Lane Changing at Bike Lane End
Just posting this as a tip for others. I have ridden Unley Rd in the mornings for years and always feel I am running the gauntlet in the 2 places the bike lane ends to accommodate a right hand turning lane. Until a couple of years ago I use to just ride through the end of the bike lane, hug to the left and hope for the best. Since I woke up to the fact that this was not really working for me I now look to merge into the traffic shortly before the end of the lane and 'command' my position in the lane. This has worked far better and without any real problems until today - See Video
I had anticipated this happening at some point and was somewhat prepared. In any case I still think the merge and command position approach is the way to go, just be prepared for impatient drivers.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Michael G on -
Ruddager, based on your videos I would say you have a far worse time of it going down Duthy st. I have ridden Duthy a few times in the mornings and generally found that, although the traffic was a bit slower, the behavior of drivers was a bit more erratic. Also there are no parked cars on Unley rd.
I find heavy traffic can actually work in your favor a lot of the time as it stops drivers turning in front of you. Its when it comes to a stop and a gap suddenly opens up for someone to turn that you have to watch for.
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Permalink Reply by Paul Mc on
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Michael, it was a good piece of riding how you were watching him almost instinctively you new he was coming your way.
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Permalink Reply by rossmg on -
No doubt the driver would be surprised to even consider that they should have yielded to you the cyclist even though you were there in that lane and they the car were the one moving into it. Another example in which Strict Liability Legislation would give the cyclist some legal protection in the unfortunate case of an actual collision.
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
rossmg, yes for Strict Liability Legislation to educate drivers to look for cyclists.
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Permalink Reply by Don (Who's lost?) Nairn on -
last time i checked (near John Opie's) Unley road doesn't have bike lanes it has the pseudo bike lanes with the white paint that someone had left over when they did the line marking.
As you would have been riding as close to the left as practical in the bike lane the driver may have assumed you would have kept as close as practical to the left.
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Permalink Reply by Michael G on
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Riding as close as practical to the left does not leave enough room for a car to fit past between you and the cars in the right lane. As far as I am concerned (in this situation) riding as close as practical to the left is far enough out that drivers don't try to squeeze past. Like I said in the original post this is how I have been riding for the last couple of years and have had no trouble (except for this incident). Where as when I use to hug the left I would have drivers squeezing by about 20cm away.
Unfortunately the end of the bike lane does not always coincide with the best time to merge with the traffic. This is why I prepare to merge about 30 - 40m before the end of the lane.
I can't think of any car lanes that just end like this. I would prefer that the lane gradually tapered off with a dotted line and there was a sign saying 'Cyclists Merging'.
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Permalink Reply by Dale (rouleur) Riggs on -
Great awareness on your behalf Michael, it certainly pays to be aware of potentially hazardous situations on our daily commutes.
I'm just wondering if a sign at the end of the bicycle lane announcing to motorists "Bicycles Merging", "Cyclists Merging" or "Cycle Merge Point" with somewhere around 50 - 100 metres of broken white line before the end of the lane might raise the awareness of such points.
As for the Wally in the video, I reckon that's probably just the way he drives and he would not recognise he had done anything wrong. No amount of education is going to change that behaviour.
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Permalink Reply by Michael G on
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Dale, Sorry I hadn't seen your post before my reply above. It seems we are thinking along the same lines. That is when bike lanes end they should be the same as for car lanes with broken lines and signage.
The guy did give the 'sorry mate' wave and I did my bit for cycling public relations by not continuing to abuse him after my initial rant and arm waving. So hopefully he may have learned something.
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Permalink Reply by Dale (rouleur) Riggs on
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That's okay Michael, some would say "great minds . . .etc.". I was wrong then about the errant driver, I'm happy to be wrong and glad he acknowledged his mistake.
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Permalink Reply by Bill Gehling on
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The basic problem with Unley Rd is that there is just enough room for 4 car lanes with a bit left over for either (1) bike lanes (2) right turn lanes, (3) some off peak parking, or (4) a raised median. In other words, put in a right turn lane, and there's no room for a bike lane. As long as the authorities insist on 4 car lanes, there will never be a satisfactory solution. Given that 98% of cars on Unley Rd are SOV's headed to or from the city, there is absolutely no justification for this. Add to this the fact that the Unley Rd bus service is notoriously unreliable, so people are discouraged from using it, which only adds to the congestion. A much better arrangement would be for 2 general traffic lanes, 2 bus/bike/parking lanes, with the occasional right turn lane or median where needed.
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Permalink Reply by Duncan Fowler on -
Whoa, that was nasty!
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