Stoplights: fatwa requested - Page 5 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

08-03-2004, 04:06 PM

Luigi de Guzman wrote:

> ... Is this permissible for the
> faithful cyclist, or should I just go back to waiting in the right
> lane?

Sounds fine to me. There's no law that says the bicycle _must_ be the
slowest vehicle on the road.

If you're moving at the speed of traffic, you should generally take the
lane.

If you're moving faster than the speed of traffic, you should generally
pass on the left. That's what you're doing.

The only trick is, keep aware of traffic in that right lane. You could
get into a weird situation where nobody does turn right, they buzz off
ahead of you, and impatient drivers behind you start peeling out of your
lane and passing you on your right. Not an insurmountable difficulty,
but you'd want to be careful with it because it's a little non-standard.

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

08-03-2004, 09:51 PM

>Luigi de Guzman [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

wrote in part:

>On the way back home from the store, I roll up to a stoplight. The
>street is four lanes, two in each direction; the rightmost lane
>usually fills up with right-turning traffic, while the left-hand lane
>stays pretty loose. My way home is up a fairly gentle hill.
>
>Now my first instinct as a law-abiding cyclist is to stop, take my bit
>of the lane, and wait in line. But I've done that for ages and ages,
>and I already know from experience that if I do, I'll just have to get
>rolling again in twenty to sixty seconds.
>
>So today I do something a little different; I look over my shoulder,
>signal, join the left-hand lane, roll up right to the light. By this
>time, the light has changed, and I still have enough momentum to check
>back the other way, change back to the right lane, and move up the
>hill.

Just so I'm clear on the situation, allow me draw a mental picture of this
intersection. Two 4 laned roads intersect at right angles, one going
north/south and the other east/west. The intersection is controlled by a
stoplight and all lanes of both roads are potential through lanes, i.e., no
designated "(this) lane must turn (thus)" lanes. You are stopped at the light
on the south side of the intersection. You are traveling north on the
north/south road.

Situation #1- You intend to continue north on that road once you have the green
light and can cross the east/west road. What's the problem? Take either of the
two northbound lanes. If you take the left and want to move back to right after
clearing the intersection, go ahead and do it. So long as you clear the
intersection before changing lanes, it is a perfectly legal manuever.
Situation #2- You intend to turn east onto the east/west road. Do not pass
others and then cut back in. That's both rude and dangerous for obvious
reasons. Get in the right lane and wait your turn. Consider it a chance to
stretch any sore muscles.
Situation #3- You intend to turn west onto the east/west road. You would be in
the left lane and your question would have never occurred to you. ;-)
Situation #4- You intend to make a u-turn and head south. Don't. U-turns at
intersections are dangerous and usually illegal.
Situation #5- You intend to park your bike there and put a for sale sign on it.
Wrong group. Try rec.bicycles.marketplace. ;-)

Did I miss any possibilities?

Regards,
Bob Hunt

08-03-2004, 09:51 PM

>Luigi de Guzman [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

wrote in part:

>On the way back home from the store, I roll up to a stoplight. The
>street is four lanes, two in each direction; the rightmost lane
>usually fills up with right-turning traffic, while the left-hand lane
>stays pretty loose. My way home is up a fairly gentle hill.
>
>Now my first instinct as a law-abiding cyclist is to stop, take my bit
>of the lane, and wait in line. But I've done that for ages and ages,
>and I already know from experience that if I do, I'll just have to get
>rolling again in twenty to sixty seconds.
>
>So today I do something a little different; I look over my shoulder,
>signal, join the left-hand lane, roll up right to the light. By this
>time, the light has changed, and I still have enough momentum to check
>back the other way, change back to the right lane, and move up the
>hill.

Just so I'm clear on the situation, allow me draw a mental picture of this
intersection. Two 4 laned roads intersect at right angles, one going
north/south and the other east/west. The intersection is controlled by a
stoplight and all lanes of both roads are potential through lanes, i.e., no
designated "(this) lane must turn (thus)" lanes. You are stopped at the light
on the south side of the intersection. You are traveling north on the
north/south road.

