Categories: EtiquetteLa Vie VelominatusTechniqueThe Rides

Urban Riding: The Sanctity of the Bike Lane

Stay on your toes: you’re in the bike lane now.

There was a time when the world was painted in hues of black and white. Right and Wrong were separated by lines painted in such a thick, heavy paint that even to wander close was to already alter your very nature. The Elders taught us on which side we were to dwell and what evils would descend upon us if we were to transcend into the void. Little was known of what dwelt on the other side; the mind imagines the most horrific beasts in the unknown.

As Cyclists, we dwell in the space between black and white; everything we know is confined within the shades of gray that exist between two absolutes. Nowhere is this more true than when we subject ourselves to the roads to ply our craft at the mercy of motor vehicles, pedestrians, and the department of transportation’s ability to place potholes and manhole covers in the most inopportune locations. A moment’s inattention and our fortunes could shift dramatically.

The bike lane is shrouded in an air of false security. The white line painted a few meters from the edge of the road offers little by way of providing a barrier or any other kind of physical protection. Nevertheless, we wrap ourselves in a blanket of wishful thinking and pedal merrily along our way. The biggest problem with the bike lane is the total disregard that people, traffic, and road crews have for how few options we have outside of our narrow strip of tarmac in the event that the way is blocked, often unaware of the dangers their behaviors impose upon us. These are normally not intended as threats; it is simply a lack of exposure and appreciation of the risks we as Cyclists endure. In the spirit of Rule #3, I will outline some of the greatest risks.

The bike lane is not a turning lane. In many cases – at least in Seattle – the bike lane will be sandwiched between traffic on the left and a parking lane on the right. Traffic will use our humble strip as a turning lane, or use it as a runway for their futile efforts to parallel park.
The bike lane is not a parking lane. If there is no dedicated parking lane, the bike path serves double duty for this purpose in the eyes of the driver. I have had the unpleasant experience of entering a suddenly stopped car through its rear windshield; it is an experience I prefer to limit to a single occasion.
The bicycle lane that was crossed in order to park your car may occasionally contain a person riding a bicycle. Please look behind you prior to opening your door.
Bike lanes are not construction tool collection areas. Cones, shovels, gravel, loitering workers have all sent me diverted into traffic. What’s so attractive about using the bike lane for this purpose? Surely the grassy bit between the sidewalk and the street is equally suitable.
Please repair the tarmac with the same care given to the car lanes. I understand that water mains, power lines, and sewers might need to be accessed by way removing the tarmac in the bike lane. But that lumpy patchwork with the long seam along the edge that runs parallel to the direction of travel is lethal.

Too many Cyclists are being killed doing what they love. We all understand what we risk and accept those rather than not ride our bikes, but I think I speak for all of us when I say I’d rather live to ride again tomorrow. We all have to come together with our fellow motorists to understand how best to work together. But most of all: be careful and diligent, my fellow Cyclists.

Vive la Vie Velominatus.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

minion says:

Jun 18 2014 at 4:08 am

@frank

@Fausto Crapiz

Hate being obvious, but will the rider in the photo get both hands on the bars and put the frigging phone away?

Hey, someone's gotta risk life and limb for the sake of making a point. And don't worry, I was economizing my activities by also taking a few selfies while I was at it.

Don't feel bad that despite spending years on a bike you've still got the physique of a 12 year old girl. You'll get there one day.
Triathlete says:

Jun 18 2014 at 5:06 am

@minion

@frank

@Fausto Crapiz

Hate being obvious, but will the rider in the photo get both hands on the bars and put the frigging phone away?

Hey, someone's gotta risk life and limb for the sake of making a point. And don't worry, I was economizing my activities by also taking a few selfies while I was at it.

Don't feel bad that despite spending years on a bike you've still got the physique of a 12 year old girl. You'll get there one day

Do you have a stylist to get everything colour coded just so , I can never seem to achieve this.
Lazarus Thrift says:

Jun 18 2014 at 5:21 am

Here in England, councils seem to have an obsession with putting bike lanes on the pavement (sidewalk) to share with pedestrians, and then when (and only when) the road is wide enough for a bike lane to be superfluous, they move it onto the road. The only time I have found this helpful is when I've been stuck in rush-hour traffic, but dodging pedestrians is never fun.

Chris Boardman did a video for British Cycling about it a while back:
VirenqueForever says:

Jun 18 2014 at 7:36 am

Bike lanes best avoided whenever possible.

I like this much better...
VirenqueForever says:

Jun 18 2014 at 7:41 am

Clearly not rule compliant but interesting idea for city riding:

http://vimeo.com/92380820
wiscot says:

Jun 18 2014 at 8:10 am

@Lazarus Thrift

Here in England, councils seem to have an obsession with putting bike lanes on the pavement (sidewalk) to share with pedestrians, and then when (and only when) the road is wide enough for a bike lane to be superfluous, they move it onto the road. The only time I have found this helpful is when I've been stuck in rush-hour traffic, but dodging pedestrians is never fun.

