Line-cutting

Melanie Snyder of Vienna recently wrote in to Dr. Gridlock

Scenario: I am driving along a lovely two-lane road. I approach a cyclist and patiently follow until I can swing out wide and pass. Not too far after, I come to a stoplight.

While we wait for the green, the cyclist passes all the waiting cars, sometimes running through the red light. Now the cyclist is first again, and all of us have to putt along behind until we can pass again. This seems wrong and dangerous.

Now let's ignore the red light running part. Running red lights is illegal, and thus wrong on one level at least. Whether it's necessarily dangerous is a discussion we've had many times before. But, this isn't what she'd really complaining about.

Her complaint rang true with others I talked to. After waiting behind a cyclist - sometimes for miles - for a safe chance to pass it is frustrating to find yourself behind them because they passed on the right and moved to the front of a line of stopped cars. This isn't illegal - if you can do it without crossing the white stop line, which is illegal. Of course, in some places road designers actually encourage cyclists to move to the head of the queue by creating Advanced Stop Lines or bike boxes - but these probably aren't on the kind of roads Ms. Snyder is describing.

Dr. Gridlock dances around the answer: "cyclists must follow the same rules as cars" (which isn't technically correct), cyclists are "still struggling for full recognition of their rights on the streets and for their share of transportation resources". But about as close to an opinion he gets to is "Cyclists who really believe that cycling should be part of the mainstream of America's transportation should... do what it takes to gain the support of other travelers."

Usually in this situation, I line up at the back of the line - I don't care to be passed by a bunch of angry drivers any more than they care to be stuck behind me. If there's more than one lane, or a shoulder or bike lane, then I move to the front if I can do so safely (yes, I cross the stop line if I can). But what do people think, is the situation she described rude - and, as always, this poll is highly unscientific, so please, no wagering.

Comments

[longley]

My big issue with waiting in a line of cars is that I'm stuck sucking exhaust - really not the most pleasant (or healthiest) thing in the world.

[Shawn]

I think its totally legal. Whether or not she likes it is another matter.

From http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/programs/bk-laws.asp#Passing

Passing

Bicyclists may overtake and pass another vehicle only when safe to do so. Bicyclists may pass another vehicle on the right or left, and they may stay in the same lane, change lanes, or ride off the road if necessary for safe passing. Please note that passing motor vehicles on the right side may be extremely dangerous if the motorist does not see the bicyclist and attempts a right turn.

A person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard or scooter, or moped shall not travel between two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction, except where one lane is a separate turn lane or a mandatory turn lane.

Motorists must approach and pass a bicyclist at a reasonable speed at least two feet to the left of the bicyclist.
Reference: §§46.2-839,46.2-907

[ridethewomble]

I'll do whatever gets us separated as quickly as possible. On a two lane road, I'd stay in line. I would take the lane, of course, as the "close pass" is almost inevitable when you are accelerating from zero.

Why would you want an enraged psycho breathing down your neck? If they're going to get around me anyway, I let them go. That way, I can enjoy my ride without having some idiot with a massive sense of entitlement six inches from my back wheel.

...of course, who knows what the real facts of the Vienna situation were? When viewed through the selfish prism with which a lot of Washingtonians see the world, facts get distorted. I once got close-passed on a curvy, 25 MPH downhill (I was going 25, for sure) in a residential neighborhood by a Blackberry-wielding, BMW-driving maniac who appeared to be late for a lunch date. When I caught up to her at the next stop sign (of course), she yelled, "I'm tired of bikes not riding in the bike lane!" The bike lane she was talking about was a parking lane, with cars parked in it.

If Dr. Gridlock believed her version of events, we'd all look pretty bad. I can assure you, though -- all the danger created, and all the risk stupidly assumed, was her responsibility.

[ridethewomble]

I agree with Shawn that "filtering up" is legal. If I think it will keep me in the vicinity of the cars around me longer than "keeping my place in line," though, I'll just stay back, and let the cars get away.

[Jon]

What I found ridiculous about that column was tying misbehavior by cyclists to support for funding. I wrote into his chat suggesting that we tie automobile infrastructure funding to cars stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks. (He didn't respond.)

I spend 95% of my time in my car and have only been biking for a few months, but I am get more and more outraged by the car-centric views some people have. Must be contagious.

[jeff]

Is it rude? depends. If traffic is backed up on the other side of the intersection and I will remain ahead of the first car in the cue by continuing to split lanes I will move to the front. Same if the blocks are really short between lights timed to make me stop.

If there's no congestion and no other potential stop for a good ways and minimal traffic cued up I will take my place in line. Why put myself in a position where cars will simply have to pass me and risk hitting me?

