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What are Toronto cyclists' worst habits?
Toronto's bike riders are a polarizing bunch. On the one hand, most are commuters who by simply not taking a car to work are helping ease traffic on city streets. On the other, some are inexperienced road users without the confidence (and sometimes the knowledge) to properly share the street. Everyone has horror stories - you just have to ask.
Earlier today, we did just that. We had our Twitter followers tell us the worst habits of Toronto's cyclists. As you'd expect, there was a big response. Stories of bikers running red lights, riding on the sidewalk, cruising past open streetcar doors, and using the wrong side of the street abound.
Personally, I would argue that despite the odd bad apple, Toronto cyclists are pretty good about sharing the road. Life on the blacktop is very different without airbags, side impact bars, and crumple zones, and those afraid of mixing it with traffic often resort to making up their own rules to feel safe. Naturally, the bad riders stand out more than the good ones.
In the interest of education, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation has a quick break-down of the road rules as they apply to cyclists. Hand signals and other safety tips are covered in this guide. It's also worth noting that cyclists have the right to use the whole road, though it's good courtesy to keep right if it's safe to do so.
Feel free to add your bad habit suggestions to the comment thread below, but why not tell us how the big issues can be remedied. There are some gray areas too: is carefully proceeding through a red light in the curb lane when there's no road on the right - as on Bloor at Bedford and the Danforth at Donlands - and clearly no traffic okay? Should Idaho stops become official Toronto bike policy? Tell us what you think.
Photo: "So Hip It Hurts" by Jay Morrison in the blogTO Flickr pool.
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Riding the wrong way on the street (esp. in the wrong bikelane).
Riding on the sidewalk so as not to ride the wrong way on the street (seriously, pick another route).
Not signalling.
Running a red light.
Running a stop sign (i.e., without at least slowing down and looking).
Going through the crowd waiting to get on a streetcar.
Making a right and going through pedestrians who are crossing.
Riding too close (behind/beside) other cyclists.
Riding the wrong way on the street / bikelanes
Ignoring stop signs / lights
Riding on sidewalks / crosswalks
Constantly berating drivers for using the roads as well
Emphasising the TO cyclist handbook guidelines (I have a measurer to see how far from the curb I am!) with no consideration of anyone else / common sense.
Wanting to be treated like a car sometimes, and a pedestrian other times, whichever one benefits them most.
Going WAY too fast on trails and paths that have pedestrians on them.
ASSHOLES.
Also, not having a unified voice to bring concerns and accountability to governments for infrastructure and enforcement.
That said, some commented on this blog saying that bikes who ride by cars turning right are inconsiderate or in the wrong. It should be noted that cyclists who are travelling straight through an intersection actually have the right-of-way over cars turning right, whether they are on the inside lane or outside lane of the car. However, if a cyclist speeds up on the inside lane of a car that's already turning right then expects them to stop... you're not very smart. But if the cyclist is already beside the car and is heading straight, then the right-turning car should yield to the cyclist (just like it should to pedestrians.) Ideally though, everyone would learn the rules of the road and respect them and each other. (Yeah right, in toronto?!)
Can we also have a BlogTO post about all the annoying habits of BAD DRIVERS? Because with everything that can be said about cyclists, more can be said about the drivers in Toronto. They are the WORST! Let's start with Rob Ford. (Hello, suburbanites who want to run over pedestrians and cyclists at every intersection so you can get back to your suburban wasteland. Ugh.)
And this isn't like 10% of people running red lights, whenever I'm on harbourfront, I'm the only one stopping for these red lights.
There was even a guy with toronto cyclist union sticker on both his helmet and his bike who ran multiple red lights... YOU ARE MAKING ALL OF US LOOK BAD. I had to catch up to him and ask him to please stop running reds. He just gave me a "yeah yeah".
"Cyclists angrily passing signalling, right-turning cars on the right side."
Aside from the word "angrily," in some jurisdictions cars are supposed to yield to cyclists before a right turn. But I believe that is not the case in Ontario. However, they have to yield to pedestrians crossing the street. So what happens when you are behind a right turning car, it is unsafe to go around their left, and there is plenty of room for you to go through them, and they are not turning right because pedestrians are obviously preventing them? I want people's honest opinions, in this situation, do you consider it okay to pass the right turning car cautiously?
