The other night I was riding within the bike lane, and swerving left and right, much like I was doing some sort of slalom move…then suddenly I get a…
I was startled and even upset because I was within the bike lane. Perhaps my slalom moves made the driver think I was going to veer into them…but was I wrong to have fun?
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What would you be thinking if there was a car slalom-ing in it’s lane as it approached you?
I think it’s dicey. Cyclists are already fighting the image of being unpredictable and risky. We’re safer when we ride in predictable patterns. I’d probably be nervous if I drove by you doing that but I probably wouldn’t honk either.
If a car swerves, even within its own lane, the cops will pull them over for a suspected DUI. Field sobriety check and the works!
I do the same thing from time to time…slaloming and otherwise breaking up the monotony of my commute by having a little fun. But, I usually wait until there are no cars around — I don’t want anyone thinking I’m having a seizure or something!
Ugh, no. Don’t do that. If you’re on the road, be predictable. Slaloming is not predictable. Keeping it in your own lane doesn’t make it any better. You wouldn’t do that in a car with a wide lane, would you? I hope not.
If you want to have fun like that, take it to the trails, or the track, or somewhere with enough visibility that you can knock it off when there’s any other traffic. But weaving around on the street where other people can see you just reinforces the idea that all of us on bikes are unpredictable jackasses.
When traffic is around it’s just as acceptable as a car slaloming in its lane….which means it’s not acceptable. Side street no traffic? Middle of the night no traffic? Most anyplace without traffic? No problem. But As a driver and a biker I can tell you right now I wouldn’t appreciate it from either party in any situation when any other traffic is present…including unsuspecting fellow bikers.
I usually side with the biker but, in this case, you are wrong. Be predictable in traffic.
No.
Be predictable and hold your line. Nobody wants to go around the person up front when they are acting sketchy. There isn’t always a wide berth to get by, and you don’t want to spook someone while they are off-balance.
Well, as usual, there are two sides to this. If you do it, you will be perceived as unpredictable. However, as this is America, and it’s a free country (mostly), you have the right to be unpredictable, so long as you do so in a safe manner. Just understand that not everyone will like it.
And to all of the “THIS IS HOW THINGS SHOULD BE” people above, lighten up a bit.
Donald,
thank you! I can’t believe all these stuffy butts talking about how you need to be strictly going straight. shoot I often drink before riding, it makes for a fun and interesting ride.
these people must be IT folks who are super up tight. I bet if they got laid more often this wouldn’t be an issue.
Well if it’s a free country and you have the right to act unpredictably, then motorists have the right to honk at you. Everyone’s a winner!
Really, if you want respect from motorists, don’t give them reason to think you’re drunk or about to fly into their lane or whatever.
If you want to be regarded as a vehicle, operate your vehicle like one. Don’t treat it like a toy.
Yeah, I know, with the wind in your face, it’s hard. At least try!
I’m gonna side with the majority here: don’t be stupid where people can see you.
If you want to seem like a bike on the street is a viable form of transportation that deserves bike infrastructure and respect from other forms of transportation, than don’t treat it like a toy!
Save it for the empty side streets when no one is driving behind you.
I actually have ambivalent feelings about the drivers who honk at us when they pass. Whenever it happens it ALWAYS initially pisses me off, like they think I and all cyclists are four year olds and we’re too stupid to continue going straight. But I try to remember that sometimes they just want to make sure that we know that they are behind us which makes them feel more comfortable passing us, so be it. It sure beats those pains in the ass that refuse to pass us, even if they have 10 feet of clearance, and angrily shadow our asses because obviously we’re unpredictable retards who can’t be trusted to ride in a straight line.
So I guess I’m saying, sure, you were slaloming, so maybe the driver just wanted to make sure you knew he was there.
Dear amen to that,
Way to hate on and stereotype IT people for no reason. So what do you do when your computer breaks?
I do that a little only because of little rocks in the rode. I did get yelled at by some red necks for pulling on to 41 at the same time they were I was in the bike lane. lol Thug life
Breaking the rule predictability will earn you a honk,(or the bird or hell even both). In some cases you may be asked to participate in a field sobriety test from your local law enforcement officer.
Nope RL you messed up on this one. Like the others have said, if you don’t want to see it from a car don’t do it on a bike. Save the screwing around for quiet side streets.
if a driver sees you swerve in front of them, they could very well swerve away. seems like it could lead to problems.
also, what if you do that as another biker’s trying to pass you in the lane?
i agree with most of the others up here…
Thanks for the input folks. I can always rely on great advice from fellow commuters on this site.
Imagine being behind a motorcycle which was doing the same thing. I imagine that being a little unnerving and definitely annoying. If we want to be considered equals on the road we should act as such. I hate the idea some people have that bikes are toys so I very rarely act as though I’m riding a toy, especially on high traffic roadways.
