mr_bill

Legal but "absolutely unsafe" salmon riding in the past couple of years: Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Montréal, Taipei....

-mr. bill

MMACH 5

Legal? Here in the states?

mr_bill

No, in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, and Oxfordshire.

People really need to get out more.

-mr. bill

MMACH 5

I suppose I do. I thought the Boston, Cambridge and Somerville were on this side of the pond.

mr_bill

They are on both sides of the pond.

But there are a number of roads in Boston, MA, Cambridge, (our fair city) MA, and Somerville, MA where it is legal to "salmon." We are "absolutely unsafe."

-mr. bill

parkbrav

For 99.9% of my journey home at night, I cycle with traffic. But at the very last suburban block at night I cross over to the other side of the road and will walk my bike against traffic. I have a good reason for doing this: otherwise drivers will absolutely not let me cross over the crosswalk, even when I have all my lights on.

Hokiedad4

Most of our local undocumented aliens ride on the wrong side of the road on their way to work (drivers licenses for non-residents not legal in NJ). If I pass one, I simply say "wrong side of the road" as courteously as possible.

Leisesturm

Was that really necessary? Repeat after me: Hispanic does not equal illegal. Repeat until understood.

avole

I really hate racism.

I'm a practical cyclist, and will always choose the path that endangers the least people, including myself. If that involves crossing a red light*, or cycling on the wrong side of the road, so be it. France, and many countries, allow some flexibility here, despite, possibly more than the poster ot that despicable comment.

I also note that there are few cyclists or other road users who would know there highway code by heart, nor would obey it 100%, including the Hokiedad4.

* This is permitted at some intersections in France. I am not endorsing the practice not remotely, merely saying that there are occasional exceptional circumstances where safety for all road users dictates discretion. If a policeman stops me and issues a fine afterwards, I'll accept that.

avole

Hokiedad4

No ill intent, just poorly written, so a clarification was in order.

I find it ironic that you are willing to give others the benefit of the doubt.

avole

The benefit of the doubt - I didn't think there was much doubt, to be honest, and as to others, I only usually read four or so of the forums, so miss a lot. Sometimes I find this forum a little difficult - I am not a citizen of the US, nor have ever lived there, so it is a little like walking on hot coals, but I have seen the awful consequences of racism, unintentional or not, in many places, and once directed towards me, as being an elite white person. I'm no saint, by the way, but comment from a friend when I was young cured me of that, at least.

Sorry, missed the punch line - shamed, and so cured, I hadn't even been aware I'd been racist.

Leisesturm

It remains poorly written. 'Undocumented'?! You would know that how? Do you have the ability to determine proof of residency of total strangers visually? I was born in St. John's Hospital, Brooklyn, NY. I doubt you could determine that by looking at me. For that matter I would not be anymore able to determine where you were born by looking at you from 10' away. Until around 3 years ago most people wouldn't think it was any of their business where a total stranger was born or how they came to be wherever they happen to be 20 years later.

Leisesturm

At least he only has one other cyclist upset with him. You otoh now have 'various people' who will want to have a word with you ...

Chris0516

They are doing what they think is safer.

When actually:

1. They are breaking state traffic law.
2. They are actually increasing the likelihood. That they will become a cycling fatality, via a head-on collision.

avole

Is it against the law in all countries, including those that don't have states per se? If it isn't, then your second point is questionable, too., although, to be honest, most cyclists in countries where it was against the law would only do this in exceptional circumstances. That could include life threatening circumstances too, by the way.

JoeyBike

How about if they are savvy cyclists, who know the dangers of contraflow and implement tactics to vastly reduce those dangers in order to avoid a parallel busy "death road" that they deem substantially more dangerous than contraflow on a quiet back street? Should safety EVER trump law?

And how on Earth does the chances of a "head-on" collision INCREASE when both parties are staring into each other's eyes?

Lemond1985

Provided they beg for forgiveness, profusely, from every law-abiding cyclist they pass who's riding on the correct side of the road. But in my mind, the big question is, does the savvy salmon pass the law-abiding rider on the right side or the left side?

parkbrav

One party has the right of way, the other does not. I'm having a tough time elaborating. Can anyone help me out?

Lemond1985

No one knows what to expect the other person to do. It's called "chaos" or "anarchy".

JoeyBike

Ever heard of STEERING? I mean, I can see the concern for two trains on the same track, or trolleys, or roller coasters. If it was a big deal there would be dead cyclists all over the place where I live.

JoeyBike

In the USA, everyone involved moves to their right, just like any two-way street. It's natural. Same with walking down a narrow sidewalk. Unless of course one or both of the people involved are doing the Bird Box challenge.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nxbd..._driving.0.jpg

tyrion

Riding against traffic isn't that dangerous unless there are side streets. People turning in from side streets often aren't expecting that reverse traffic and don't look that way.

And of course riding against traffic is problematic when you come up to a rider riding with traffic.

But on long stretches of road without side streets (or driveways) it's not dangerous to ride against traffic (but it might be illegal).

JoeyBike

So if you were cycling contraflow on such a street, for whatever reason, and came upon a crossing side street - wouldn't you take added precautions because you have AWARENESS? And if a car appears on the side street, wouldn't you squeeze up against a curb and/or slow or stop until the car makes a move? Because you have awareness!

An oblivious cyclist is going to get clobbered on ANY street no matter their preferred direction. A savvy cyclist, with awareness and courtesy, should be quite capable of navigating the occasional one-way street contraflow without incident.

tyrion

Yes. And if I come up against a cyclist riding with car flow, I give way.