[ridethewomble]

Jon makes a good point. In arguments about bikes, especially where funding is involved, people not on the bike side make the argument that bikes don't pay their fair share of costs for infrastructure.

It's as if I don't own two cars I fill up with taxed fuel, and I don't pay property tax on them and my house, and I don't pay state and federal income tax.

That argument drives me bonkers.

[JTS]

Jon - welcome! The more you bike the less you'll want to drive. Glad to see another advocate on the streets!

ridethewomble is so on the money with his 1020 post. The number of times I have to listen to some co-worker rave about how s/he almost spilled iced coffee all over the place because s/he was dialing a number into her cell, turned a corner, and had to slam on the brakes because some cyclist was "taking up the whole lane." I wish I was exaggerating to make a point.

[Grendel]

I'm one to take my place in line whether on two lanes or more. The only exception is when there is a separate bike lane where I won't be a factor in the traffic congestion. The one exception to my rule is if the line of traffic is caused by motorists running into each other. This happens about every 3-4 months during rush hour at the intersection of Annapolis Rd and the BW Parkway ramps. I filter in this situation because once past the wreck there will be two lanes to handle the single lane of traffic getting past the wreck. I feel no obligation to hang back in a situation created by impatient motorists.

[JoeBanks2020]

Isn't staying alive the important part? Belligerent motorists should know I spend every moment on the street making eye contact, looking through windows, checking my mirrors, making up scenarios about what's going to happen next and generally trying to psychoanalyze every car I may have to deal with.

Being overtaken is the worst part of cycling and most cyclists who put themselves in that situation are there because they have no better alternative! I'll do anything to avoid it but sometimes you just get caught. No one likes it, please give me a break.

[mallfellow]

I always queue up behind the last car in line unless there's a bike lane or extra-wide shoulder.

My biggest issue is that I will often get passed in the 50-100 feet leading up to me stopping behind the last car in line. I do my best (within reason and taking my safety into account) to take the lane to avoid getting passed/crowded out right before stopping but there are some drivers that just must get ahead of 'that cyclist.'

[Joe D]

If I'm sure I'll get through the next light, I'll wait my turn. If it's a long line and I'm not sure I'll get the light, and there's no shoulder across the intersection, I might cross, then get off the road and let everyone pass while I get a drink of water.

[Washcycle]

Filtering up is legal, but crossing the white stop line isn't.

I agree that staying alive is the most important part. I won't give up any safety for someone else's convenience, nor should I expect anyone else to. But it's worth asking if we shouldn't be willing to give up a small amount of convenience - moving to the front - for a larger amount of convenience for others.

Jeff, I'm with you. I'm not going to miss a green light in these situations, and I'll behave differently where traffic is backed up or the blocks are short. I was picturing a narrow, lightly-used country road in this situation.

[jeff]

I think the more rude behavior is cyclists who cut in line on other cyclists. I deal with this every day on my commute up and down 14th. Usually the same thing happens as with cars- they pull directly in front me (usually in the crosswalk). When the light turns green, if they've waited that long, I pass them 10-20 feet down the road and stay in front until we get stopped again. Rinse. Repeat.

[Jack]

If it's a road where passing is easy I don't worry too much about forcing drivers to "repass". But if it's difficult to pass, I try not to let the same driver pass me twice (unless I'm at a really backed up signal and then it hardly matters). It's maddening to drivers who wait patiently to pass, and it only rewards aggressive passing. We're all vehicle operators and it's good to be kind to one another.

[Jonathan Krall]

Like most of the posters above, I pick and choose my actions based on what is safe and effective (in the lightly-trafficked country road example, I'd wait).

I think the real problem is Dr Gridlock's uninformative (and possibly misleading) column. Cyclists get enough flak from motorists without Dr G giving them the impression that passing stopped cars might not be legal. I wrote to Dr G ([email protected]) about it, with a CC to the Post's Ombudsman ([email protected]).

[Ian]

Jeff--being passed by other cyclists at a stoplight is a huge pet peeve for me, too. Especially when it's someone that I had already passed in the previous couple of blocks. You've all the sudden decided you're going to be riding faster than me now?

I think part of it is from being on a folding bike and people just assuming that I'm going to be slowing them down. I guess I can kind of understand that if you only see me stopped at a light, but not if I've already passed you!

