Originally Posted by
CheGiantForLife
It feels unsafe and borderline reckless to ride in actual traffic where there is no shoulder. For those who ride on roads with no shoulder, how do you deal with the fact that when you're riding with traffic, cars are constantly having to move half way out of the lane you're occupying? If there is not much traffic, this is not a big deal for the car, as there is another entire lane to use for passing the bike. But, during thicker traffic times, where cars are in both lanes, the bike is creating an obstacle on the road and potentially causing car accidents, particularly if there are cars in both lanes and one sideswipes another while having to avoid the bike by swerving into the left lane. Not only is this totally unnerving for the rider, but it creates a real danger for cars. This also applies to one lane roads, where the car must cross over double yellow lines to avoid the bike, thereby risking a fatal head on collision. This is an ethical line I simply can not cross.
Best practices for riding with traffic when there is no shoulder?
There are few roads with shoulders where I live, somewhat out in the county. So, I pick roads with few to no cars and monitor every single car that might kill me.
I was on an organized ride recently in other states on roads that are the best offered in that area and franky, it was a stressful monitoring cars approaching from the rear on broken pavement, even in the areas with a generous 12-24 inches to the right of the fog line. A very careful cycling buddy was hit from behind and seriously injured. Roads that many feel comfortable on, I won't ride. If I need to take a lane, I take it but rarely need to. It is usually on high speed descents and I do not release the lane until I am damned ready and safe. That is how I deal with it.