Here's another situation: an empty sidewalk, needing to make a left turn, but it is a busy one way street (say adelaide or something). Instead of riding on the far right side, riding instead, slowly, on the left sidewalk and then making the turn. Technically the cyclist should walk their bike along this sidewalk, but clearly no pedestrians are there. Wouldn't that be ridiculous?
Another situation: around the Annex area, going the wrong way, cautiously, on a one way residential street, to avoid going on a busy, dangerous main street to get to your destination. (There is often no way to avoid these main streets if you actually follow the one way signs religiously).
Another situation: This is one in which cyclists have the right to do it: taking up a whole lane when the other line has parked cars that could open the door at any time and result in a possibly deadly "dooring." I will do this, and if a car is behind me that have to wait until I can move to the side and let me go. Does anyone have thoughts on this?
Okay... here's another: cycling cautiously through a red light that is only a pedestrian crossing, when it is late at night and clearly no pedestrian is there. Technically the cyclist could just walk the bike through it along the sidewalk, but sometimes it is sort of ridiculous when absolutely no one is there. What are your thoughts on this?
The Toronto bylaw states that riding a bicycle with tire size over 61cm (24 inches) on sidewalks is prohibited, as is riding/operating a bicycle (or roller skates, in-line skates, skateboard, coaster, toy vehicle) on a sidewalk without due care and attention and reasonable consideration for others. The fine in downtown Toronto for not following this bylaw is $90 and aggressive cyclists can also be charged with careless driving.
Source: http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/safety/sidewalk/sidewalk.htm
That and bike couriers who race through intersections against the light. Saw one guy get hit by a car back in 2005 or so: the cyclist started going through the intersection at full speed hurtling south on Bay at Queen when the light was red already! He flew over the car roof, bounced off the trunk and hit the pavement. Almost unbelievably he was able to get up, and walk over and pick his bike up. The poor lady driving the car was shattered though -- in tears, hand over mouth in shock. Then, in a gallant gesture the cyclist flipped her the bird and started swearing at her.
The most annoying things about cyclists? Cops never ticket them for breaking the law.
Also trying to overcome a vehicle and riding in its blind spot. You're not faster, nor will you ever be, than a car. Take your time and be safe. Cyclists never take responsibility - it's always the drivers fault, when cyclists need to be held accountable for valuing speed over their own safety.
If you don't feel safe on the road, don't bike. It's a sidewalk, not a sideroad.
It would be interesting, for example, to compare what people think are "bad habits" with what's actually the law. It might also be interesting to discuss how to SOLVE the causes of these bad habits.
But as for this discussion... can we just skip to the festivus Feats of Strength?
My opinion is that there are set rules, but like all rules of the road, no one follows them exactly. How many cars ACTUALLY come to a COMPLETE stop at a stop sign? It's very rare that a car would do this when there is no car coming from the other direction. How many cars ACTUALLY follow the speed limit exactly? My point is that there are rules, but to actually practically ride any vehicle, be it a car, bike, or even to be a pedestrian (i.e. jaywalking) you have to break these rules or you get to a point of ridiculousness.
For #1 - IMO the cyclist should wait their turn. If they can't go around the car on the left, then that doesn't mean they now can switch to pedestrian rules. They are on the road and should allow that car to turn if they were there first. I've never seen a motorcycle or scooter do that so I don't know why a bike should be allowed to.
#2 - honestly I don't care if someone bikes down a quiet one way residential street as long as they stay well away from oncoming cars.
#3 - A few have noted - it's within their rights to take that lane. When I do it, I'm always keeping an eye for the cars behind me and try to give them room to pass me where/when appropriate. I'm not a sunday driver so I could see how some cyclists lolygag in the middle of the road and that could get annoying.
#4 - I always stop at a red, everywhere, anytime. I've seen people get tickets for running reds with nothing in sight and don't really care to pony up $180 (or something like that). Although I have to admit there are a few spots in the city where I've actually rolled through the crosswalk to avoid the red like haha.
1) Signal early.
2) When clear, lane-change close enough to the curb that there's no space for someone to ride through.
3) Enjoy your unobstructed right turn.
This has the benefit that you open up space to your left, for people on bicycles to pass you. If you start your right turn from the middle of your lane, then your car ends up diagonal across both bike and curb lanes, and nobody can get through.
One thing that I have actually started doing is this: at those red lights, where it feels silly to be stopped, I just pick up my bike and walk it along the sidewalk, and then continue biking when clearing the intersection. Technically, this is legal, but I feel silly for doing it, as there really is not any significant safety difference between walking a bike and riding a bike slowly. But this is mainly to technically not be ticketable. I am interested in yours and anyone else's thoughts on doing this.
