General Discussion

bhikkhu

(10,789 posts)

34. Oregon is a "share the road" state

Tue Oct 21, 2014, 01:46 AM

Oct 2014

and bicycles follow the same rules and have the same rights as cars. Sometimes "taking the lane" is the best option even for a solo rider where there really isn't room to safely let a vehicle by. Plenty of people are in a great hurry here, but its not that hard to relax a bit and drive safely, and ride safely, and share the road well enough. Most of the roads I ride on have no shoulder, so there's not much of an option, but I've gone over 100k miles on my bikes over the years without a single altercation.

With that said, the most dangerous situation for a cyclist to be in is when a vehicle comes up from behind and thinks he owns the road. I can hear a car coming from some distance, but without eyes in the back of my head, I have to trust them to be safe and responsible. If a driver has to slow down and make sure its safe to pass it might cost him a few seconds of travel time, but then we all live safely for another day.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

94 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

As someone who bikes everywhere, I think this is the most annoying thing I encounter. [View all] F4lconF16 Oct 2014 OP

I wish bikers would follow the rules too. postulater Oct 2014 #1

I'm a biker and I wish they did too. sakabatou Oct 2014 #28

Which is why I am hesitant to take my right of way joeglow3 Oct 2014 #70

I just want them to stay in the bike lane, LWolf Oct 2014 #46

I encounter same thing where 840high Oct 2014 #51

In Los Angeles at EVERY SINGLE LIGHT, every single day, kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #53

Heres my thing.. GummyBearz Oct 2014 #56

Cyclists going the wrong way, while boneheaded and completely kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #57

Thanks GummyBearz Oct 2014 #58

Going the wrong way? How do you know what way they are going? FSogol Oct 2014 #60

I made a similar observation downthread. Mariana Oct 2014 #62

Who's the menace? In your neighborhood, it sounds like it is more cars than bikes. postulater Oct 2014 #67

How many people (other than themselves) does the average bicyclist running a kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #83

Like I said, the 'average' bicyclist in my neighborhood postulater Oct 2014 #86

in my neighborhood hfojvt Oct 2014 #89

As someone who has been to L.A. a lot, that's quite a bit of an exxageration AZ Progressive Oct 2014 #72

Oh yes there are. I have lived here for 31 years and it has gotten REALLY kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #84

Living in the Boston area mythology Oct 2014 #87

Which one are you referring to ? VScott Oct 2014 #74

Ooops, sorry, it's the bicyclists that ignore the rule of the stop sign here. postulater Oct 2014 #79

if there's no traffic I don't see the need for a non motorized vehicle, nor pedestrian to stop CreekDog Oct 2014 #77

I wouldn't argue about the 'no traffic'situation. They should just go with whatever the law is. postulater Oct 2014 #80

Do you live in Brooklyn? Dorian Gray Oct 2014 #81

Ha, Brooklyn is like that too? postulater Oct 2014 #82

I think many places Dorian Gray Oct 2014 #93

In some places, that driver could be liable if something happened. flvegan Oct 2014 #2

I don't bike much but I walk several times daily and this makes me crazy! NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #3

Yes, very annoying when cars stop in the middle of nowhere. DLnyc Oct 2014 #10

As a pedestrian, I don't think this is always true. Jim Lane Oct 2014 #29

Where I live, any thoroughfares that large have controlled crossings. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #30

I hate it when they ride two abreast scarystuffyo Oct 2014 #4

It's rude and inconsiderate.......... Capt.Rocky300 Oct 2014 #6

Cyclists have every right to occupy a traffic lane. Thor_MN Oct 2014 #8

I have no problem with bicyclists using the traffic lane, provided they are riding at a decent clip. Maedhros Oct 2014 #16

100% agree. Thor_MN Oct 2014 #17

Portland and Seattle are pretty bad for this. F4lconF16 Oct 2014 #18

Saw a guy the other day with a blinking refector on the back of his helmet. AngryOldDem Oct 2014 #44

Yes. We have some narrow-but-busy and also not well-lit major streets in our Arugula Latte Oct 2014 #63

So, what they say is true then? VScott Oct 2014 #75

That's it, in a nutshell. AngryOldDem Oct 2014 #42

I have to admit that I'm biased in this regard. Maedhros Oct 2014 #65

Thank you, Especially for commenting on cyclists riding on sidewalks, instead of the designated lane hlthe2b Oct 2014 #50

