justblues

about whether bicycle riding should be legal on a particular road. There were some interesting comments after the article, but one that particularly caught my eye and had me scratching my head said something like "it is legal but I wish it wasn't. Not enough bicycle riders are nice enough to share the road." Wait, so she doesn't want to share the road but bicycle riders "aren't nice enough to share the road." hmmmm

howsteepisit

I dislike the share the road concept as it seems to me like too many motorist think sharing the road means bicycles are fee to use the road as long as they stay out of my way. I prefer that we are all free to use the road as a concept.

Chris516

LOL I had to re-read this twice to understand your point. Wait, Doesn't she mean, some cyclists' are not nice enough? That she can pass them in the same lane without having to move over, or even cross the double-yellow line?(sarcasm, not real question)

+10000

There are signs that went up in my state saying "(bike symbol) may use full lane". But motorists' could care less. They behave just like you said.

kickstart

I think that "share the road" is a sound concept, people just need to be educated that sharing means having a willingness to give, not an expectation to take.

justblues

exactly. While I know that there are plenty of bicyclists that do not show proper road courtesy, the feeling I get is that the commenter's idea of a bicyclist being "nice enough to share" means to get out of her way regardless of the situation and the law.

PatrickGSR94

Yep, too many people think <Bike Symbol> "Share The Road" is directed to cyclists only, and that it means cyclists must get out of their way.

And it's Share The ROAD, not Share The Lane. Roads are first-come, first-served. I was here first, thank you. You can change lanes and safely pass and be on your way. If you encounter a motorist driving slowly, you change lanes and pass and be on your way. You should do the same with cyclists.

It doesn't help, though, when cyclists cower over at the road edge, inviting close passing because motorists think they can squeeze by in the lane. Then the cyclist complains because he thought he was trying to "share the road", and thinks the motorist isn't "sharing the road" because the motorist didn't move over enough when passing.

Be assertive, control your lane. Make it crystal clear to motorists that a lane change is required to pass. That's not being discourteous. That's being SAFE. And I proclaim that lane control actually IS being courteous because there's no question to a motorist as to whether or not they can squeeze by. Ride safe, ride predictable. That is TRUE courtesy.

Daniel4

I’ve read similar statements in several posting. Which is why I propose two things in the way of education: 1) when it’s time to renew the car’s license plate or a driver’s license, include in the mailing information about sharing the road with bicycles and how to properly pass them. A signature of agreement to comply would be required before the renewal is accepted; and 2) include 8 hours of on-road bicycle experience as a qualification to a driver’s license.

May not be popular but the mandatory seat belt law wasn't popular either when it was introduced in the 1970s.

FBinNY 

Many states in the east have been posting "share the road" signs for decades. I don't know if they make a difference, but by and large, I find drivers to be fine as fellow road users. Maybe it's simply because there were always bikes out here, and folks are more used to it.