WTF.
You're an idiot.
if you're such a pussy that you can't ride with traffic, don't ride. Unless you are 10 years old, never ride on the sidewalk. As long as you are confident, it really isnt scary riding alongside cars. Sometimes it can even be exhilarating!
But this isn't true! copied below from the Ontario Highway Traffic Act
HTA 147 - Slow moving traffic travel on right side
any vehicle moving slower than the normal traffic speed should drive in the right-hand lane, or as close as practicable to the right edge of the road except when preparing to turn left or when passing another vehicle. Set fine: $85.00
That's an $85 fine for cycling in the middle of the lane!
It's unfortunate that people park in the bike lanes but that doesn't change the fact that biking on the sidewalk is both inconsiderate and illegal. If you don't want to follow the laws then you should not be biking. If you aren't confident in your ability to bike safely, you should not be biking.
You are considered part of traffic. If a car "doesn't feel safe" it doesn't mean they can drive wherever they feel like.
Still illegal. Would it be OK for a car to do this? NO. Cyclists need to consider the fact that they are treated like cars. Do I agree with this? No, but that's the law so deal with it.
Second, try adressing the actual issue when you reply to a comment. Cars parked in bike lanes. It's a problem. Get it? Nah, I didn't think so...
Nice try though.
I actually don't condone bikers on the sidewalk, I'm merely trying to illustrate one example of why some may feel forced into doing it. The ones who feel the sidewalk is their alternate roadway are as irresponsible to pedestrians as bad, agressive drivers are to bikers. No argument there.
I see this one all the time, and usually the cyclist flips out on the driver, when in fact, it's the cyclist who entered the driver's blind spot and tried to pass on the right.
remember this: "left side passing side, right side suicide"
I think overall drivers need to learn what cyclists have a right to do and cyclists need a lesson on basic rules of the road. Police should start aggressively fining cyclists who run red lights and ride the wrong way on one way streets.
1) What are Toronto skateboarders' worst habits?
2) What are Toronto taxi drivers' worst habits?
3) What are Toronto electric scooter-ers' worst habits?
4) etc.
We should have a smack a cyclist day in the city for such foolishness.
I generally take up the full right lane when on downtown streets that are congested and / or have a lot of stoplights. As a bike rider, if I stay near the curb it just invites people to come into the right hand lane to pass cars / street cars on the left. As mentioned, this creates some serious danger, especially when there are parked cars, potholes, debris or bends in the road.
A good example of this is at Dundas and Sherbourne (stoplights to an immediate sharp right turn). I try to avoid this street / intersection, but it makes for a good point.
http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&;rlz=1C1CHMO_en-GBCA467CA467&q=queen+and+jarvis+toronto&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1920&bih=965&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&ei=e20IUPCWHIL20gHxoLSYBA&ved=0CE8Q_AUoAg
I'd also like to add that it bothers me when other bike riders do stupid things like run stop lights and disobey laws / rules. It makes car drivers disrespect bike riders.
And yeah, don't ride on the sidewalks. Learn some etiquette and safety
If you're going to get worked up about that we should be able to slap drivers for playing shitty music or something too.
If i decide to ride in the middle of the lane it is perfectly legal when there is no bike lane available.
Source: Cam Wolley on CP24 "Know your Rights"
Now, as someone who has cycled before (not a cyclist- it's just a mode of transportation and you have to lead a really pathetic life to let that be your main defining characteristic) I understand some of the minor infractions of the law- pulling away at the lights a smidge early to get a bit of speed up ahead of the cars behind you for example. But if you insist on taking up the whole lane yourself, or in conjunction with one or more friends astride the lane, or refuse to wear a helmet/reflective gear or cycle on the sidewalk then you are the problem.
Licensing with a nominal fee for adults would help to promote safer cycling:
-- requires test about rules of the road and Highway Traffic Act fines
I read the very good and comprehensive free Toronto Cyclists Handbook and realized that there are many ways I can improve my safety level by just following the guidelines that are already in place.
http://bikeunion.to/handbook/
As well, even though cycling is promoted in the booklet as being about being "affordable, healthy and convenient", reading the details reveals that the fines for common riding errors are considerable and cycling can be much less affordable for the careless people.
