billyymc

If the picture is an accurate representation of the shoulder in that area, I would take the shoulder without an issue. But I ride down a hill from my house every time I ride that is a two lane road with potholes, manhole covers, linear cracks that go on and on, the occasional roadkill, the occasional still live roadkill, parked cars, cars turning out from side streets and driveways, etc. I coast down it almost a mile, sometimes in near darkness with my lights on, and quickly reach 40+ mph. There is a short flattish spot where I have to brake hard before the T-intersection at the end.

Riding that shoulder at 40mph would be a joy for me. But it actually doesn't look that steep and I'd have a hard time even getting to 40 in the spot pictured. I can't see a reason, in that picture, to annoy a motorist by taking the lane, even if I have the right to do so.

PepeM

How about the fact that the shoulder disappears a few meters ahead?

r0gue

I would stay in the shoulder, and if I had to slow a bit because there might be debris (say perhaps, around a corner), I would. It's a decent, it's not going to kill me to slow down a bit. I always try to be courteous to those out trying to make their way in real life. I'm out getting a workout and enjoying a ride. If the shoulder were really crappy, then I'd take the lane. I live in western PA. That shoulder sounds BETTER than most of the actual LANES where I live!

billyymc

You mean at the intersection? it's almost flat there, I doubt the rider would be going 41 mph, but at that point you deal with the intersection in the way you normally would and keep riding. A good shoulder continues after the intersection. If you ride busy roads, learn to cooperate with cars. No matter what we think our rights are, we're exposed out there.

OldsCOOL

If there is pavement to the right, I'm sliding over. Rights or no rights, people in cars could be drunk, stoned, texting, bubble headed teens, fussing with kids, or digging in a McD's bag for their fries. I'm giving them space until a merge appears.

Tickstart

Wow what a beautiful landscape that is! And I would probably ride on the shoulder, but close to the lane, a reasonable compromize I think. The trees there could obscure something or someone.

Brian Ratliff

I was taught that explicitly in driver's ed. Those exact words came out of the instructors mouth. I think that concept is pretty much the linchpin of defensive driving.

Nachoman

That's my attitude also. I WILL take the lane, but only if I feel it's safer to do so. I wouldn't necessarily take the lane just because I have the right to do so.

Brian Ratliff

You mean a few hundred meters ahead, at the bottom of the hill? Deal with it then. At 40mph, you can do some pretty subtle things in traffic. No need to slow everyone up for minutes at a time.

UnfilteredDregs

No doubt...at 40mph you better know what you're doing a few 100 meters from the present moment.

Your previous post speaks volumes regarding not so common common sense. I signal a lot, I make sure I am highly visible by doing so, never subtle. I make eye contact, I point where I'm going, most importantly I keep a bubble around me for a given speed and I operate predictably within that space. Yes, it's always situational. I take the lane when necessary and I project it. It's much simpler when riding with a well coordinated group, especially urban riding...we do a loose deuce kinda thing where I'm at, a fluid unit so to speak. We all know where we're going and how therefore whomever is in position to indicate to surrounding traffic and initiate the move does so... Urban riding is a very different head than when we get out to the sticks. For us it's all about transiting safely to where the real riding begins...and it's fun. Teamwork is cool.

That shoulder is a gift compared to where I ride.

ColaJacket

Yes, motorcycles should take a lane.

If bicyclists are going to take a lane when they're not at an intersection, then they should take a lane at the intersection and not filter up to the light.

