CrankyOne

What is the posted speed limit? What is the actual speed of traffic? If I block the lane by going 13 mph, how difficult will it be for cars to move to the other lane to get around me?

Hypno Toad

+1

I do cheat and have done this a number of times. Based on the OP image, there are no workers and vehicles in view; therefore, I will ride to the right of the cones. In other situations, trucks and the crew are visible and working on to the right of the cones, I will take the whole lane left of the cones. I have never had an issue with this logic, the worst thing that happens is that an unseen issue up the road forces you to move to the left of the cones at an inopportune time and you'll need to stop and wait for an opening in traffic.

CliffordK

I usually cut to the right of the cones, but watch out for construction activities. If I come up to a group of workers or place where the road surface is not passable, I'll cut over into the lane and sprint to get around them, then return to the protected zone. I don't like the sidewalks, but I've even seen signs directing bikes onto the sidewalks (which can be impassable with my trailer). I just give me as big of a buffer as I can from cars, and construction equipment.

I ALWAYS follow the instruction of the flaggers, and will stop until they say to go, at which point I may take the lane and sprint around the construction.

Recently we had a construction project that closed a major arterial heading out of town. It left 3 choices. 1: ride through the construction. 2: a couple of extra miles out of the way, and a mile or so on the freeway. 3: about 10 miles through the next city over, and a big hill.

I just picked my way through the construction, and the workers just expected the bikes and pedestrians to do that. Stopped and steered clear of anything moving. It was a bit of a pain, but it also reduced traffic for miles after the construction, and thus provided an overall benefit.

noisebeam

I'd tuck in behind that dark grey car to my left. Key is to merge early, no surprises.

jeichelberg87

Having already replied to the thread, why am I responsible for any "confused, angry motorist?"

I read a bunch of replies here indicating some of you would start weaving in and out of the cones...I thought being unpredictable was a hallmark cause of accidents?

I-Like-To-Bike

Hallmark case? What does that mean? I suspect in this instance it is related in meaning to "Urban Legend" or "Conventional Wisdom."

jeichelberg87

No, not at all. Hallmark cause, not hallmark case. Just read the available statements relative to car/bicycle accidents, made by the motorist. Invariably, the motorist is quoted, stating something related to the unpredictable nature of the cyclist being the cause of the accident (e.g. "The cyclist came from nowhere," or, "The cyclist was going to slow," or "The cyclist turned right in front of me.") With statements like, "I would weave in and out of the cones," I would think it might lend some credence to some statements made by these motorists involved in collisions with cyclists.

Chris516

The only responsibility, I would think. Is potentially repetitive alterations in lane position. But as for a motorist being angry. That is their problem. Not mine. Because, Taking the lane, is not 'taking the road'. So a motorist has plenty of opportunity, to pass.

kickstart

I can't believe some of you seriously debating the "weave through the cones" option. They were being facetious.

jeichelberg87

I am unable to ascertain whether or not some of the posters were being facetious in their response.

Hypno toad appears serious here on page 3 and ILTB appears serious on page 2.

I-Like-To-Bike

You have it backwards, the "hallmark cause" is often used by some motorists involved in accidents with all sorts of vehicles including bicycles, as a justification/excuse for their own carelessness or inattention to traffic conditions, or in the case of so-called bicycling safety advocates as a justification for promoting whatever education program or technique they like.

There are no real world stats/data calling out "unpredictable behavior" by bicyclists as a cause of accidents. It is just a handy-dandy, no-defined-meaning vague label assigned to whatever a bicyclist was doing preceding an accident, whether legal or not, or predictable or not, by some people with an agenda.

jeichelberg87

Surely you do not deny there are actual "real world stats/data," consisting of motorist testimony of what causes accidents between cyclists/motorists? And that (the stated cause, not the actual cause) is all I addressed in my post; however, with people advocating such behavior on a cyclist forum, the probability of erratic and unpredictable behavior on the part of the cyclist as being the cause of cyclist motorist accidents rose.

AlmostTrick

How often do motorists use this hallmark cause? I'd like to see some real world stats/data backing this claim up.

Korina

As others have said, take the construction lane as long as it's safe, keeping my eyes open for moving vehicles, holes in the road, and personnel.

I'm not a trusting person; I don't trust a driver to notice me beyond a 'Hunh, I wonder what that bump was?' then return to their phone conversation. I treat drivers like they're blind, stupid, and not paying attention; so far, so good.

I-Like-To-Bike

The answer, according to jeichelberg87, is "invariably" whenever the motorist is quoted.

Real world stats/data backing up claims made on A&S? Don't you know A&S brand bicycle safety experts don't need no stinkin' real world stats/data; not when they can type anything that sounds good and be believed by true believers.
https://www.bikeforums.net/advocacy-s...l#post18238272

"Invariably, the motorist is quoted, stating something related to the unpredictable nature of the cyclist being the cause of the accident (e.g. "The cyclist came from nowhere," or, "The cyclist was going to slow," or "The cyclist turned right in front of me.")"

baron von trail 

I'd be on the sidewalk.

boattail71

Great question HBx and great responses to all. And good reference photo too.

IMO:

C) I always take the construction lane in this case (esp. as seen in photo) when there's plenty of room and there's no active construction. I hug the cones and I feel especially safe as I'm outta the real traffic lane and I'm not in the way of fast moving traffic and obviously we'd not be impeding construction work* (as picture suggests).

B) If the construction zone is not safe, i.e. *active working area, debris, assertive flagman, etc., then I'll take the right side of the lane so as not to impede traffic and especially not to anger motorists and give cyclists a bad name to a minority of those average drivers. Again, photo suggest that there's plenty of room for the two of us to coextist.

A) I will only take the lane in cases where there's really no room for the two of us to coexist AND if my temporary acceleration to 20 mph or so can closely match the normal flow of traffic. If those factors cannot be met then, well, I'm on the wrong road - shame on me.

B) addendum) Specifically to that pic, that road looks like there's plenty of room for a car and a bike to coexist for a while, and traffic seems faster than I could ride even with summer fitness - definitely I would NOT take the lane and slow car traffic and thusly give us all a bad name.

RISKDR1

In california youj can take the lane if there is not enough room for bike and car with 3 feet of clearance. If there is room then you should ride as far t other right as safe. Looking at this picture I would say take the lane.

jon c. 

I would most always take the lane in such a situation. Unless, as others have stated, there's a long stretch with no work or workers.

Had a two lane road here being repaved a while back and they'd close off one lane for about a mile at a time as they were working. Flagmen at either end controlled the resultant single lane traffic. A few times they waved me to the front of the waiting lane as they apparently wanted to slow the line of cars as it passed the work area. It was clear they expected me to take the lane.

Once, they were actively working in about half the closed area but weren't working on the last 1/3 of a mile or so that was up a fairly steep hill. I went inside the cones up the hill and the few cars behind me cleared the area. But the lane was closed until the top of the hill and even though I wasn't using the travel lane, the flagman wouldn't let the opposing traffic start until I crested the hill and cleared the cones. Felt a tinge of guilt there as it was sort of unnecessary, but it probably wasn't more than a minute or so.

ModeratedUser

Take the lane and get in the lane before they start riding your a$$. What I like using when in traffic like this a two watt rear flashing light. There's a few different modes on the light and the one I like is one I'd never use for night riding, and that's a fast off and on mode. This setting is waaay too much for a night mode.

I'd have no reason not to take the lane too. There's another lane to the left, so no biggy.