Situation #1- You intend to continue north on that road once you have the green
light and can cross the east/west road. What's the problem? Take either of the
two northbound lanes. If you take the left and want to move back to right after
clearing the intersection, go ahead and do it. So long as you clear the
intersection before changing lanes, it is a perfectly legal manuever.
Situation #2- You intend to turn east onto the east/west road. Do not pass
others and then cut back in. That's both rude and dangerous for obvious
reasons. Get in the right lane and wait your turn. Consider it a chance to
stretch any sore muscles.
Situation #3- You intend to turn west onto the east/west road. You would be in
the left lane and your question would have never occurred to you. ;-)
Situation #4- You intend to make a u-turn and head south. Don't. U-turns at
intersections are dangerous and usually illegal.
Situation #5- You intend to park your bike there and put a for sale sign on it.
Wrong group. Try rec.bicycles.marketplace. ;-)

Did I miss any possibilities?

Regards,
Bob Hunt

08-03-2004, 09:51 PM

>Luigi de Guzman [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

wrote in part:

>On the way back home from the store, I roll up to a stoplight. The
>street is four lanes, two in each direction; the rightmost lane
>usually fills up with right-turning traffic, while the left-hand lane
>stays pretty loose. My way home is up a fairly gentle hill.
>
>Now my first instinct as a law-abiding cyclist is to stop, take my bit
>of the lane, and wait in line. But I've done that for ages and ages,
>and I already know from experience that if I do, I'll just have to get
>rolling again in twenty to sixty seconds.
>
>So today I do something a little different; I look over my shoulder,
>signal, join the left-hand lane, roll up right to the light. By this
>time, the light has changed, and I still have enough momentum to check
>back the other way, change back to the right lane, and move up the
>hill.

Just so I'm clear on the situation, allow me draw a mental picture of this
intersection. Two 4 laned roads intersect at right angles, one going
north/south and the other east/west. The intersection is controlled by a
stoplight and all lanes of both roads are potential through lanes, i.e., no
designated "(this) lane must turn (thus)" lanes. You are stopped at the light
on the south side of the intersection. You are traveling north on the
north/south road.

Situation #1- You intend to continue north on that road once you have the green
light and can cross the east/west road. What's the problem? Take either of the
two northbound lanes. If you take the left and want to move back to right after
clearing the intersection, go ahead and do it. So long as you clear the
intersection before changing lanes, it is a perfectly legal manuever.
Situation #2- You intend to turn east onto the east/west road. Do not pass
others and then cut back in. That's both rude and dangerous for obvious
reasons. Get in the right lane and wait your turn. Consider it a chance to
stretch any sore muscles.
Situation #3- You intend to turn west onto the east/west road. You would be in
the left lane and your question would have never occurred to you. ;-)
Situation #4- You intend to make a u-turn and head south. Don't. U-turns at
intersections are dangerous and usually illegal.
Situation #5- You intend to park your bike there and put a for sale sign on it.
Wrong group. Try rec.bicycles.marketplace. ;-)

Did I miss any possibilities?

Regards,
Bob Hunt

08-03-2004, 09:51 PM

>Luigi de Guzman [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

wrote in part:

>On the way back home from the store, I roll up to a stoplight. The
>street is four lanes, two in each direction; the rightmost lane
>usually fills up with right-turning traffic, while the left-hand lane
>stays pretty loose. My way home is up a fairly gentle hill.
>
>Now my first instinct as a law-abiding cyclist is to stop, take my bit
>of the lane, and wait in line. But I've done that for ages and ages,
>and I already know from experience that if I do, I'll just have to get
>rolling again in twenty to sixty seconds.
>
>So today I do something a little different; I look over my shoulder,
>signal, join the left-hand lane, roll up right to the light. By this
>time, the light has changed, and I still have enough momentum to check
>back the other way, change back to the right lane, and move up the
>hill.

Just so I'm clear on the situation, allow me draw a mental picture of this
intersection. Two 4 laned roads intersect at right angles, one going
north/south and the other east/west. The intersection is controlled by a
stoplight and all lanes of both roads are potential through lanes, i.e., no
designated "(this) lane must turn (thus)" lanes. You are stopped at the light
on the south side of the intersection. You are traveling north on the
north/south road.

