Arthur Peabody

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...=.92dc31d43047

Paul Barnard

If the story didn't leave enough of an impression on you to elicit a comment, it's probably not worth my time.

CliffordK

Car drivers are quick to realize that it is not a good idea to sit in a traffic lane and obstruct traffic, especially on a 2 lane 2 way road.

Yet, they are quick to think.. well, the bike lane is out of traffic, and it is just a bike lane.

It is probably fine if there aren't any bikes anywhere to be seen. But, as the article mentions, as the numbers of cyclists and cars increases, then it becomes a major issue. Forcing cyclists into potentially dangerous situations, just for a person's convenience.

If necessary, text the kid and have him wait at the curb. Pick up and go.

catgita

CliffordK

Perhaps part of the answer is to have more commercial parking and loading zones.

Of course, car drivers hate to have perfectly good parking spots left vacant, but especially in areas with frequent deliveries, or dropping off and picking up kids, they should have an area where vehicles can stop without really parking long-term.

daihard 

She obviously doesn't think blocking a bike lane for a few minutes creates danger. She also blames "how the city works" rather than herself for breaking the law. She's no better than other morons who block the bike lane with their car.

jimincalif

CB HI

Just another self centered motorist. No big deal to block the bike lane. Cyclist are the ones who should "stop while oncoming cars have a left-turn signal" giving away the cyclist right of way to her self centered driving. Cyclist cause more danger rolling a stop sign than motorist and must be stopped.

The B needs to get a grip on who is causing the danger.

KraneXL

Cyclist are second class citizen no matter who it comes from. As you say few folks would block the flow of traffic but won't give a second though to blocking the bike lane. Few pedestrians would step brazenly into the flow of traffic, but will walk without hesitation into the bike lane even after they notice you approaching. I get this all the time.

CliffordK

Of course, the opposite is also true...

I believe that cyclists are much less likely to follow crosswalk laws, stopping for pedestrians.

Of course, there is a difference between a bicycle passing through a crosswalk at 10 MPH and a car shooting through it at 50 MPH.

KraneXL

I follow the exact same laws when riding my bike as I do when driving a car. I have had many cyclist (or should I say people riding bikes) roll in front of my path even on the walk signal. I scold cyclist and drivers alike.

Still, that's not the same as a pedestrian that looks over his shoulder and see you coming then steps off the curb right into your path. Unlike a car that only incurs vehicles damage, what happens to him, happens to you.

You also don't get the police response like you do in an automobile mishap. In fact, I had a department once have the audacity to tell me they were too busy dealing with real crimes.

scott967

Let's face it: some cities have more traffic anarchy than others. Where anarchy prevails, it's probably unrealistic for cyclists to think they will somehow be treated better.

scott s.
.

Chris0516

I live 20mi. from this intersection:



Referred to in the OP-linked article.


There is a lot of blocking the bike lane down there. By both delivery drivers' and by people picking up/dropping off passengers. That is despite DC municipal ordinances about blocking the bike lane.

KraneXL

This video shows a few examples of what I mean.

I-Like-To-Bike

What kind of response do you get from the strangers (including those who don't meet your standards for being a "cyclist") whom you scold in public? Better keep your health insurance payments current if you insist on playing that game with strangers.

Daniel4

I've seen in a parking plaza where with plenty of parking spaces all around, four cars parked at the no-parking, fire zone curbside right in front of a store. Some of them had drivers sitting in them waiting for their partners and others were empty using their hazard lights the wrong way.

I've also seen drivers pull into a driveway of a parking lot and stop there blocking other incoming cars.

CliffordK

Most of the illegally parked cars that I see are Police Cars.

KraneXL

First, its not my standards, it the law. And second, their response is as typical when some wrong is brought to task for a wrong committed: Half apologize, the other half are pigheaded.

I-Like-To-Bike

You must have a different breed of cyclists and drivers in your area who apologize to a stranger playing at being a street-side judge who "scolds" them and "brings them to task" with his interpretation of the law.

Do they also apologize to cyclists/motorists who scream and scold them? Or do they think that would-be McGruffs who scream out "The Law" at strangers are just typical pigheaded self righteous jokers?

KraneXL

Like the challenge of interpreting if someone stops in the crosswalk? Its a burden I'm willing to accept. Who said anything about screaming? If that's your vision you couldn't be more wrong. One more thing, are you aware of what you're defending? (rhetorical question)

Arthur Peabody

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...d6b_story.html

Leisesturm

The multitude of bike lanes and 'sharrows' in urban Portland has created a culture of extreme resentment and hostility on the part of motorists so that when they see a bicycle operating legally on a street or lane not expressly marked for bicycle use they often react with naked aggression, which can be anything from horn heckling to actual physical interference with their vehicle. Conversely cyclists have become unreasonably proprietary of their hard won bike lanes, and when they are blocked, as they MUST be, occasionally, by First Responders, or by delivery vehicles, or waste disposal service vehicles, the cyclists react with extreme dismay, which on occasion results in physical damage to private property in the form of dented doors, broken wing mirrors, cracked windshields, etc. Come on people, why is this a thread topic? Do you really expect the driver of an appliance delivery vehicle to park on the other side of an office block and hump a 350lb. refrigerator around to the other side to avoid blocking a bike lane? Can a competent cyclist not enter the adjoining traffic lane for the 25 or 30 feet it takes to clear a large vehicle or the 10 to 20 feet it takes to clear smaller ones? Of course they can. I am much more concerned with close passes and other signs of intolerance and aggression from drivers than any amount of bike lane blocking that might go on in urban areas. Much more.

mconlonx

If other cyclists managed to get around the car, why not this one? Bike lanes are a courtesy, but they are not the only way through any given area -- any reason the cyclist didn't think she could take the lane, while passing the obstruction in the bike lane...? Especially considering that other cyclists were doing the exact same thing? If a car's taking the bike lane, why not take a different lane...? And OK, so this is a parallel parking zone -- she'd prefer to ride in the door zone...?

Sorry, not sympathizing with the cyclist here...

KraneXL

Are roads a courtesy too? Its the same tax dollar. What about when someone parks on the sidewalk? You can still walk into the road or on someeone's private property to get around. Also, would you still be as reasonable if someone blocked half your driveway? After all, you still have enough space to get around...with a little maneuvering.

mconlonx

Yes, roads are a courtesy, too, in this sense. I see bikes and scooters parked on sidewalks all the time, partially obstructing pedestrian traffic... But more to the point, where there is no bike lane, people waiting to park and delivery drivers regularly stand in the roadway, next to a line of parked cars, technically in violation of obstructing traffic. Is this also such a big deal that it rates a confrontation from other motorists, or cyclists? Or do we expect to shrug such things off and either wait for the driver to move, or simply drive around when safe to do so?