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Waiting in traffic lines.
GoogleUser Marz wrote: When driving to work the other day (sorry, yes driving, cycling is not really an option right now) I noticed the one cycling commuter ( a very rare sight in Houston) and was surprised to see him wait in line with traffic at the lights. For me, one of the reasons I did ride to work is to avoid getting stuck in traffic lines and my question is, do other folks wait in line or do you ride through stationary traffic? Really depends upon the circumstances. If I approach a red light, and just before I get there, a motorists cuts in front and blocks me, then I will return the favour. If I approach most junctions, and there is just on car waiting before I get there, I will wait behind. (The exception is red lights on hills). If there is a lorry/bus in front, I probably won't bother passing that. If there is a long queue, and I know I won't get through the next green phase if I wait, then I filter. Most congestion around here is caused by the amount of single occupier cars, so I should pass as I am taking up less room (and subsidising their motoring costs). |
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Waiting in traffic lines.
On 16 Apr, 18:38, Martin Dann wrote:
GoogleUser Marz wrote: When driving to work the other day (sorry, yes driving, cycling is not really an option right now) I noticed the one cycling commuter ( a very rare sight in Houston) and was surprised to see him wait in line with traffic at the lights. For me, one of the reasons I did ride to work is to avoid getting stuck in traffic lines and my question is, do other folks wait in line or do you ride through stationary traffic? Really depends upon the circumstances. If I approach a red light, and just before I get there, a motorists cuts in front and blocks me, then I will return the favour. My thoughts exactly. On the other hand if I catch up a motorist that overtook me courteously some time before and has been waiting, I wont filter past, even when there's an ASL. If theres only one or two cars I wont filter, not worth it. If it's a lorry of bus (and theres time) I will pass them if safe to do so, as they have lousy acceleration. I'll filter past when its a long line of cars too (or at a junction turning right (uk), across the traffic. If I approach most junctions, and there is just on car waiting before I get there, I will wait behind. (The exception is red lights on hills). If there is a lorry/bus in front, I probably won't bother passing that. If there is a long queue, and I know I won't get through the next green phase if I wait, then I filter. Most congestion around here is caused by the amount of single occupier cars, so I should pass as I am taking up less room (and subsidising their motoring costs). If you wait and act like a car, you're causing the same amount of congestion as a car, which car drivers wouldn't like. Much better (for them) for you to filter. |
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Waiting in traffic lines.
In rec.bicycles.misc Martin Dann wrote:
GoogleUser Marz wrote: When driving to work the other day (sorry, yes driving, cycling is not really an option right now) I noticed the one cycling commuter ( a very rare sight in Houston) and was surprised to see him wait in line with traffic at the lights. For me, one of the reasons I did ride to work is to avoid getting stuck in traffic lines and my question is, do other folks wait in line or do you ride through stationary traffic? If I approach most junctions, and there is just on car waiting before I get there, I will wait behind. (The exception is red lights on hills). If there is a lorry/bus in front, I probably won't bother passing that. If there is a long queue, and I know I won't get through the next green phase if I wait, then I filter. This is pretty much how I operate. On most stretches of my commute, I'd rather be in the traffic queue rather than off to the side. As long as I don't miss the light, I don't care if I'm in the very front. In fact, if I can get behind someone in a van or DHL or UPS truck, I can get an excellent draft and zip along with everyone else at traffic speed on most of the stretches. -- Dane Buson - If you can read this, you're in range of the demat gun |
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Waiting in traffic lines.
Dane Buson wrote:
When driving to work the other day (sorry, yes driving, cycling is not really an option right now) I noticed the one cycling commuter (a very rare sight in Houston) and was surprised to see him wait in line with traffic at the lights. For me, one of the reasons I did ride to work is to avoid getting stuck in traffic lines and my question is, do other folks wait in line or do you ride through stationary traffic? If I approach most junctions, and there is just on car waiting before I get there, I will wait behind. (The exception is red lights on hills). If there is a lorry/bus in front, I probably won't bother passing that. If there is a long queue, and I know I won't get through the next green phase if I wait, then I filter. This is pretty much how I operate. On most stretches of my commute, I'd rather be in the traffic queue rather than off to the side. As long as I don't miss the light, I don't care if I'm in the very front. In fact, if I can get behind someone in a van or DHL or UPS truck, I can get an excellent draft and zip along with everyone else at traffic speed on most of the stretches. I think it depends on the road configuration and traffic light phases. On my commute, several expressways with bicycle lanes cross and have double left turn lanes with many left turning cars. For these intersections, I wait in the bicycle lane and when the left turn phase occurs, ride diagonally between opposing left turn flow, ending the crossing in the other expressway bike lane. I find that this does not impede cars (that can accelerate faster than I) and don't ride in the midst of those cars. These are 4-lane or wider divided roads, some with median separators. The more lanes the better but don't ride in the debris pile dead zone in the center of the intersection, but watch for tools and money that seem to prefer that location. Stopping there for a pickup is not hazardous. As for traffic jams, I ride in the bicycle lane and it isn't jammed. On our main street, I ride down the center stripe to avoid getting doored or right-turned by slow or stalled traffic. Jobst Brandt |
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Waiting in traffic lines.
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Waiting in traffic lines.
Zoot Katz wrote:
We who have survived for years largely unscathed develop a sense of flow that fits the infrastructure and social norms of our particular area. "Vehicular Cycling" and the scofflaw zen gonzo riding styles meld in that flow. That about sums it up for me. Even in the same area, I'll naturally adopt different styles to match the conditions. In urban areas, when things are congested, I tend to go gonzo, just to get through/stay ahead of it. When things spread out/speed up, I tend to be more vehicular. Just as we self-optimize our cadence and posture, I think we optimize our behavior (or should) to suit the circumstances. |
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