Cycling observations...

...well more like major annoyances, but I didn't want the title to seem too negative :)

With 833 miles on my new wheels since July 1 and about 2,000 since my May 1st 2010 cycling renaissance, I think I've earned a little license to point out some of the many obstacles one encounters when putting pedal to pavement.

First, to all the auto drivers out to kill me:

• When you are parking on a road with the infamous "sharrows", a look in your rear-view mirror *before* you open your car door to see if I am coming would be very appreciated.  I would hate to mar any of that lovely inlaid leather as my bike goes hurtling into your door and I am left launching through your window or over the door.  Not good for either of us...especially me.
• Those white lines on the road which sort-of look like a ladder are called crosswalks.  Become familiar with them because they can be used by more than just pedestrians.  Many times they can be used to connect portions of bike paths (Burke-Gillman and Seattle Waterfront paths are good examples).   For my health (as well as the pedestrians), you should probably always stop before the crosswalk; not on the crosswalk;  not after the crosswalk (prior to which you just came barreling through), in case I have the right away and am going to cross.  I won't cross against a light or stop/yield sign if one exists, but if the light is in my favor, I'm coming.  Most typically you miss me when you are trying to make one of your "free right turns" and are only concerned with looking left when I am coming on the right.  You seem to always make this mistake with pedestrians as well, but they aren't moving at 15mph.
  • As a corollary, you would think that in such a bicycle friendly town like Seattle, that there would be more awareness of cyclists on the road.  I hate having to stare you down every time I cross in front of you to make sure you actually see me.    Maybe try cycling yourself for a week to see how it feels.  I know it has made me a much more aware driver.

Next, to all you pedestrians walking on combo bike/pedestrian paths (unwittingly) out to kill me:

• Learn to walk in a straight line!  You may not realize it, but the vast majority of you will regularly drift into me as I am passing on the left.  I would really prefer to avoid the need to yell "On your left" from 100 yards away to get you to recognize your drift. 
• Maybe curtailing your walking and texting habit would go along way to keeping you in a straight line (see previous point).  Oh by the way, you may want to stop texting for just a sec. when crossing a bike path.  It will avoid a lot of terror on both our parts.
• And to those of you that love to walk as a group with your family of 12, it would be much appreciated if you didn't walk in a line across the bike path or in a giant swarm as you move along.  It makes it difficult for us to pass and scares the crap out of you when we yell that we're coming through.  

To my fellow cyclists, who are supposed to be on my side:

• Maybe you shouldn't use your cell phone while cycling either.  There's a reason we don't let drivers do it and you should probably take note.  Keep both hands on the handlebars!
• If you think you can ride faster than me and you decide to pass, you'd better make sure you can keep ahead of me.  There is nothing more annoying than when you pass and then slow down so I have to pass you, and back and forth.
• Just because you believe you are the great font of cycling knowledge doesn't mean you are and must therefore impose that thinking on everyone else.  Case in point:  In Seattle, where Alaska Way turns in to E. Marginal Way, the path is wide enough for both north and southbound cycling, but you insist it is for northbound only...and insist on making that case with a "no no no" wave of your finger every time you see us using it for southbound riding.  But, I dare say mister smarty-pants-cycling-god, there is no bike path on the southbound side of the road at that point, so I (and many others) believe it is perfectly acceptable to use the bike path until the southbound path begins.  Tone it down a notch, will ya!
• You're not helping ingratiate yourselves to vehicle drivers when you cycle side-by-side.  I know you think it's your God-given right to the same road as cars, and I appreciate that thinking.  But a little single-file riding might go a long way to showing your willingness to coexist peacefully with autos. And besides...with all of the obstacles a cyclist must make split-second decisions about while on the road, why would you want to add having to make sure your fellow side-by-side rider was out of the way when you needed to swerve to avoid some problem?
• UPDATED 8/14:  I can't believe I forgot this one.  The Ballard bridge is scary enough to cross without a fellow cyclist heading toward me going against the traffic flow on what are undoubtedly the skinniest (and potentially most dangerous) bike lanes on the planet.  How do you propose we negotiate at the point we meet head-to-head as to not somehow get killed by the high-speed stream of traffic which exists right next to us?  All in the name of your convenience?  Is that reason enough to risk both our lives, so you don't have to cross to the other side of the bridge?

To the city parks and transportation departments, neither which is helping either:

• Can you please make sure the blackberry bushes are cut back on all the bike trails?  I would prefer to get my leg cuts in other ways.
• Could you figure out a way to regularly fix the paths where the tree roots are pushing up the pavement?  I don't look forward to the rattlin' my teeth and arms get when going on these paths. It is especially unnerving when the crack is in the shadows because you can't see it unless it is marked.  Almost bit my tongue off once.
• Can you please figure out a way to regularly remove general refuse (rocks, glass, dirt, random auto parts, tire rubber, whatever items are being transported by trucks) from roads which are frequented by cyclists.  I don't know how many times I've swerved to miss the random remains of a taillight or gigantic bolt from a semi so as not to puncture my tires.
• Can you please figure out a way to mark all combo bike and pedestrian paths as such?  With all the tourists in town, I can't blame them for walking 4 across on a path when they have no idea bikes are coming through.
• Those sharrows you've created are just an invitation to further cycling accidents by implying to drivers we must ride to the right of the lane next to all the dangers of the parked and pulling out cars and potential open doors. Separated bike paths are a much better solution.
• A little more attention to the condition of the road where your sharrows wish us to ride would be extremely helpful.  Try cycling once and having to dodge potholes the size of a tire along with dips and holes around every single drain and manhole this city has.

Finally, to mother nature:

• You make my life a cycling hell with 10+mph headwinds.  Now if I get to my destination and turn-around quick enough, your headwinds become very nice tail winds, so I give you that.  But if I am out riding long enough, more often than not, I get your crazy headwinds in both directions.  Now I love the awesome cardio workout headwinds create, but come on...both ways?  I'm not a masochist.
• I would just once appreciate a summer where there are more days that I can count on one hand where it is actually above 60 degrees in the morning when I set out.   These typical cold, cloudy mornings with hot afternoons reek havoc with what I should be wearing.

Please feel free to use the comments section to add any of your own observations.

Comments

[Jeremy Dinsel]

To the drivers along the Lake Washington loop just north of I-90, please recognize that traffic circles, even when decorative and small, are meant to be taken on the outside not on the inner thin side. That's where I am riding on my bike along with cars going the opposite direction.

To the faster cyclists... just because I'm going 19 mph and you're going 21 mph along the Burke Gilman somewhere -- anywhere -- doesn't mean you need to dip towards me as you pass. Try signaling and leaving some space.

To the city and parks service, thank you oh so very much for closing Lake Washington Blvd to cars on Sundays. It's a blast to be able to ride on that road in these circumstances.

To the hills ... I've got my new compact crankset installed. I'm coming for you!

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