Originally Posted by
Leisesturm
Ridiculous. No one rides like that. Not even you. Widest likely door ... sigh. That 'carry on to your destination' that you carried over from the previous post is the deal-breaker that invalidates both posts because they conveniently ignore the reality that a cyclist that unilaterally decides that the bike lane provided for them does not meet their personal standards for safety is free to not use it. But they are NOT free to use the vehicle lane except for short distances. If your 'destination' fits that criterion, fine. If, as is likely, there still is a ways to go, then the trip in the vehicle lane will not be a pleasant one. It might even culminate in a road rage tragedy. That such dramas are rarely played out on evening news reporting speaks to the low occurrence of extra vehicular bike lane cruising. As observed elsewhere in this thread, the actual behavior of cyclists in the real world is in sharp contrast to its portrayal in Bike Forum threads. And we are the better off for that.
I absolutely ride like that. I am the best judge of the safest place to ride, not green paint. Reread Sec. 21208.
Vehicle Code § 21208
§ 21208. Permitted movements from bicycle lanes
(a) Whenever a bicycle lane has been established on a roadway pursuant to Section 21207, any person operating a bicycle upon the roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride within the bicycle lane, except that the person may move out of the lane under any of the following situations:
(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle, vehicle, or pedestrian within the lane or about to enter the lane if the overtaking and passing cannot be done safely within the lane.
(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
(3) When reasonably necessary to leave the bicycle lane to avoid
debris or other hazardous conditions.
(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
(b) No person operating a bicycle shall leave a bicycle lane until the movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 22100) in the event that any vehicle may be affected by the movement.
Veh. Code, § 21208
Subd. (a) (3) explicitly authorizes a rider to move out of the lane to avoid a hazardous condition. A row of doors that jut into the bike lane is absolutely a hazardous condition. Whether it's one car or an entire block or 10 miles, it is still a hazardous condition, and the rider is authorized to move out of the lane to avoid it for the entire distance the hazardous condition exists.
The Ford F-150 is usually the widest likely door that I encounter. It might be different where you live.