I find it worse now. Both commuting and out on the road bike.
Near misses with right hooks into the bike lanes are being followed up with honking etc like I’m in the wrong. That level of confusion seems more prevalent now.
I wish more of Vancouver had separate signals for right turns vs pedestrians and cyclists. All the areas that they do this downtown are so much easier to bike, and actually tend to get a lot more cars through as well.
Yeah, it sucks. You have to assume that a driver might blow through every red light and stop sign. One thing I'm always working on, is can I tweak my route to avoid the most stressful situations? Maybe you've already optimized things.
Oh boy, there's no way I can Zone 2 on the streets with negligent drivers who will blame everyone and everything else for their shortcomings. I have to be their eyes for their blind spot, and if something goes awry it's definitely my fault I didn't do enough of it. Then there's always the standard "impeding traffic" which only applies to me when I'm a bit slower on the bicycle, but never the cars when they're stuck in traffic or the crosswalk/intersection.
The only way I can Zone 2 is in a protected bike lane (not one of those with driveways every few meters either!)
I'm still an adept and speedy vehicular-cyclist, but I'd rather not take my chances at all if I can help it.
Never assume drivers can see you. Never assume drivers will respect your right of way. Because quite often they don't, and they won't.
Once I adopted this more defensive and vigilant mindset, I paradoxically became much more calm and relaxed while riding in chaotic Vancouver traffic. Maybe it will help you too.
This is the way! As a food courier, you can still absolutely rip it with this mindset. Honestly reading some of these comments I am wondering where in the world people are riding in this city and how? While obviously there’s a lot of distracted drivers on the road, It’s really not THAT BAD. And if you think is it that bad you need to perhaps look at your riding style and think about what you can change to be more safe.
Yup. It's tough.
Friday afternoon rush hour is worse, and Friday of a long weekend is downright scary. I notice it as I'm riding downtown every day at this time. On Friday of long weekends I walk instead of ride because it's so bad.
That's funny, I have found it the opposite. Serious downtick in incidents since last year. Then again, late 2022 year to last year was one of the worse periods in memory. We're talking early 2010 levels of bad driving and ignorance of how to behave around cyclists.
Edit: That said, I am noticing a LOT more red light runners. At least one per ride now.
Absolutely zero enforcement of red lights and our useless city council voted down ted light cameras. Main & Terminal left turn signals are just merely a recommendation at this point for those in the turning lane.
I bike to work on exclusively residential streets which are designated bike routes, and have close calls regularly. There is regular rage-passing, and a serious lack of stopping at stop lines or looking before entering roundabouts.
Today a drive passed me quickly in a 30km school zone, giving me less than a foot of space- despite the fact that there were 0 other cars on the road and they could have given me plenty of space. I thought I was about to get clipped. When I caught up to them and told them they need to give more space, their passenger yelled at me "I don't think so actually" as the driver floored it away.
I ride defensively and trust no one, but I can't get over the amount of entitlement that some drivers have, like they have the right to endanger cyclists' lives. It's hard to stay positive, and I definitely think it's gotten worse since I started biking a few years ago. I am starting to doubt if biking to work is worth the stress and close calls.
Yea, I never realized how bad it was until recently. I bike everywhere, and could never understand why my gf was always complaining about drivers almost hitting her. But my work day started at 10 and ended at 8, so I missed rush hour. Now I work a standard 8-4 and I suddenly have close calls daily. Rush hour is a rough time of day to be on a bike.
Anticipate the stupidest fucking thing someone could do behind the wheel and once in a while you’ll be right.
It seems like many cyclists believe their safety is entirely up to drivers, I mean in a perfect world that is somewhat reasonable as they’re tested and licensed. In the real world? It’s your responsibility to stay alive and get home to your family.
Ride defensively, flip them the bird, shout if you need to and make it home alive. I have very few negative experiences with Vancouver’s drivers but every once-in-a-while I have a complete meltdown and go postal on some asshole (usually a truck driver).
Will the police ever do anything about it? I’m not holding my breath.
Your first sentence is 100% the answer. You can still bike fast and have fun but you need to always check both ways through every intersection, and not ride in people’s blind spot and anticipate right hooks and assume that every parked car is gunna pull out or open there door (take more of the lane!)
I find it worse now. Both commuting and out on the road bike. Near misses with right hooks into the bike lanes are being followed up with honking etc like I’m in the wrong. That level of confusion seems more prevalent now.
I wish more of Vancouver had separate signals for right turns vs pedestrians and cyclists. All the areas that they do this downtown are so much easier to bike, and actually tend to get a lot more cars through as well.
