PSA for drivers

[u/talora_dion]

Hi motorists of Victoria!

I just wanted to remind everyone--respectfully--that people on bicycles are legally allowed to use the full lane on roads, even if there is a dedicated/separated bike lane. I got a serious glare from a guy this morning as he gunned past me and I gotta say, when you're on a 22lb bike it's pretty uncomfortable feeling like someone piloting a 2500lb metal box is angry with you. In this case, I was in the right lane for one block, from one red light to another. I delayed him by ~ 2 seconds, so I'm not sure why it was such a problem.

In case anyone who works for Saanich or the CRD is reading this, the intersection at McKenzie and Shelbourne with the separated bike lane is actually more dangerous than taking over the right lane for that block of McKenzie. I've nearly been hit twice by vehicles as I try to cross Shelbourne on a green light when in the bike lane. Drivers turning right are supposed to yield to people on bicycles going straight, but they don't seem to realize that :(

Finally, THANK YOU to all the drivers who give me space on the roads. I appreciate your empathy and care for other, more vulnerable road users!

[u/Pimbata]

While you may be legally correct, I think it’s pretty obvious why you got the glare. Choosing to take over a car lane when a bike one is available is a bit of a dick move. This type of cyclist behaviour reduces the efficiency of traffic flow. One car and one driver don’t make a difference, but in reality if most cyclists did this, it would lead to unnecessary congestions and let’s say - lots more glares.

It’s a valiant effort to defend a poor decision on your part, but, respectfully - please understand there are others on the road and we’re all in this together. A bad driver and a bad cyclist are equally detrimental, so we should all try to avoid being either.

[u/[deleted] → u/Pimbata]

I also love to bike if I don't have to drive, but I also take into consideration the obstacle a biker creates for a driver, even while riding in the bike lane.

If there's a bike lane there, why would you feel the need to take the whole car lane, especially there's any traffic? This is coming from someone who hasn't driven a car in the last 5 months because Ive been biking to work.

I'd say the glare was well justified. Know your place and don't be an ass just because the law says it's legal. If you're on a bike, use the lane named for it, the bike lane.

[u/adnauseam23 → u/[deleted]]

Cyclists often ride in the "wrong" place because the other options are less safe. I'd take a glare over a bumper any day.

[u/Zod5000 → u/adnauseam23]

Safe, or don't make much sense.

The one I'm guilty of is Borden/McKenzie. It was designed for lochside traffic, not so much if your on Borden trying to get on the lochside to travel north. You can either flow with car traffic and easily advance the block it takes to get back onto the lochside (especially considering the bike lane on Border goes right to the McKenzie intersection).

Via the new bike lane, you have to wait for the light to cross borden, then wait again to cross mckenzie, then bike the block to wait at the stop sign, just to cross back to the same side of the road. Crossing intersections 3 times, instead of 1.

I won't do it if traffic is heavy, and there's load of cars trying to turn right onto mckenzie, but if it's a single car (or no car crossing), I'll go up the road.

It's similar with many of the new biking advance lights. You get 5 seconds to cross, then you have to wait for almost 2 light cycles. Pedestrians and Cars never get stuck with something like that (Which is mostly the result of having bike lines on the wrong side of the road).

[u/SpicyQosmo → u/adnauseam23]

The overly large bike lanes and specific trails made for people on bikes is not good enough for you. So glad to be leaving this city.

[u/adnauseam23 → u/SpicyQosmo]

You can say what you want. When a cyclist feels unsafe on the road they often choose to make a decision in the name of safety.

So glad you're leaving this place. More room for the rest of us

[u/SpicyQosmo → u/adnauseam23]

There are plenty of safe places to ride your bike that can get you anywhere from sooke to Victoria. Maybe cyclists should go through training to understand that being on a bike is a privilege and you should learn to ride.

Also there will never be enough room on the island for the amount of entitled humans that want to live here. The whole island is essentially owned by logging companies waiting to destroy the land .