Chris Boardman did a video for British Cycling about it a while back:

I think the message it sends is that the local council is paying lip service to catering to cyclists. Admittedly, the cycle lane is being retrofitted to an existing road, but clearly it is not designed to encourage cycling. Can you imagine being an inexperienced rider contemplating riding on this road? I can't. "But" says the local cooncil, "we've provided a cycle lane - to encourage and promote cycling!" Make the councillors ride it and then see what they say.
VbyV says:

Jun 18 2014 at 8:45 am

@ChrisO

@VbyV

@Ron @Ron I have a similar issue with a church near me. When I go South on Sunday morning, I am regularly accosted by a stream of cars speeding down one of my local roads because they're late for church. They blast by 3 inches from my left drop at double the 35mph speed limit , then right-hook into the parking lot of the church right in front of me. Somehow killing a cyclist is less a sin than parking your ass in a pew 30 sec late.

Just remind them "Blessed are the wheelmakers; for they will be called children of Merckx".

A-Mercx.

Thought you guys might get a kick out of why I call myself VbyV...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_by_five

Tom
Jamie says:

Jun 18 2014 at 8:59 am

@VbyV

@ChrisO

@VbyV

@Ron @Ron I have a similar issue with a church near me. When I go South on Sunday morning, I am regularly accosted by a stream of cars speeding down one of my local roads because they're late for church. They blast by 3 inches from my left drop at double the 35mph speed limit , then right-hook into the parking lot of the church right in front of me. Somehow killing a cyclist is less a sin than parking your ass in a pew 30 sec late.

Just remind them "Blessed are the wheelmakers; for they will be called children of Merckx".

A-Mercx.

Thought you guys might get a kick out of why I call myself VbyV...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_by_five

Tom

I have the same experience with the mega church near me. However, I don't know which is worse; the hurrying not to be late before services ones, or the after church ones, on the way out of the parking lot with their souls redeemed and heads in the clouds, not to be bothered by things of this earth, (like my fragile pink self on 17 pounds of aluminum and carbon trying to ride past the exits).
Souleur says:

Jun 18 2014 at 9:33 am

@frank

@frank

@Souleur

This article makes me really admire those who live in urban areas, it really takes a different commitment to ride when so populus dense. Chapeau for you all

Conversely, living in a rural town of 12k, there are no bike lanes. I have had to educate/enlighten the mayor and council on what bike lanes even are, and still we have none these years later, as they see it a waste of time...I mean who even rides a bike when you can drive a car...right??? So much for city admin and planning

But, I'll take it, the trade off from population density, to just a few drunks in ford pickemups, once in a blue moon. The roads are shit, but there is no traffic either, so all in all, a fair trade

I think in Utopia/Merckx in the sky, there is the marriage of both no traffic and all bike lanes, er...open roads

So..........Velomitopia is in Southwestern Wisconsin?

central Mis-ow-ree, which is prob same as Wisc cheese country

Not sure I would call it Velomitropia, as having been in Washington and the great NW which is where my lost soul really belongs....just saying if you like lone wolf riding with one run in car incident per year such as the flip of a finger, the toss of a beer can or the less than nice hillbilly road rage...its not a bad place as literally 99% are amazed that someone even rides and they go around you like your a freak of nature and are spreading herpes with each stroke. Then again, if you like pack riding, there are very few here. I have to go to St Louis or thereabouts to get in with others, and thats 2hr drives each time.

I just can't imagine riding like you dudes do in the jam packed city, perhaps I would get use to that tho
Souleur says:

Jun 18 2014 at 9:36 am

@Jamie

@VbyV

@ChrisO

@VbyV

@Ron @Ron I have a similar issue with a church near me. When I go South on Sunday morning, I am regularly accosted by a stream of cars speeding down one of my local roads because they're late for church. They blast by 3 inches from my left drop at double the 35mph speed limit , then right-hook into the parking lot of the church right in front of me. Somehow killing a cyclist is less a sin than parking your ass in a pew 30 sec late.

Just remind them "Blessed are the wheelmakers; for they will be called children of Merckx".

A-Mercx.

Thought you guys might get a kick out of why I call myself VbyV...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_by_five

Tom

I have the same experience with the mega church near me. However, I don't know which is worse; the hurrying not to be late before services ones, or the after church ones, on the way out of the parking lot with their souls redeemed and heads in the clouds, not to be bothered by things of this earth, (like my fragile pink self on 17 pounds of aluminum and carbon trying to ride past the exits).

funny guys, its amazing, buddy of mine has had the same experience. he tells me the worst is after church, the redeemed thousands at this mega-cult gets let out, redeemed and are forthwith allowed to go out and get more sinnin done, as they speed by him at double the speed limit, within inches, they have literally cussed him out flipping the bird at him for daring to...well i suppose ride and not have gone? funny, really...