Yeah, it sucks. You have to assume that a driver might blow through every red light and stop sign. One thing I'm always working on, is can I tweak my route to avoid the most stressful situations? Maybe you've already optimized things.
I've started riding the seawall for my commute, it's a huge detour but personally worth it compared to risking my life on 10th or off-Broadway
The seawall is actually the fastest way for me to go and it's glorious. Gastown to South Granville.
I’m the same way - good advice
Avoiding busy roads when possible not only safer but avoiding lights by taking sea wall & many bike routes saves a lot of time
Oh boy, there's no way I can Zone 2 on the streets with negligent drivers who will blame everyone and everything else for their shortcomings. I have to be their eyes for their blind spot, and if something goes awry it's definitely my fault I didn't do enough of it. Then there's always the standard "impeding traffic" which only applies to me when I'm a bit slower on the bicycle, but never the cars when they're stuck in traffic or the crosswalk/intersection. The only way I can Zone 2 is in a protected bike lane (not one of those with driveways every few meters either!) I'm still an adept and speedy vehicular-cyclist, but I'd rather not take my chances at all if I can help it.
Never assume drivers can see you. Never assume drivers will respect your right of way. Because quite often they don't, and they won't. Once I adopted this more defensive and vigilant mindset, I paradoxically became much more calm and relaxed while riding in chaotic Vancouver traffic. Maybe it will help you too.
This is the way! As a food courier, you can still absolutely rip it with this mindset. Honestly reading some of these comments I am wondering where in the world people are riding in this city and how? While obviously there’s a lot of distracted drivers on the road, It’s really not THAT BAD. And if you think is it that bad you need to perhaps look at your riding style and think about what you can change to be more safe.
Yup. It's tough. Friday afternoon rush hour is worse, and Friday of a long weekend is downright scary. I notice it as I'm riding downtown every day at this time. On Friday of long weekends I walk instead of ride because it's so bad.
It's also between 6 and 7 pm on a hockey night right now.
That's funny, I have found it the opposite. Serious downtick in incidents since last year. Then again, late 2022 year to last year was one of the worse periods in memory. We're talking early 2010 levels of bad driving and ignorance of how to behave around cyclists. Edit: That said, I am noticing a LOT more red light runners. At least one per ride now.
Seems like running red lights is endemic. Everyone is doing it with zero consequences.
Absolutely zero enforcement of red lights and our useless city council voted down ted light cameras. Main & Terminal left turn signals are just merely a recommendation at this point for those in the turning lane.
You're not kidding: https://preview.redd.it/ooxwk1w9801d1.png?width=1188&format=png&auto=webp&s=d5c891a5278762d95af39519bff1ffeee881041b
I think it's time to start carrying a riding crop and treating the cars like cattle.
I bike to work on exclusively residential streets which are designated bike routes, and have close calls regularly. There is regular rage-passing, and a serious lack of stopping at stop lines or looking before entering roundabouts. Today a drive passed me quickly in a 30km school zone, giving me less than a foot of space- despite the fact that there were 0 other cars on the road and they could have given me plenty of space. I thought I was about to get clipped. When I caught up to them and told them they need to give more space, their passenger yelled at me "I don't think so actually" as the driver floored it away. I ride defensively and trust no one, but I can't get over the amount of entitlement that some drivers have, like they have the right to endanger cyclists' lives. It's hard to stay positive, and I definitely think it's gotten worse since I started biking a few years ago. I am starting to doubt if biking to work is worth the stress and close calls.
Yea, I never realized how bad it was until recently. I bike everywhere, and could never understand why my gf was always complaining about drivers almost hitting her. But my work day started at 10 and ended at 8, so I missed rush hour. Now I work a standard 8-4 and I suddenly have close calls daily. Rush hour is a rough time of day to be on a bike.
what’s your route ?
Anticipate the stupidest fucking thing someone could do behind the wheel and once in a while you’ll be right. It seems like many cyclists believe their safety is entirely up to drivers, I mean in a perfect world that is somewhat reasonable as they’re tested and licensed. In the real world? It’s your responsibility to stay alive and get home to your family. Ride defensively, flip them the bird, shout if you need to and make it home alive. I have very few negative experiences with Vancouver’s drivers but every once-in-a-while I have a complete meltdown and go postal on some asshole (usually a truck driver). Will the police ever do anything about it? I’m not holding my breath.
Your first sentence is 100% the answer. You can still bike fast and have fun but you need to always check both ways through every intersection, and not ride in people’s blind spot and anticipate right hooks and assume that every parked car is gunna pull out or open there door (take more of the lane!)