Road cycling, which side?

['Dale]

So, I'm riding with the traffic and you against, both now on the same side of the road, which one of us has to swerve into the traffic and get mashed??

'Nuff said

[scotty]

Cant find it but a while back someone posted that they were stopped while riding on the left and informed by the cop that they should be riding on the right against traffic. Ignorance is not only limited to cyclists. 

[SwissVan]

I was asking seriously, and where better to ask than on the hub?

 

My concern was that early morning the only traffic on the road here are taxis and busses. I do not trust them. They tend not to move over a bit when passing, they just plow straight ahead.

 

I'm with the follow the rule of the road crowd, but not only because its the law and I'm not sure which way to move when I met vetseun coming the other way...the biggest reason is I'm a coward and I'd rather not see the taxi just before it plows headlong into me.

 

Why don't u try it, and give us feedback...have you got a GoPro or something like that...might make interesting watching?

[Tubehunter]

Besides all the mechanics of speed at impact and the other valid responses, the real question is why is it the law??

 

I'll attempt to explain it without writing a book, but basically the system of traffic we follow in this country is to keep left and pass right. As a cyclist your moving speed and traffic flow is similar to that of a vehicle and you require the same principles on the road to be effective in merging with the traffic.

 

When you cycle on the wrong side against traffic you become a complete hazard to everyone else who is not expecting to find you where you are. Every motorist trying to pull into traffic with a left turn and focusing on looking to the right to see traffic will not consider whether you are coming towards them. This hazard by itself will be the likely cause of you t-boning someone long after you have constantly had to deal with the wrath of everyone else working with the system of traffic on the left and encountering you as an unforeseen obstacle.

 

Bear in mind every pedestrain and anyone attempting to cross the road where you are approaching will not be thinking of you coming along on the opposite side of the road. Your risk on the road will increase tenfold because no one will be anticipating you being where you are.

 

If you genuinely feel too unsafe on the road when you ride with traffic flow, than I would suggest finding a quiet neighbourhood and doing laps there or considering to rather ride off road only.

[scotty]

 

Why don't u try it, and give us feedback...have you got a GoPro or something like that...might make interesting watching?

You encouraging him 

[Pure Savage]

I was asking seriously, and where better to ask than on the hub?

 

My concern was that early morning the only traffic on the road here are taxis and busses. I do not trust them. They tend not to move over a bit when passing, they just plow straight ahead.

As said before its the law, regardless if you think its safer. What if people consider jumping red lights as safer? You cant choose which rules suit you.

 

Harden up and cycle on the left.

[SwissVan]

You encouraging him 

 

Encouraging him to go forth and discover, I'm one of those who learns better by doing something and not reading about it. Thought maybe he might be the same...

[NukeproofPeanut]

I find this is a common misconception many people have. Riding on the right is definitely not safer.

 

I've even had this same argument with the SO. It only took passing a couple of roadies to prove my point (at least they weren't riding 4 abreast in the middle of the road  ).

[GaryvdM]

This study showed that you are 3.6 times more likely to get hit by a car riding against traffic: http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Library/riskfactors.htm

 

 

Since you are new to riding on the road, here are some tips: http://bicyclesafe.com/ (You just need to swap left and right arround as it's written by an American.)

[DJR]

This study showed that you are 3.6 times more likely to get hit by a car riding against traffic: http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Library/riskfactors.htm

 

 

Since you are new to riding on the road, here are some tips: http://bicyclesafe.com/ (You just need to swap left and right arround as it's written by an American.)

Very interesting study that - you get the "most relevant post award" for today

[madbradd]

Wow, mainly "its the law deal with" arguements which is quite interesting since the general response for the recent guy riding without a helmet was "it's none of your business if he wants to ride without one", not to mention various other traffic rule transgression threads.

 

To the OP: remember that recreational cyclists generally ride in groups, not individually like commuters. Often these groups take up quite a bit of space on the road making it very dangerous and awkward when approaching on coming traffic. Anyone who has jumped the gun a bit on approaching intersections where a right turn is required can testify to this.

 

Regarding commuters, these guys are equally awkward to pass when they are cycling toward your bunch of riders. In addition during a large portion of the year they are required to ride with lights, which when cycling into oncoming traffic blinds and confuses motorists making for dangerous situations.

 

Bottom line is that there is a standard - vehicles travel in 1 direction, pedestrians in another. Yes your bicycle is considered a vehicle. So get comfortable riding with traffic.

[Kranswurm]

You encouraging him 

It will strengthen the gene pool

Silly but entertaining thread which has cropped up a number of times before

We had a rocket scientist and his son the other day at the intersection of Veld and Vlei Road in Glen Marais jump across in peak hour traffic on the wrong side and almost get taken out by a car turning left.He then swore at the surprised driver....

Nice example of an idiot

[kolaval]

This study showed that you are 3.6 times more likely to get hit by a car riding against traffic: http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Library/riskfactors.htm

 

 

Since you are new to riding on the road, here are some tips: http://bicyclesafe.com/ (You just need to swap left and right arround as it's written by an American.)

Thank you.

Finally someone with a decent response.

I was beginning to wonder if there were any adults here.

 

Any case i found this interesting, related to cycling: http://www.vice.com/read/you-can-kill-anyone-you-want-with-your-car-as-long-as-you-dont-really-mean-it

[Bonus]

There has also been a study that shows that other cyclists are 99% more likely to want to punch you in the face if you ride towards them at speed on the wrong side of the road.

 

:-)

[DJR]

Thank you.

Finally someone with a decent response.

I was beginning to wonder if there were any adults here.

 

Any case i found this interesting, related to cycling: http://www.vice.com/read/you-can-kill-anyone-you-want-with-your-car-as-long-as-you-dont-really-mean-it

Hey, if it wasn't Christmas, I would have been upset! My posts were all very 'grown up'!

[Capricorn]

You encouraging him 

its a plot to arrange a darwin award.