, super helmet, 200.00 shoes - can't please him no matter what I do - ah well
I did tell him NO Obama stikers will ever be placed on my service trucks....... LOL.

David

 

[Mountainman]

That's a good goal for MB ers to have
getting along with all other riders -

my wife is a bicycle rider from way back
until I got my motor - she ran circles around me
now I ride behind her and act like a coach
people look and think - wow - that lady has her own riding coach
and she's so fast -- he needs a motor to keep up !!!

it's pretty cool ---
but to remember -- most ones on bicycles think --
motors are cheating !!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Riding from - Mountainman

 

[Mountainman]

Depending on the traffic on the road, I like to swing as far to the left as possible and sometimes (if there are no cars) I'll just go out into the road to make sure I'll miss them. You can't go wrong if you can do that. However, sometimes I get a bad feeling about somebody and I'll just slow down. Better safe than sorry (sorry about the cliche ).

Hi rjwenzel -- your comments above = a thoughtful - safe MB rider..

Happy Riding from - Mountainman

 

[ZnsaneRyder]

When I pass another biker or a person walking, either sidewalk or bike lane, I slow way down and PEDAL slowly by them with the engine idling, so they know I'm aware of them and pose no threat.

If there's enough room and no traffic, I'll pass a biker at low speed 20-25 mph or so using the road to go around them.

Sometimes people stop me and ask questions too, and I have great conversations with people in my travels.

MBikes rule!