Let's get the cycling police officers to actually enforce the rules and take some people off the sidewalks and crosswalks, from the running stoplight/stop signs and distribute some tickets. Cycling traffic law offenders need to be made aware of their responsibilities.
I'm firmly in favour of cyclists on the road, of increasing cycle traffic, and of making Toronto more cycle-friendly. I just wish that cyclists would pay more attention to road rules, like signalling and stop signs, so that it was safer for everyone.
Even the city officials realize that licensing bikes will never work. These are the reasons listed on the city of Toronto website.
The major reasons why licensing has been rejected are:
The difficulty in keeping a database complete and current
The difficulty in licensing children, given that they ride bikes too
Licensing in and of itself does not change the behaviour of cyclists who are disobeying traffic laws.
In my opinion, the most important thing people can do is to not fall into the convenience trap of "but others do just as bad things!". If you complain about cars parked on the bike lane and use that as an excuse to cycle on the crowded sidewalk, that makes you just as much of a douchbag as the douchbag who parked his car on the bike lane. If you're a driver overtaking a car on the same lane without having a free lane at the left, you'd better not be complaining about how reckless and respectless cyclists are towards drivers. If you're complaining about cyclists who cross at the red light but you're happy jaywalking at every possible opportunity, then you're the reason why other people think they can get away with being stupid.
Keep your dignity despite other people being stupid. Making things better always starts with being a good example, and far less with laying blame.
Oh, and for balance, the worst habit of drivers is passing a cyclist within a few inches only to stop at the red light 50 metres ahead.
Bad habit...believing that (in its current state) Toronto is bike friendly! Go to Europe and see how it is to be truly bike friendly.
Worst habit....thinking that everyone else knows the rules of the road and what cyclist's are allowed to do.
Just some of the traits that came to mind as I was reading some of the above comments.
This is where the problem lies. It's not within the entire Toronto cycling community, or the motorists, or the skateboarders. It's the individuals within these "communities".
I am a cyclist and also drive a car, I understand it's hard not to get defensive, but it's this kind of attitude that only fuels the fire between entire communities, rather than holding the irresponsible individual accountable.
Also, when confronting a motorist/cyclist - try taking a different approach. We're all just trying to get around this city with millions of people and less than ideal infrastructure. Whether it be to our low paying part-time job, a class that we're late for, or home, finally. Don't honk aggressively, yell from your window, or kick someone's car... muster up a bit of class and treat each other with respect. Even if the person gets defensive and yells, at least you can feel good about how you handled the situation.
With more modes of transportation available to us than ever before, of course there will be conflicts. But it's how we deal with these conflicts that will make the difference.
Angrily dwelling in "Toronto's cyclists' worst habits" is not going to bring about positive change.
The cycling activists in Toronto have been great about pushing for our rights and bike lanes and so on. But they haven't been very good about communicating our responsibilities. I guess, as activists, that's not their job. But yes, we have responsibilities. I get the sense that a lot of cyclists (especially in spring and summer) are new and inexperienced and simply don't know what the rules and etiquette are so they just do whatever they think is right. They end up doing a lot of really stupid things.
It would be great if one of our cycling committees and organizations would focus more on education for cyclists. To let us all know what the rules, laws, and etiquette are and how to cycle safely and responsibly in Toronto. It should be a city-wide campaign.
And finally, some cyclists in Toronto go on and on about how much better cycling is in Amsterdam and Copenhagen and other European cities. It's absolutely true. It IS better. They have a better cycling infrastructure and a real cycling culture. But they also, for the most part, obey the rules of the road and follow the rules of etiquette so as not to put their fellow cyclists at risk and to make everything run smoothly. It's a mature cycling culture compared to Toronto's.
How many more blogTO articles are they going to run bashing cyclists. Drivers and pedestrians are just as bad - there are nice respectful people, and there are assholes. This translates into the mode of transportation. There are always going to be people who don't know/acknowledge the rules of the road/sidewalk so let's just get over it and find something productive to think about.
Education would go a long way to helping people behave better whether they are driving, cycling, skateboarding, rollerblading, or driving.
Realization that we are all people, regardless of our mode of transportation, and taking a deep breath, would also be helpful.
The law reads "as close as practicable to the right edge of the road", not as close as possible. The cyclist has the right to take the lane, but must move back to the right when they feel it is safe to do so. They must also manoeuvre around potholes, cracked pavement, drains, debris, etc that accumulates at the right edge of the road. Practicable is determined by the cyclist and police as needed, not by an impatient and inconsiderate driver.
