livedarklions

This is my approach to the right hand curve as well, ride as far to the right as I possibly can. If the driver is going to make an error due to inattention, it's far more likely they're going to go to be too far to the left than curve too sharply and take me out on the right. That said, I don't dawdle at the end of a right curve because I figure the less time spent there the better, it's just that there's no safer place on that section of road than the right margin (barring potholes, crumbling, etc.). But, yeah, lots of winding, rolling country hills in my riding, and I cannot think of a single situation where I think I'd be safer salmoning.

bikecrate

I take this kind of personally since I was hit by a wrong way cyclist coming around a blind corner. I got injuries and a damaged bike. So if you want a reason why people are telling you to ride with traffic it is because you are endangering your fellow riders with this behavior.

livedarklions

That's a really good point.

I also find that the salmons seem to mostly ride on the (my) right edge of the road, forcing me out further into traffic that's behind me. I don't mind this when it's a kid, but there's a shocking number of adults who play this game.

Maelochs

I have never been hit by a salmon, but I have been forced into traffic without warning to avoid a collision (the fear being that after the crash i would fall into traffic, and it would take longer to get up and get away, if I were even healthy enough to get up and get out of danger.) This has happened many times ... because the salmon never seem to want to give up the bike lane or the edge of the road.

Not all of them have Walmart MTBs and plastic shopping bags hanging from the bars .... but all that I have met seemed less comfortable on a bike than myself, and I am too nice a guy (no, really .... at least sometimes) to force them into Traffic because they clearly cannot handle it .....

What happened to @bikecrate shows Exactly why all the lame excuses about riding the wrong way in traffic is in any way "better" are pure BS.

_ForceD_

As the first respondent to the OP, and questioning why he would do it, and wondering about the “countless reasons” for doing it…and now with a couple dozen responses telling him how dumb it is…I wish he’d respond with his defense.

Dan

livedarklions

Judging from his other threads, his response will probably be scatological.

Maelochs

Maybe he has realized that "Why it is smart to drive head-on into oncoming traffic" is a difficult thesis to defend.

tomato coupe

At the very least, I'd like to know the first 100 of the countless reasons.

CliffordK

There are a couple of places I've ridden to the right. Sometimes picking my way along a sidewalk without pedestrians.

#1... Left turn onto a 4-lane road from a side road, knowing I'll be turning into a left side driveway in about a block. It just works better to cut down the left without fighting to cross the road, then cross it again in a block. I'll be on a sidewalk or in a parking lot for most of the distance.

#2... making a left turn from a driveway into a 2-lane road with turn lanes, etc. Somehow that road seems like a madhouse right at that driveway. About a block later (just past a T-intersection), traffic cools down and it is easier/safer to make my move across. Again, parking lots and sidewalks.

#3... I might consider making my way leftward early to facilitate a left hand turn. Generally a wide shoulder, and very short distance. In one case a more or less protected island.

#4... Marked 2-way bike lane. Usually some amount of protection.

Now, routinely riding on the left, or hopping back and forth from side to side??? It is just a potential disaster in the works.

One thing about cars, they're able to deal with bikes riding 10 to 20 MPH with traffic. If I can't safely pass, I'll slow down to bike speed until I can safely pass. Or perhaps I'll simply adjust my speed some so when I arrive at the bike, I have the best opportunity to safely pass. With a bike coming at you, that would be a full stop. With ditches, curbs, and guardrails are you taking evasive actions when riding on the right?

Speeds? If you are riding 10 MPH to 20 MPH, and cars are driving about 40 MPH. Going with the traffic, the speed differential is about 20 to 30 MPH. Going against traffic, the speed differential is 50 to 60 MPH, giving vehicles a lot less time to react, and making an accident worse.

Most of the curves around here are such that one can see the road for a significant distance before and after the curve. So, if a bike is on a road, then disappears around the corner... I tend to expect the bike to be there the when I arrive at the corner.

One thing you need to be aware of is stopping. So, don't stop and fix a flat tire or take a break in a blind spot. Keep moving until you have good visibility both ways.

If the corner is super blind, and cars are "flying"... are you able to safely cross across the road to make the corner on the left, and deal with the opposing traffic?

indyfabz

I had a salmon guy yell at me for pulling over to the curb and forcing him to go out into traffic. It happened at a place where that sort of thing is fairly common on nice weekends. Based on his bike and clothing, he was not an inexperienced rider, just a selfish one.

tomato coupe

One of the OP's other threads has vaporized ... this one could be next.

livedarklions

First ten, anyway:

1. The right side of the road is coated with molasses due to an overturned truck.

2. Skunk!

3. Lemonade stand on left.

4. I'm feeling sinister.

5. Hurricane force winds to the left.

6. To impress Jodie Foster.

7. To spite Maelochs .

8. It's the correct side in the UK.

9. Your mom is a countless reason.

10. Flatulent cyclist on right side.

genejockey 

The ONLY TIME that I will ride on the wrong side is in the last 50 yards of my Sunday ride, as I approach my house. We live on a somewhat busy street, so I usually take advantage of moments when there's nobody either coming up behind me, or in the opposing lane, to swing over to the left side of the street and ride in THAT bike lane, or on that sidewalk if it's empty, rather than doing it "the right way". This is also the only time I'd ride on a sidewalk. Apart from that, never.

There are several places nearby where cyclists sometimes ride on the wrong side, and generally they are a hazard for me, because I have to move farther into the traffic lane to avoid them. That, and since they're riding on the wrong side of the road anyway, who knows which side of ME they expect to ride on?

The point about being predictable is key - If you're a driver approaching a wrong-side cyclist, you don't know why they're there, and you don't know what they'll do, plus you are a lot more likely to happen on them suddenly - the whole 'closing speed' issue.

tomato coupe

11. Moose hogging the right lane.

genejockey 

indyfabz

Having taken Latin in high school, I see what you did there.

tomato coupe

I thought it was bad Italian.

rumrunn6

what a magnificent creature! astonishing endurance! way more interesting than this troll thread

tomato coupe

Yeah, he's got legs -- literally and figuratively.

indyfabz

genejockey 

The thing about moose and ostriches is that they're both goofy, comical-looking animals that can totally kill you.

epnnf

why does every bike have Drive Side on the left? jus curious

livedarklions

No, I'm a bad Jew.

tomato coupe

They're prototypes. Big Bike is moving drive trains to the left side next year. Apparently the profits from disc brakes wasn't enough to satisfy them.

veganbikes

Having had to deal with these people in bike lanes, I already have the parked cars and people deciding to walk or just hang out in the bike lane now I have to deal with people going the wrong way against the clearly marked arrows. I don't get the idea of being a salmon unless you are actually a fish then it makes sense.

In the couple of times I have ridden on the wrong side of the road I never felt safer in fact I felt a lot less safe and I was not a super experienced cyclist at the time. Yeah sure there are some laws that make no sense or are just to help those who don't need help but keeping to your lane and not riding against traffic makes a ton of sense. If the multitudes of comments in this thread haven't convinced you yet maybe please just DON'T RIDE ON THE ROAD. If you literally cannot keep on your own side anywhere maybe stick to an indoor trainer. It doesn't help anyone when you decide for yourself to ride against the flow.