Stoplights: fatwa requested

08-03-2004, 01:15 PM

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

08-03-2004, 01:27 PM

On Tue, 03 Aug 2004 17:15:49 -0400, Luigi de Guzman <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
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

I'd probably do what you're doing. I find that the worst time for me is
people taking right turns. In fact, I hit someone who turned right in
front of me (no turn signal, of course).

--
Bob in CT
Remove ".x" to reply

08-03-2004, 01:27 PM

On Tue, 03 Aug 2004 17:15:49 -0400, Luigi de Guzman <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
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

I'd probably do what you're doing. I find that the worst time for me is
people taking right turns. In fact, I hit someone who turned right in
front of me (no turn signal, of course).

--
Bob in CT
Remove ".x" to reply

08-03-2004, 01:27 PM

On Tue, 03 Aug 2004 17:15:49 -0400, Luigi de Guzman <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
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

I'd probably do what you're doing. I find that the worst time for me is
people taking right turns. In fact, I hit someone who turned right in
front of me (no turn signal, of course).

--
Bob in CT
Remove ".x" to reply

08-03-2004, 01:27 PM

On Tue, 03 Aug 2004 17:15:49 -0400, Luigi de Guzman <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
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

I'd probably do what you're doing. I find that the worst time for me is
people taking right turns. In fact, I hit someone who turned right in
front of me (no turn signal, of course).

--
Bob in CT
Remove ".x" to reply

08-03-2004, 01:27 PM

On Tue, 03 Aug 2004 17:15:49 -0400, Luigi de Guzman <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
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

I'd probably do what you're doing. I find that the worst time for me is
people taking right turns. In fact, I hit someone who turned right in
front of me (no turn signal, of course).

--
Bob in CT
Remove ".x" to reply

08-03-2004, 01:27 PM

The _g_od John Forester has written "Cyclists fare best when they act and
are treated as drivers of vehicles." [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

"Luigi de Guzman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
| 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

08-03-2004, 01:27 PM

The _g_od John Forester has written "Cyclists fare best when they act and
are treated as drivers of vehicles." [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

"Luigi de Guzman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
| 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

08-03-2004, 01:27 PM

The _g_od John Forester has written "Cyclists fare best when they act and
are treated as drivers of vehicles." [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

"Luigi de Guzman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
| 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

08-03-2004, 01:27 PM

The _g_od John Forester has written "Cyclists fare best when they act and
are treated as drivers of vehicles." [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

"Luigi de Guzman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
| 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