1. 40-year-old retards riding on the sidewalk (it's a $95 fine, or a punch in the throat -- your choice).
2. 40-year-old retards riding on the sidewalk when there is a bike lane right there!!!
3. Cyclists who feel it is their God-given right to plow right through people getting on or off a bus or streetcar: the same rule applies to bikes as cars: remain two metres BEHIND the rear doors UNTIL they are closed, geddit?
4. Cyclists riding side by side, then getting pissy when cars can't pass.
5. Cyclists with their front wheel beyond the white line at intersections, which makes right turns impossible for cars. The line is there for a reason, so stay behind it!
6. Riding the wrong way on a one-way street.
7. Not signalling, or having a clue what signals are.
8. Blowing through stop signs and red lights.
9. No lights after dark.
10. Riding so close to other cyclists that they bump into my rear tire -- f-off!
...and number 11 for eBikes: what the hell are you? Since you can keep pace with cars on Toronto streets, why are you in bike lanes?
Other bad habits: Running red lights and wearing disgusting tight spandex shorts.
We have terrible motorists and we have terrible cyclists. Neither is a reflection of the collective, on either side.
I think it's common sense to accept that we're all responsible for cooperating and following clear traffic/safety rules, whether there are designated bike lanes or not.
I dont cycle as much as I walk/transit/drive (and maybe having to occasionally drive alongside notoriously bad Brampton motorists has made me THAT much more a paranoid driver), but I dont feel safer sitting in my car than I do manoeuvring a cross-walk.
But I would think it's understood that so long as stupid people exist, there will be stupid/dangerous drivers, regardless of the context.
And as many here have said, cyclists who hog the lane but get mad at me when I honk to ask them to move over so I can pass.
I was getting on the King streetcar last year. The streetcar had stopped, the doors were open and I had left the sidewalk and was onto the street heading to get on. A cyclist came whipping by, yelled at me to get out his way and called me a f-king c@#t. What an A-hole!
But maybe I'm a bit touchy, just getting over an elbow problem, and getting clipped TWICE this afternoon on a 10 minute walk (Yonge and Finch).
And, no, these weren't crack addicts and bums. They were ultra-fashionable (in their minds, anyway) young'ns who have never, and will never, learn to be respectful.
I dunno about that. Even just speaking as pedestrians, and/or as other motorists, generalizing when we rant and complain about bad motorists has always been par for the course.
Just consider the way we (motorists!) take the trouble to rank and slag off terrible drivers by city/region. (Hell, *I* just did it above when I mentioned Brampton, haha.)
And this is all before even discussing the vulnerability of cyclists around terrible motorists!
I would argue that cyclists are inclined to be 'overly'-defensive because they're operating from a place of disadvantage, to begin with (i.e., the fact that most roads are built without them in mind). It may not strike me (personally) as productive, but it's certainly understandable.
The central problem as I see it, is that in certain situations where bikers know they are "safe" from cars, many of them take it as carte blanche to take more risks.
But, my biggest and most intense pet peeve is this... if I pass you once, and roll up to a red light, and you roll up beside me/pass me because the light happens to go green and I have to make an effort again to pass you seconds later, thus causing unnecessary potential traffic issues and the like because you're an idiot... I may very well end up plotting your death. I've already passed you once, you know you're riding slower than I am... what the fuck are you doing!
Who the hell "suddenly" sees a car parked up ahead and needs to "suddenly" swerve into traffic? Someone who isn't paying attention. Keep your eyes open and your wits about you and you'll do fine weaving into traffic.
of course cars parked in bike lanes are a problem. Its inconsiderate and illegal. You know what else is inconsiderate and illegal? riding on the sidewalk.
Why be part of the problem?
I've witnessed more than one occasion where a cyclist tried to overtake a car in front that was indicating to change to the right lane, from the car's blind spot. Well, of course the car continued to change lanes, into the cyclist.
Cyclist safety is about the risks bikers choose to take as well as the actions of drivers on the road. It's easy for non-cyclists to underestimate how seriously bikers take their own safety when every day we see individuals choose to disobey traffic signals, not wear helmets or reflective gear, or use their phone or headphones on the road. Respecting your own safety will influence others on the road to respect your safety too.
You're a horrible person.
