Re: Let's hide the bicyclists behind parked cars. What could go wrong?

On 1/12/2025 11:38 PM, John B. wrote:

On 12 Jan 2025 21:30:00 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:
 

I’m bit baffled personally that this is an issue? It’s even in the uk
Highway Code I’m not aware of it being changed ie the advice has always
been to ride in the center of the lane, moving left to allow other vehicles
to pass if safe to do so.
>

 You mean in traffic traveling as much as 90 kmh the bicycle traveling,
an average speed of 3o kmh should travel in the middle of the lane?

The fearful skeptics here are, first, ignoring the traffic laws. Those laws absolutely allow what Roger claims. And second, the fearful skeptics are imagining Worst Case Scenarios to justify their paranoia.
"Traffic traveling as much as 90 kph" is usually much less problem for me than John pretends, in part because most of the roads I ride have slower speeds, chosen because of aesthetics. Less traffic and less road noise is more pleasant.
And even those with 55 mph cars seldom have continuous platoons. One or two motorists at a time are easy to deal with. In either case, when motorists see me at lane center, they seem to realize right away that they will have to adjust their speed, their lane choice or whatever. It's rare to even get a horn honk.
The guy who rides only a tricycle only on a bike path can stop reading now, but: I remember one solo bike tour probably 20 years ago. I wanted to spend the night camping in a state park I'd never seen in Pennsylvania. Navigating by paper maps, I got myself into the situation that strikes terror into some hearts here: With no warning, the highway I was riding turned into four narrow lanes with rush hour traffic and a wall at my right. There was literally nowhere to go.
Yes, it was unpleasant. Yes, motorists behind me were angry. But I did the only thing I could do: I rode in the center of the right lane until I could exit. I suffered no attacks, no crashes, no damage.
What would you have done?
--
- Frank Krygowski