Situation #1- You intend to continue north on that road once you have the green
light and can cross the east/west road. What's the problem? Take either of the
two northbound lanes. If you take the left and want to move back to right after
clearing the intersection, go ahead and do it. So long as you clear the
intersection before changing lanes, it is a perfectly legal manuever.
Situation #2- You intend to turn east onto the east/west road. Do not pass
others and then cut back in. That's both rude and dangerous for obvious
reasons. Get in the right lane and wait your turn. Consider it a chance to
stretch any sore muscles.
Situation #3- You intend to turn west onto the east/west road. You would be in
the left lane and your question would have never occurred to you. ;-)
Situation #4- You intend to make a u-turn and head south. Don't. U-turns at
intersections are dangerous and usually illegal.
Situation #5- You intend to park your bike there and put a for sale sign on it.
Wrong group. Try rec.bicycles.marketplace. ;-)

Did I miss any possibilities?

Regards,
Bob Hunt

08-03-2004, 09:51 PM

>Luigi de Guzman [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

wrote in part:

>On the way back home from the store, I roll up to a stoplight. The
>street is four lanes, two in each direction; the rightmost lane
>usually fills up with right-turning traffic, while the left-hand lane
>stays pretty loose. My way home is up a fairly gentle hill.
>
>Now my first instinct as a law-abiding cyclist is to stop, take my bit
>of the lane, and wait in line. But I've done that for ages and ages,
>and I already know from experience that if I do, I'll just have to get
>rolling again in twenty to sixty seconds.
>
>So today I do something a little different; I look over my shoulder,
>signal, join the left-hand lane, roll up right to the light. By this
>time, the light has changed, and I still have enough momentum to check
>back the other way, change back to the right lane, and move up the
>hill.

Just so I'm clear on the situation, allow me draw a mental picture of this
intersection. Two 4 laned roads intersect at right angles, one going
north/south and the other east/west. The intersection is controlled by a
stoplight and all lanes of both roads are potential through lanes, i.e., no
designated "(this) lane must turn (thus)" lanes. You are stopped at the light
on the south side of the intersection. You are traveling north on the
north/south road.

Situation #1- You intend to continue north on that road once you have the green
light and can cross the east/west road. What's the problem? Take either of the
two northbound lanes. If you take the left and want to move back to right after
clearing the intersection, go ahead and do it. So long as you clear the
intersection before changing lanes, it is a perfectly legal manuever.
Situation #2- You intend to turn east onto the east/west road. Do not pass
others and then cut back in. That's both rude and dangerous for obvious
reasons. Get in the right lane and wait your turn. Consider it a chance to
stretch any sore muscles.
Situation #3- You intend to turn west onto the east/west road. You would be in
the left lane and your question would have never occurred to you. ;-)
Situation #4- You intend to make a u-turn and head south. Don't. U-turns at
intersections are dangerous and usually illegal.
Situation #5- You intend to park your bike there and put a for sale sign on it.
Wrong group. Try rec.bicycles.marketplace. ;-)

Did I miss any possibilities?

Regards,
Bob Hunt

08-03-2004, 11:07 PM

Luigi de Guzman wrote:

>On the way back home from the store, I roll up to a stoplight. The
>street is four lanes, two in each direction; the rightmost lane
>usually fills up with right-turning traffic, while the left-hand lane
>stays pretty loose. My way home is up a fairly gentle hill.
>
>Now my first instinct as a law-abiding cyclist is to stop, take my bit
>of the lane, and wait in line. But I've done that for ages and ages,
>and I already know from experience that if I do, I'll just have to get
>rolling again in twenty to sixty seconds.
>
>So today I do something a little different; I look over my shoulder,
>signal, join the left-hand lane, roll up right to the light. By this
>time, the light has changed, and I still have enough momentum to check
>back the other way, change back to the right lane, and move up the
>hill.
>
>So, fatwa time, RBM traffic muftis: Is this permissible for the
>faithful cyclist, or should I just go back to waiting in the right
>lane? I mention this because motorists do this sort of thing all the
>time--line up in the left lane to get clear of a long line of
>right-turning traffic, and then change back into the right lane when
>the opportunity presents itself.
>
>-Luigi
>
>go play in traffic!
>
>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>Photos, rants, raves
>
Sounds reasonable and perfectly normal to me. You ride a pretty zippy
bike to boot, so you aren't holding up traffic either. And like Frank K
said, be aware of impatient passers on your right.
Enjoy the ride!
Bernie