GH

redlude97

Ok, good to know that you don't think people should be allowed to do something legal because you don't like it

Oldhead

I would take the shoulder, heck it looks smoother than the actual road from the picture

12strings

Motorcycle lane splitting: Better for riders, better for drivers, and safer than sitting in traffic

PepeM

Never understood why some people get so pissed off when motorcycles filter through traffic. It doesn't affect car drivers at all. I guess it is a 'if I can't do it then you shouldn't do it' mentality.

knobd

I'm sorry but I just don't see any logic in taking the lane there, especially if the 10 foot shoulder is smooth and clean. Even if the shoulder is a little messy, most of it would probably be on the outer 3 or 4 feet of the shoulder, still leaving you with more than enough room. If I'm going 41 mph there, I'm thinking of how to take advantage of all this space I have to eek out another mph or 2.

koolerb

Depends on the the conditions during that ride, past experience in that area, and rider comfort levels regarding all the different variables. If the shoulder is that wide and usually clear of debris, sure stay on the shoulder. But speeds exceeding 40MPH are fast. If the rider knows from prior experience that there is a good chance of debris on the shoulder it may be wiser to move out into the lane. Different riders are more comfortable at different speeds on the shoulder. I was on a short (2 mile) 40+MPH decent with another rider last week, I took lane, he opted to stay on the shoulder. My logic was; the closest car behind was about 1/2 back, the Speed limit on the road is only 45MPH. I figured the car approaching from the rear would catch me, but probably close to the bottom so no big deal. Turned out the guy approaching from the rear was going pretty fast because he caught me half way down and intentionally passed me very close. My friend stayed on the 3 ft gravel strewn shoulder the whole way down. To me the the shoulder was scarier than the car, for him the opposite was true. Don't think there a right or wrong answer here. Everyone sizes up the situation at hand and makes a decision on how to handle it.

ColaJacket

It said that it was better for cars, if more drivers rode motorcycles instead, and also filtered through traffic.

I can understand a motorcycle accelerating better than cars, but mopeds and bicycles don't accelerate faster, and traffic has to pass what they just passed.

Now, if there is a bike lane, or a shoulder that the bicyclist/moped has been using, and can keep using, then that is not filtering, that is just using the bike lane/shoulder.

GH

bt

what the h@ll is "GH" ?

Ben I.

I'd definitely take the shoulder if it were me. First of all, that shoulder, at least in that section, seems to be in really good shape and pretty clear. I can't see any potholes, giant cracks, etc. Second, no way I'm going to take a lane when the speed limit is 55, that means people are going at least 65 or 70. I'd stay far over to the right although I'd never cycle on that road in the first place.

rebel1916

Um, I've never been on the PCH below Paso Robles, but for most of it's length, it is rightfully considered one of the nicest roads in the world.

Dunbar

When was the last time you guys did 40mph on a bike? That's screaming fast and doesn't leave you really any time to react to debris on the shoulder. Part of the reason you take the lane in the first place is so that you aren't put in a position of needing to move over and being blocked by a car. And it's pretty well acknowledged that moving in/out of the lane as conditions permit is more dangerous than just staying in the lane. Cars want you out of their way and don't care about what's safest. Now if we're talking 20mph I'd be off on the shoulder if it was in decent condition.

As far as PCH, it's not so much the road condition that's the issue. It's the volume of high speed traffic.

diphthong

ridden that stretch a few times and it is generally trouble free on the wide shoulder. there is the occasional eucalyptus tree branch/bark in the lane along with the occasional
maintenance/gardening truck. seem to remember a few little bumpy patches but nothing crazy. traffic through that stretch is fast so i prefer to slow down on the shoulder
and look back to see if i can merge into the rightmost lane to go around the obstacle before just doing so. i wouldn't take the lane as a rule of thumb on that stretch since
many drivers take it as a de facto freeway. a little farther south, taking the lane (especially northbound) becomes almost mandatory between construction, parking and surfers.

Maconi

In my area (Kentucky) it's law that if there's a bike lane or shoulder present, you must take it vs the road. No choice. If there's only a sidewalk available you have the choice between it and the road (but you must yield to pedestrians).

unterhausen

is that true in Kentucky? I thought only New York had such a law. And even then, the requirement to ride on a shoulder is iffy. There is a reason it isn't considered part of the roadway.