Is it because of the Jarvis bike lane publicity?
I've had two odd interactions with motorists in the past two days. Yes, it's just anecdotal, but our Wise Leader says that proper statistical techniques aren't necessary, so my random experience must be all good information.
Yesterday afternoon, heading west on Lake Shore approaching the Brown's Line ramp, I'm stopped at the traffic light at 37th. I'm stopped to the left of the through/right turn lane, which is left of the bicycle lane. This lets me proceed west on Lake Shore, instead of being punted on the ramp to Brown's Line. (The whole concept needs to be redone.) A woman driving a minivan to the right of me looks out her window and says "Bike lanes were made for a reason." At this point she turns right onto 37th to go to No Frills. (If a bicycle was in the bike lane, and decided to run the red, she'd smack 'em flat. Another reason to stay out of the bike lane unless you're turning right at 37th or going to Brown's Line.)
This morning, heading east along Lake Shore in the Royal York area, I'm well to the left of the curb to avoid broken glass and sand from streetcars. Lake Shore is wide; there are still two lanes to my left. A woman in a car to the left of me looks out her window and says "There's lots of room on the right."
I didn't really have time to reply, but I thought this was kind of odd. I've taken the same line in those same places lots and lots of times; I only get remarks about it after the Jarvis lanes go in.
Coincidence? Or a sinister conspiracy? The shadow knows!
I get strange comments all the time. I ride safely and always take the lane. I think that its some sort of strange territorial thing on the part of car drivers. Let's face it, a person has to be somewhat evil, crazy or stupid to be driving a car in the first place.
I always ignore the comments and act as if the commentator does not exist.
Kevin Love
She's damn right bike-lanes were made for a reason, but not the one she thinks!
I hope you told her there is lots of room to the left. :)
I think taking the lane makes certain drivers just try harder to kill me - in order that I learn my lesson or just to kill somebody because they're angry. You should have seen what it was like this weekend trying to ride down the half-clogged main street in Wasaga. I'm never going back and neither is my buddy who was run off the road. So at least they're talking to you, which is a positive, because in Wasaga they're all in a rush to the beach - they can pull your bicycle and hair out of the grill when they get there.
P.S. I love this one: "Don't get squashed!!"
....which would have helped I think. I was mostly helping drivers, especially where I was in the through lane instead of right of the right turn lane. (Bad layout. Needs to be fixed.)
The area Ed is talking about is supposed to have a bike lane. It is on the Bike Plan. The lane will go from 1st and Lakeshore to Superior Ave where it meets Phase 1 of the Mimico 20/20 lane. When combined with the Phase 2 Mimico 20/20 plan in 2012 it will close the western gap in the bike trail system. It will make it possible to use bike lanes or the Waterfront Trail system all the way from Harbourfront to Mississauga.
So where is the lane? Who knows. At the pace lanes are going in, it wil certainly be awhile.
Are we getting that bike lane?
my usual reply is: "Look, I'm not doing anything worthwhile tomorrow, where do you live, I can come over and you can teach me how to ride my bike as good as you drive your firkin car!"
For the really aggressive ones, carry some stones. Some nails available at your local mom and pop hardware store might work too if you can catch up to them at the next intersection.
Take them down before someone gets hurt or injured.
It seems to be because proximity to cyclists somehow makes drivers' distance-judges abilities go all screwy.