08-03-2004, 11:07 PM

Luigi de Guzman wrote:

>On the way back home from the store, I roll up to a stoplight. The
>street is four lanes, two in each direction; the rightmost lane
>usually fills up with right-turning traffic, while the left-hand lane
>stays pretty loose. My way home is up a fairly gentle hill.
>
>Now my first instinct as a law-abiding cyclist is to stop, take my bit
>of the lane, and wait in line. But I've done that for ages and ages,
>and I already know from experience that if I do, I'll just have to get
>rolling again in twenty to sixty seconds.
>
>So today I do something a little different; I look over my shoulder,
>signal, join the left-hand lane, roll up right to the light. By this
>time, the light has changed, and I still have enough momentum to check
>back the other way, change back to the right lane, and move up the
>hill.
>
>So, fatwa time, RBM traffic muftis: Is this permissible for the
>faithful cyclist, or should I just go back to waiting in the right
>lane? I mention this because motorists do this sort of thing all the
>time--line up in the left lane to get clear of a long line of
>right-turning traffic, and then change back into the right lane when
>the opportunity presents itself.
>
>-Luigi
>
>go play in traffic!
>
>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>Photos, rants, raves
>
Sounds reasonable and perfectly normal to me. You ride a pretty zippy
bike to boot, so you aren't holding up traffic either. And like Frank K
said, be aware of impatient passers on your right.
Enjoy the ride!
Bernie

08-03-2004, 11:07 PM

Luigi de Guzman wrote:

>On the way back home from the store, I roll up to a stoplight. The
>street is four lanes, two in each direction; the rightmost lane
>usually fills up with right-turning traffic, while the left-hand lane
>stays pretty loose. My way home is up a fairly gentle hill.
>
>Now my first instinct as a law-abiding cyclist is to stop, take my bit
>of the lane, and wait in line. But I've done that for ages and ages,
>and I already know from experience that if I do, I'll just have to get
>rolling again in twenty to sixty seconds.
>
>So today I do something a little different; I look over my shoulder,
>signal, join the left-hand lane, roll up right to the light. By this
>time, the light has changed, and I still have enough momentum to check
>back the other way, change back to the right lane, and move up the
>hill.
>
>So, fatwa time, RBM traffic muftis: Is this permissible for the
>faithful cyclist, or should I just go back to waiting in the right
>lane? I mention this because motorists do this sort of thing all the
>time--line up in the left lane to get clear of a long line of
>right-turning traffic, and then change back into the right lane when
>the opportunity presents itself.
>
>-Luigi
>
>go play in traffic!
>
>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>Photos, rants, raves
>
Sounds reasonable and perfectly normal to me. You ride a pretty zippy
bike to boot, so you aren't holding up traffic either. And like Frank K
said, be aware of impatient passers on your right.
Enjoy the ride!
Bernie

08-03-2004, 11:07 PM

Luigi de Guzman wrote:

>On the way back home from the store, I roll up to a stoplight. The
>street is four lanes, two in each direction; the rightmost lane
>usually fills up with right-turning traffic, while the left-hand lane
>stays pretty loose. My way home is up a fairly gentle hill.
>
>Now my first instinct as a law-abiding cyclist is to stop, take my bit
>of the lane, and wait in line. But I've done that for ages and ages,
>and I already know from experience that if I do, I'll just have to get
>rolling again in twenty to sixty seconds.
>
>So today I do something a little different; I look over my shoulder,
>signal, join the left-hand lane, roll up right to the light. By this
>time, the light has changed, and I still have enough momentum to check
>back the other way, change back to the right lane, and move up the
>hill.
>
>So, fatwa time, RBM traffic muftis: Is this permissible for the
>faithful cyclist, or should I just go back to waiting in the right
>lane? I mention this because motorists do this sort of thing all the
>time--line up in the left lane to get clear of a long line of
>right-turning traffic, and then change back into the right lane when
>the opportunity presents itself.
>
>-Luigi
>
>go play in traffic!
>
>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>Photos, rants, raves
>
Sounds reasonable and perfectly normal to me. You ride a pretty zippy
bike to boot, so you aren't holding up traffic either. And like Frank K
said, be aware of impatient passers on your right.
Enjoy the ride!
Bernie