[*BCM*] Sharing the road vs. taking a lane?

[Vicki Siolos]

Interesting, interesting. I was driving up Tremont (in South End) to
work today, and an impatient driver near me was honking at a cyclist on
his way to work. He yelled back at the driver, most likely telling him
to share the road, at a red light. After we crossed over Mass Ave, I
noticed that he was taking over the entire right lane, slowing down
Tremont traffic a bit by causing all cars to ride in the left.

I wasn't getting annoyed because I prefer cycling to driving (especially
to work), but I was thinking "I wish he'd move over to the right of the
lane, I'd totally share it with him."

But now you say that adds a great element of danger. Granted, I've had
more chances of being doored on Tremont in South End than anywhere else
in Boston, thus far. So, is the general consesus that taking up a lane
if you're the one and only cyclist a good idea? I'm new to the actual
legalities of it all.

Good thing you got the plate # of the bus. I was slammed by a grey volvo
by the Qdoba/NorthEastern U gym on Huntington/Route 9 a few weeks ago,
and after I was thrown several feet off my bike I couldn't look fast
enough to catch his plates while he sped off without slowing down a bit.
Awesome, right?

----- Original Message -----
> Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 07:37:29 -0700
> From: "turtle" <turtle at zworg.com>
> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Need some pointers
> To: "Boston Critical Mass" <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> Message-ID: <6725.1147876649 at zworg.com>
> 
> Finally, seriously, don't ride all the way over to the right.  Ride 
> farenough into the lane that you have pelnty of space on your 
> right.  Take
> the lane if it's narrow (as it is in most parts of Mass Ave.). 
> Seriously.  You are entitled to it, and you will be safer, too.  Yes,
> some motorists may get annoyed, but they won't treat you as if you 
> weretwo-dimentional, like that bus driver did.  And the more people 
> who bike
> like they belong on the road, the more people will begin to understand
> that we do belong on the road.

--

Vicki G. Siolos
vicki at nyu.edu
917.328.9737
onwardcharles.blogspot.com

"weigh those opinions . more like air than lead . every planned
occupation . surefire disappointment up ahead" - modest mouse.