[think a little]

Ian and Jeff-
Totally agree with you....rode 14th this AM (830ish) and that was one of many many ass-hat behaviors that I saw. Id say close to 50% of the cyclists were both dis-obeying the law and doing it in a way that was either hazardous and/or annoying to everyone around them

Mr White Shirt/Black bike at 14th and Farragut who blew through the light at 20mph and nearly clipped me as I came to a stop that means you

and Mr Im cool on my fixee and nearly ran the pedestrian down in the crosswalk at 14th @the Nemiah center you too

and Ms. Look at my red and blue racing gear as I lane split at high speed through stopped traffic just North of the circle at 14th and Mass

and the cake goes to mr kakhi pants rolled up white socks no helmet ipod buds in who decided that red meant green on 14th and K and nearly got taken out by a truck with a left turn arrow

Every time this sort of thing happens it gets another driver mad and more willing to take me out and it makes me cranky....so please please stop it.

thanks for listening to me rant

[Mark]

To 'think a little' and 'jeff': PREACH ON BROTHERS!

Question: why do drivers get pissed at the one driver who--knowing he has to merge--doesn't do so until the very last minute? Why do those irate drivers then proceed to go out of their ways--at risk to property and safety--to foil that other driver?
Because the rules of fair play always apply no matter the situation. Just because we are on bikes, don't think we are different. Rule #1: Be safe. Rule #2: Calm the fuck down, because the 10 seconds you're saving just isn't worth it. You gotta understand the roots of their rage. If you don't you're (eventually) going to be on the receiving end.

Sanctimonious cyclists have never won over anyone.

[Erica]

Why is she "putting along behind" in the first place? Yes, on most lovely country roads there are a few blind curves where it would be unsafe to pass but I suspect the letter writer is one of those drivers who feels she needs to move entirely into the opposite lane in order to pass a cyclist and will play pace car at my rear wheel for ten minutes waiting for just the perfect moment. Certainly this is better than zooming by with inches to spare but I often want to stop these folks and explain that really, it's OK, you can pass ANY TIME NOW.

[SteveH]

Good points above. I always filter through on Columbia (past 16th, etc) because the congestion is so awful. I take pains not to get in the way of cars when the light turns green. Along the same lines, I try to apply the golden rule of cycling and consider how other drivers perceive my actions. I do run through stop signs and stop lights, but only when I'm sure it's safe and if I'm not endangering pedestrians.

[ibc]

You gotta understand the roots of their rage.

B.S.

The "roots of their rage" are that there are bicycles on their streets. If it weren't this it would be something else.

Here's a thought experiment: I'm going to obey all the auto regulations to the letter--up to and including coming to a complete stop, and putting my feet down at each stop sign.

In exchange, I'm going expect drivers to be totally cool with my taking the full left lane--sometimes for a block or so--when I need to prepare for a left turn. Or not get upset when I'm taking the lane riding through the tunnel on the Rock Creek Parkway near the zoo.

Try to get this through your head: your *presence* is the provocation. All this bullshit about not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign is just a rationalization of driver's feelings of entitlement.

And the red herring about some guy on a fixed gear who passed someone too closely is a red herring. Was he acting like a douchebag? Yes.

We've got a lot of young black kids acting like douchebags in my neighborhood...that doesn't mean I speed up when I see them trying to cross the street, then pat myself on the back for being an upholder of Justice and The American Way.

[Froggie]

I'm with Erica on that bit.

As for the original question, no I don't think it's rude to pull up to the intersection. What's rude is running a red light, regardless of mode.

[Paul]

Having had a day to think about the issue, and having pedaled to and from work today, my observation is that the problem stems from people thinking they are entitled to the whole road and everyone else is an interloper.

Not more than a hundred yards from my front door some douchebag passed me with a stoplight which was RED a short distance ahead with a LINE of traffic STOPPED less than 20 yards in front of me. Douchebag accelerated to pass me, sliced back in front, then, of course, braked hard.

Similarly, I saw a guy on a bike (I'm sympathetic to Bike Messengers, since I realize they aren't like anyone else; I wanna give them license to do whatever they dare ... but I'd rather they didn't) ride in the wrong lane to bypass a line of cars, then slice across crossing traffic at the light.

RESPECT.

None of us is entitled to more or less than anyone else.
None of us is more or less important than anyone else.
None of us has any reason to treat another person like that.

:Paul

[think a little]

IBC-
My point is too many douchbags on bikes makes us all look bad, and increases the chance that
1. someone in a car will mis-behave
and
2. that they will get away with it because there is a perception that the bicyclist is in the wrong.

To carry over to your comment about the young black youth in your neighborhood, I do speed up and cross over when I see a group of them, because experience has taught me that they will yell to try and startle me, attempt to jump out in front of my bike to see if I will wipe out avoiding them, or throw things at me. Im just being practical.

If 50% of cyclists behave badly, drivers will behave worse around them because their experience tells them that the cyclist will be a problem.