Comments on: The Parking Lane http://www.jasonbarham.com/2009/07/01/the-parking-lane/ The bloggified life of JB Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:05:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: JB http://www.jasonbarham.com/2009/07/01/the-parking-lane/comment-page-1/#comment-14 JB Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:30:53 +0000 http://jasonbarham.com/2009/07/01/the-parking-lane/#comment-14 Thanks for the comment, Sue. As it may seem, I felt a little conflicted about what I should do and whether I felt like the driver was being too impatient or if I should have been more accommodating. I suppose I should have added that technically we weren't riding two abreast as I had my son riding in the parking lane since it was clear. Another thing that was impeding the flow of right lane traffic was the fact that the left lane traffic slowed to the speed of traffic in the right lane, which was just as much a hindrance as our presence. Either way, it's always good to get input and feedback from others and I appreciate your thoughts on the matter. I always hold my line in traffic, but I think in this case I could have gotten over because there were no cars parked in the parking lane for several blocks. Thanks for the comment, Sue. As it may seem, I felt a little conflicted about what I should do and whether I felt like the driver was being too impatient or if I should have been more accommodating. I suppose I should have added that technically we weren’t riding two abreast as I had my son riding in the parking lane since it was clear. Another thing that was impeding the flow of right lane traffic was the fact that the left lane traffic slowed to the speed of traffic in the right lane, which was just as much a hindrance as our presence.

Either way, it’s always good to get input and feedback from others and I appreciate your thoughts on the matter. I always hold my line in traffic, but I think in this case I could have gotten over because there were no cars parked in the parking lane for several blocks.

]]> By: siouxgeonz http://www.jasonbarham.com/2009/07/01/the-parking-lane/comment-page-1/#comment-13 siouxgeonz Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:08:28 +0000 http://jasonbarham.com/2009/07/01/the-parking-lane/#comment-13 Actually, if you're going to polish up your rules, the law says you can ride two abreast if you're not interfering with the natural flow of traffic, and I'd suspect your honker felt you were. (www.bikelib.org - "bike laws" on the side margin.) I also like to make that "double to single" change as an overt "I see you back there and I'm sharing the road" gesture, even when it doesn't make a whole lot of difference... but that's my personality. It doesn't cost me anything and has created more good will than hostile reactions. I often have exactly that debate with the parking lane. All the literature says not to bob and weave, but if I see one car in mirror and there's room for it to get around between me and the next car, I duck over - not into the gutter, or anything. If I'm not sure or there are several cars, then I hold my line. Actually, if you’re going to polish up your rules, the law says you can ride two abreast if you’re not interfering with the natural flow of traffic, and I’d suspect your honker felt you were. (www.bikelib.org – “bike laws” on the side margin.) I also like to make that “double to single” change as an overt “I see you back there and I’m sharing the road” gesture, even when it doesn’t make a whole lot of difference… but that’s my personality. It doesn’t cost me anything and has created more good will than hostile reactions.
I often have exactly that debate with the parking lane. All the literature says not to bob and weave, but if I see one car in mirror and there’s room for it to get around between me and the next car, I duck over – not into the gutter, or anything. If I’m not sure or there are several cars, then I hold my line.

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