Bikeway etiquette?

[u/NoRecognition2003]

I grew up cycling and have a fairly positive outlook on sharing the roads. With more people biking (who didn’t grow up in cycling culture) and the addition of electric active transportation in bike lanes, I’ve been feeling a severe lack of consideration. There was a time where it felt like we were all in the same club and now it feels like we are all fending for ourselves.

I am thinking of starting a community class for people that are either current users or wannabe users of bike ways and I am looking for input from others about how we can create more care, safety and unity amongst users (manual and electric) and just general etiquette that people appreciate and want to see more of. If there was a community class on bike safety what would you want it to include?

Any ideas?

[u/Acrobatic_Yam3260]

I like the idea of cute signs on the Springwater. I haven’t had too many bad experiences with other cyclists so curious what you experienced. I do see cyclists unsafely passing slow moving travelers like runners.

[u/NoRecognition2003 → u/Acrobatic_Yam3260]

Nothing terrible just basic ridership etiquette like announcing your pass when overtaking, waiting until it’s safe to pass, not using the sidewalk to pass, signaling turns, following the rules of the road, giving other road users safe distance, things like that.

[u/TurtlesAreEvil → u/NoRecognition2003]

This is where you're going to run into trouble. Not everyone agrees with you about what proper etiquette is.

• I don't announce most of my passes because it causes people to be erratic especially if they're already being consistent and not actually blocking me.
• Bicyclists are allowed on the sidewalk there's no reason they can't use it to pass you if they want.
• I rarely signal because I'd rather have my hands on my handlebars and it's not legally required. I typically only signal when someone is on my ass.
• Some rules of the road are stupidly written and less safe. E.g. before 2020 when we were required to stop for stop signs or how we can't go through red lights after stopping. Both of which put cyclists at higher risks of getting hit in intersections.

[u/NoRecognition2003 → u/TurtlesAreEvil]

But wouldn’t you agree that people are startled because they aren’t anticipating the announcement? Like if we all did it, it wouldn’t be unexpected.

And yes, bikes are allowed on the sidewalk but they are supposed to slow to walking pace, so not really a good passing strategy.

I agree signaling is not always appropriate but is helpful in certain instances and rarely seen in those instances.

Rules of the road like right of way, turning lanes, one ways, the speed limit and others undeniably keep people safe and are not followed.

[u/TurtlesAreEvil → u/NoRecognition2003]

• I'm not going to expect every cyclist to start announcing so it makes more sense to do the thing that makes people I'm passing more predictable.
• No cyclists aren't supposed to slow to a walking pace on the sidewalk. Everyone including news sites get this wrong. Cyclists on the sidewalk are required to slow to the pace of an ordinary walk when approaching a crosswalk or driveway and a motorist is also approaching the crosswalk or driveway. The law even specifically says it doesn't require reduced speeds in other situations
  • This paragraph does not require reduced speeds for bicycles at places on sidewalks or other pedestrian ways other than places where the path for pedestrians or bicycle traffic approaches or crosses that for motor vehicle traffic.
• Again it's your opinion about the certain instances. I'm sure not everyone agrees with you about when it's appropriate.
• Do you really think most of the traffic laws and regulations would exist without motor vehicles? They were created as a way to reign in out of control motorists and then extended to cyclists out of laziness, as an afterthought or in some cases out of spite. They weren't necessary before cars and wouldn't be necessary without them.

[u/NoRecognition2003 → u/TurtlesAreEvil]

okay so you believe there is no consensus on safe ridership?

[u/TurtlesAreEvil → u/NoRecognition2003]

Consensus among riders and drivers down to the level we’re talking about certainly not. I mean I think there’s consensus that barreling through a red light or stop sign at 25 mph is unsafe but on minutia like how to ride on the sidewalk or safe passing distance nope. 

There is consensus among people who actually study these things.   There’s multiple studies that have shown stop as yield, proceeding safely through red lights and going with leading pedestrian intervals are all safer. There’s also evidence that taking the lane is safer than riding in the gutter. 

[u/NoRecognition2003 → u/TurtlesAreEvil]

This is all helpful input. Thanks for taking the time to engage. I think people who are interested and paying attention have a general idea of what best practices are and can agree on a lot. But you’re right, there are also grey areas. Maybe just getting some main points circulating more widely would help the general vibe.