@blogTO Cyclists angrily passing signalling, right-turning cars on the right side. #bikeTO
Just so we can all stop having this argument, page 19 of the Cycling Guide:
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/cycling-guide/pdfs/cycling-guide.pdf
Right-turning traffic
Motorists don’t always check for bicycles when making right-hand turns, so cyclists need to take extra caution. It’s important to leave space around you for a safety cushion (one meter between you and the curb and you and the vehicle).
When a motorist is making a right-hand turn, cyclists can either stay behind the vehicle or pass the right-turning vehicle on the left by shoulder checking, signalling, shoulder checking again and then passing on the left. Never pass a right-turning vehicle on the right.
honestly, all of your scenarios involve cyclists doing something that is ILLEGAL but more convenient than what they should legally be doing. that means finding an alternate route so as to not bike down 1-way streets, ensuring that your way is clear of pedestrians when pedestrians legally have the right of way, and making an effort to stop at red lights. (i'll admit that i'm guilty of rolling stops at stop signs, but i still only proceed when it's safe for me to do so, not blindly entering the intersection).
if you want motorists and pedestrians to respect you on your bike, you need to recognize that we ALL must abide by the same rules of the road, and that these rules don't just not apply to cyclists because it's less convenient to dismount. these ILLEGAL and BAD HABITS are the reason that the climate is so hostile to cyclists. bike safely, smartly, and LEGALLY and a lot of this back&forth blame will disappear.
1) Amount of cyclists killed by automobiles,
2) Amount of automobile drivers (while driving) killed by cyclists.
I did a bit of internet research and although I was unable to find data & information on automobile drivers killed by cyclists; there was plenty of data on cyclists killed by automobiles & their drivers.
Thank you,
Chris
Also, cycling with headphones on!?! Not safe. Cyclists should be focused on the road and ensuring their own safety, not on having the music so load they cannot hear a vehicle approaching (and maybe use the horn to warn them of an unsafe condition?). Just sayin!
Just because you (arguably) still hear better with headphones on than someone in a car doesn't make headphones a smart idea.
And this makes it smart to listen to headphones on a bike?
Your logic does not compute.
To put this topic in the spot feel free to report your experince with a biker to "bikeme.lima-city.de". Thanks!
But ignoring facts is always easier than coping with the ugly truth ...
Pedestrians have a lot to answer for as well: many of them seem to think they can cross when they feel like it and expect drivers and cyclists to make exceptions for them. And by far the dumbest thing I see pedestrians doing every day, whether crossing legally or jaywalking, is crossing at an angle so that the farther they get across the street, the more their backs are turned to the traffic coming at them from behind (should be the side). Sheer idiocy.
But the common thing of all situations is the lack of responsibility this people have to take. The less fear to be caught in the act and being fined, the more misbehaviour. Yesterday there was a biker on Yonge street, going through red light. 3 police-officers on bikes, right across the street, did nothing. Do you think the biker will stop at the next red light if it's so easy to do what he wants and get away easily?
I know intersections, at which no biker cares about stop. No one stops there. Minority? I don't think so.
If a vehicle is clearly ahead of you, stopped and signalling to make a right turn, they have the right of way. In this scenario a cyclist must either stop and allow the vehicle to turn or pass on the left. If you try to squeeze by the vehicle on the right you are breaking the law...it's called making an unsafe pass and you, not the driver will be charged if their is a collision
"The worst habit of cyclists is hugging the curb and allowing drivers to speed past them when it's not safe to do so. Take the lane when you need to people.
Oh, and for balance, the worst habit of drivers is passing a cyclist within a few inches only to stop at the red light 50 metres ahead. "
Motor-vehicle operators do NOT have a right to pass cyclists.
There is no law, or moral code, that grants motor-vehicles the "right-of-superiority" over cyclists.
A cyclists life is not of less value than yours.
It would be wise to try to conduct your driving life without knowingly and willfully endangering the lives of other people, like cyclists for instance.
If a cyclist is in the right lane, then you MUST wait politely behind, or change lanes and then pass.
The curb side of the right lane is often dangerous for many reasons. Anyone with a reasonable degree of intelligence would be able to see the broken pavement, potholes, etc... on the side of the road and realize "aha, that's why this cyclist is riding in the middle of the lane. I understand now."
It seems that very few people have the cognitive ability to do this.
Cyclists are not subhuman creatures that you have a superior right run off the road into the gutters.
For cyclists: do NOT be submissive to motor-vehicles. Assert your self, and TAKE safety space you need.
ALL: Try not to kill other people through the course of your daily lives.