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

[Mars]

Personally, I ride however I feel safest and best; Best meaning there is 
not necessarily a reason for me to ride in the lane for safety concerns, 
but for other 'I feel like it' reasons. I do not, however, ride in the 
lane simply to block the passage of cars, and frankly, I'm frustrated 
when CM does so. 'We are traffic', but how often do you see 'traffic' 
going out of its way to block other cars.

Basically, my attitude towards the issue is such that I do not really 
like the over-use of cars, and will not go out of my way to do anything 
for them, including moving out of the way when I really do not want to, 
be it a safety concern, or simply that I'm really enjoying myself and I 
feel there is plenty of room for them to get by. This however, does not 
mean that I do not move to the right of the lane often; I do, but only 
when it is my choice.

In summary, I will not be intimidated or second-classed.

Vicki Siolos wrote:
> 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.
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>   
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