Slaloming in the bike lane is just too unpredictable for other traffic participants.
If you got all that extra energy, better to use it in a higher gear to ride faster or imagine you are in the home stretch on Mt. Ventoux with Contador glued to your butt.
I think Cavendish got disqualified an almost imperceptible swerve toward Huxhod that ended up costing him the green jersey.
I got the same reaction the other day- I was doing a nice climb on my way home from work (I was out of the saddle, pathetically trying to mimic Contador’s pedal dance) so I was sort of swerving in my lane. I got a honk on two separate occasions. I like to think they were cycling fans, recently glued to Versus watching whatever stage and they were just cheering me on with their honks. I have to say the first time startled the !@#$@ out of me!
“Slaloming”, is the way I look a lot of the time (going up hill), it just maks cars drive a wider path around me. granted I slalom as little as possible when there is no bike lane, I leave the big telemark style moves for neighborhood streets.
I feel that slalom riding is indicating to people that you are a danger to yourself or others on the road. it may indicate that you are drunk and operating a bike on the road is essentially the same as a motor vehicle according to WA State laws! if you disobey traffic laws and act like you are riding drunk – you will always get polled over by an officer if one is present! I have seen too many bicycle riders get tickets for not obeying the proper bike rules! You are just an idiot for slalom riding in traffic, even if you are in your own lane! You want to get yourself killed than keep it up!
I now understand that slaloming while in traffic was wrong, but geez people, why so harsh?
“You are just an idiot for slalom riding in traffic, even if you are in your own lane! You want to get yourself killed than keep it up!”
As far as riding like I was drunk, that wasn’t me that said it…besides, I’m an IT Manager…
I posted a question because I was unsure of the situation, but to start name calling…that’s really uncalled for.
I slalom all the time. Usually don’t do it in traffic. But my favorite time to do it is after I’ve taken the lane when approaching a red light.
Out of the seat “pedal dancing” climbing I can see because when done correctly you don’t waver too much from center, but pulling Swervey McSwerverton is just plain wrong.
I really don’t like it when drivers unnecessarily honk their horns because yes it can be startling while making honking less effective later on when it is necessary. In any case I’ll take any type of honking over a distracted driver or a driver on the road having fun who might accidentally swerve into a bike lane.
Anyway, with the combination of three facts you gave, I have to say you were wrong: 1. Another vehicle present. 2. Swerving/Slaloming. 3. Fun.
Take out fact #1 and I think you are OK if you can handle the swerving. I have to admit that I have slalomed with the kids in the bike cart on side streets when other vehicles are not present.
Or, take out fact #3 and I think you are OK, because I believe bicyclist should be able to move left and right at anytime if they are avoiding hazards.
If I watch the road close enough “swerving” should not be necessary. Should I have to swerve, hopefully the three foot laws in the areas I ride in give me enough room. “Slaloming” between cars or other hazards should be avoided. Find the spot on the road or bike lane where you can ride the straightest most predictable line.
At the very least I would have given you three feet beyond the bike lane, because one, I know something unpredictable could happen and two, I think staying three feet away from a cyclist is the best practice. Perhaps I could match your swerving while staying just three feet away from you and we could go down the road synchronized.
Over all, being predictable is the best way to go.
From your description, it appears that the motorist was actually using the horn for its intended purpose — to alert other road users.
Geez, I’m new to this, and one of the first things I learned was not to swerve, let alone “slalom.”
I cycle because I enjoy it, I sold my car because I hate driving. Having a little fun when it’s safe to is perfectly acceptable. What you did wasn’t a cardinal sin, just not the best thing to do at the time. Like some have said, quiet streets are a good time to act like a kid if you want to. And to the people who MUST be so negative about it; quit whining and go ride.
OK, here goes… Bicycling is one of the few, if not only activity that people claim that actions of a few impacts the whole group. Think about it cars run red lights, no one says that all drivers are idiots. A pedestrian steps out into the road to jaywalk, not all walkers are jaywalkers. I am so tired of people saying that if I roll through a stop that I am representing all cyclists. I’m not. I’m trying to get somewhere a couple seconds faster. That’s it. As for swerving and slaloming, I’ve done it, and not just for fun, but for safety. Yes I said it, for safety. There are times where you may want to be unpredictable because I’ve been in situations where traffic moves with people on auto pilot. Swerving forces people to wake up and pay more attention. If I get a honk, so be it. And to be honest, drivers don’t predict cyclists on the road half the time anyway. Try it out yourself one day, you may notice that riding a bit unpredictably will allow you to get a bit more room as drivers pass by.