I ride two abreast in groups all the time bhikkhu Oct 2014 #15

It is NOT 'perfectly legal' in Michigan. Statue maintains that the bicyclist Purveyor Oct 2014 #27

Oregon is a "share the road" state bhikkhu Oct 2014 #34

Which means there's plenty of exceptions which allow a cyclist to take the entire lane Major Nikon Oct 2014 #38

It's legal to ride two abreast in Michigan Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #55

Sec. 257.660a conflicts with 257.660b. How can one ride as close to the curb Purveyor Oct 2014 #66

257.660a (c) Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #76

No problems with you...It's those who are totally oblivious to cars that get me upset. AngryOldDem Oct 2014 #45

A lot of misunderstanding out there......... Capt.Rocky300 Oct 2014 #5

Lately they've been installing signs and town tammywammy Oct 2014 #11

That's a move in the right direction Tammy......... Capt.Rocky300 Oct 2014 #13

It's the kids. Archae Oct 2014 #7

A lot of competition for "most" annoying gratuitous Oct 2014 #9

Agree - that's what I do too bhikkhu Oct 2014 #12

Invisibility has it's rare advantages. F4lconF16 Oct 2014 #25

I haven't ridden in a few years, but IDemo Oct 2014 #14

I see the run stop signs and stoplights all the time. Flat out rude. Nt Logical Oct 2014 #20

Not rude at all. F4lconF16 Oct 2014 #23

Good one! 😄 Logical Oct 2014 #24

I don't run red lights ever bhikkhu Oct 2014 #36

I agree it's rude when used incorrectly IDemo Oct 2014 #43

In Idaho though it's the law. Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #61

I have a suggestion for bikers. Stop at all stop signs and stoplights. Nt Logical Oct 2014 #19

Can I have the first 10 seconds or so like cars do? Major Nikon Oct 2014 #40

Come on now. Drivers of cars don't break traffic laws. Mariana Oct 2014 #52

^^^This. Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #59

Not to mention.... Major Nikon Oct 2014 #68

Never been hit by a car as a pedestrian. Been hit three times by bikers who can't be bothered Recursion Oct 2014 #91

you should make this universal advice esp for the state of NJ. nt La Lioness Priyanka Oct 2014 #69

While Some Bicyclists Wave Drivers By Them into the Path of Oncoming Cars AndyTiedye Oct 2014 #21

Some of that may be misunderstanding. F4lconF16 Oct 2014 #22

Ha! That was me looking back at them with the sour face. Keep moving please. ffr Oct 2014 #26

I love this OP! I HATE when car drivers just stop to let another car (bike, pedestrian) "go ahead." WinkyDink Oct 2014 #31

I walk to work every day and get the same thing at a couple crosswalks gristy Oct 2014 #32

It's not only about bikers defacto7 Oct 2014 #33

+1 F4lconF16 Oct 2014 #37

80% of my biking is on trails, so... Whiskeytide Oct 2014 #35

Bike trails or mountain trails? F4lconF16 Oct 2014 #39

Bike trails... Whiskeytide Oct 2014 #49

By far the most dangerous places are intersections Major Nikon Oct 2014 #41

"Regardless of where you ride there are hazards..." Whiskeytide Oct 2014 #48

That goes for walking as well Ruby the Liberal Oct 2014 #47

I would like to, just once in my life, be able to bike the 2 miles to or from my office kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #54

I was recently in Portland OR PasadenaTrudy Oct 2014 #64

Agreed, but I can't keep going when someone on a bike is four feet into my lane and Zorra Oct 2014 #71

If the most annoying thing is someone trying to be nice.... Marrah_G Oct 2014 #73

Yes, but when their "niceness" F4lconF16 Oct 2014 #88

I biked a lot until I messed up my knee a few years ago. There's plenty of stoopid to go 'round. Gidney N Cloyd Oct 2014 #78

Except at 40 below with visibility about 3 feet (if you're lucky). raven mad Oct 2014 #85

A bicyclist who stops at stop signs? Cool story, bro Recursion Oct 2014 #90

... F4lconF16 Oct 2014 #94

"every road user wants predictability from other users" I would add to that LiberalElite Oct 2014 #92