Multiple Cyclists in Traffic Should Follow Skiing & Snowboarding Rules and Etiquette
La la laaa, I’m just ridin’ my bike. Hmm hmm hmm, ridin’ my bike. *WOOOOOSH!!* DEG, WHAT THE F?!!
For all of its wonders and joys and amazing moments, San Francisco — the bikiest of all bikey cities that I’ve ever lived in — has presented me with one unique challenge on the cycling front: there are so many cyclists on the road that the volume of riders has created dangerous situations for me.
Talk about a first!
And of all the possible situations on the road that I could complain about as a cyclist, believe me, I’m happy to be wrestling with this one. I have a proposed solution, but first bear with me and allow me to set the stage.
Here’s How It Goes Down
You’re riding your bike in SF. Let’s say…down Market St, not too unlikely of a scenario. You’re riding in the bike lane on Market, kind of between two little pockets of morning-time bike commuters that are also in the bike lane. You’re aware, you’re riding safe, you have good bike-handling skills, you’re doing everything right.
Suddenly, amidst the thick of traffic — parked cars and opening doors on your right, cabs and buses and cars to your left — another cyclist quickly squeezes by you in the bike lane without warning. GEEZ! THAT WAS CLOSE!
Hmm. I guess I’m ok. But what if I had just happened to swerve only inches over to avoid the lip of a manhole cover, or an opening car door? We would have both eaten it, big time! In traffic! We could have even been knocked over into the car lanes under a bus or something. And that’s one quick way that squishy brains go splat — pardon my french.
For a solution, I think we should all agree to follow snow etiquette. What does that mean? It means this:
The passing cyclist is responsible for the safety of the cyclist that is being passed.
This is no different from the rules when you go skiing or snowboarding. If you are moving faster, or impatient with the person in front of you, it’s up to you to alert them that you’re passing, and to execute the pass in a manner that is safe for both of you. It’s unfair to require the person being passed to be aware of everything going on behind them.
Thoughts? Feelings? Dish!