Taking the lane (vehicular cycling) often works well in slow-moving traffic, but it breaks down in when there is a large speed differential between the cyclist and car traffic. Effectively, you are in the way and drivers won't expect you to be there.
For these faster roads it is necessary to have dedicated cycling infrastructure, including Dutch-style safe intersections. Otherwise only risk-tolerant or desperate people will cycle.
It isn’t like I am invisible. Drivers routinely merge for a bus or ubereats vehicle or other obstruction. It is certainly safer than the alternative of not taking the lane and having these cars with the speed differential try and pass you in the same lane as you. This is what always happens unless you take up space and force the lane change to merge.
And yet, after the crash, the driver will claim that "I didn't see them, "They came out of nowhere", or "They swerved in front of me". The best part is that the cop will just believe them.
Of course separated is better but you don’t always have that available. And when it isn’t, taking the lane is safer than what most people do in mixed traffic which is to ride on the far right side in the door zone and to have cars attempt to pass them in the same lane.
Comments
Taking the lane (vehicular cycling) often works well in slow-moving traffic, but it breaks down in when there is a large speed differential between the cyclist and car traffic. Effectively, you are in the way and drivers won't expect you to be there.
For these faster roads it is necessary to have dedicated cycling infrastructure, including Dutch-style safe intersections. Otherwise only risk-tolerant or desperate people will cycle.
It isn’t like I am invisible. Drivers routinely merge for a bus or ubereats vehicle or other obstruction. It is certainly safer than the alternative of not taking the lane and having these cars with the speed differential try and pass you in the same lane as you. This is what always happens unless you take up space and force the lane change to merge.
> It isn’t like I am invisible
And yet, after the crash, the driver will claim that "I didn't see them, "They came out of nowhere", or "They swerved in front of me". The best part is that the cop will just believe them.
Separated bike infrastructure saves lives.
Of course separated is better but you don’t always have that available. And when it isn’t, taking the lane is safer than what most people do in mixed traffic which is to ride on the far right side in the door zone and to have cars attempt to pass them in the same lane.