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Cycling etiquette

  • 05/06/2012 4:33 PM
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    Message # 913190
    Shannon Luton
    Being a fairly new triathele, I'm wondering if the group could help me with the "rules of the road" for cycling in McKinney.  I don't know if it's just me, but I routinely get flipped-off, honked and yelled at while cycling in Stonebridge Ranch - not to mention the number of cars that don't even bother to change lanes when passing me.  I follow the normal bike safety rules when riding but that doesn't seem to help.  Most of the people that are mad enough to honk or yell don't even have to wait on me - they can just go around.  I'm stumped.  Thanks.
  • 05/06/2012 9:36 PM
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    Reply # 913363 on 913190
    Steve Behen
    Shannon,

    A big hello from Mckinney, as I live here and bike here more than anywhere else. I am also new to this group. Been cycling here for a long time and have had a few of those types of encounters myself. I am not sure it is unique to Mckinney. I try to ride in "off peak hours" and on roads that are less traveled. That seems to help. For instance, I dont ride on Eldorado or Lake Forest during rush hour, etc. Not sure if this helps. Is there a Mckinney North Texas multisport group that rides here? I was going to post up that question but I do not see where adding topics in an option on this board... could be because I am on a mac?

    :)
  • 05/07/2012 8:05 PM
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    Reply # 914103 on 913190
    Deleted user
    Shannon, this happens everywhere.  Choosing to ride during off-peak hours does help, but people are still going to be rude.  Keep following the rules and be mindful of your safety.  I've had to cut rides short because it just wasn't safe. It's safer to ride in a group, but I know that is not always possible.  
  • 05/08/2012 5:16 PM
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    Reply # 915075 on 913363
    Deleted user
    Steve Behen wrote: Is there a Mckinney North Texas multisport group that rides here? 


    Yea! We ride out of CK Sports at 7AM every Saturday. Great group too.
  • 05/10/2012 12:29 AM
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    Reply # 916214 on 913190
    Deleted user

    I have found the best way to help yourself is to move out of traffic...  I have been biking the 'old' cooper tri course for a bit - if you can add the transport time - rack your bike and go down to Cooper Fitenss and go up and down the road there.  They started to build houses there then the bubble hit and didn't sell too many - there is almost no traffic if you can afford the time...

    Other than that - yes - there are almost always mean people...
  • 05/11/2012 2:53 PM
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    Reply # 917862 on 913190
    Anonymous
    Mckinney does not have a bike plan (yet) but there is one in the works that will hopefully improve the situation.  To find out more about it, i'd suggest subscribing to the following blog: http://bikefriendlymckinney.com/ or "friending" the following Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/isupportmckinneybikeplan.  The best way to find out about group rides is join the Facebook group "Triathlon Friends".  If you do ride alone, avoid rush hour and certain roads.  There are several safe routes to get you either North of East we we have miles and miles of very lightly traveled country roads to train.  One of the perks of living in Mckinney vs. other DFW metro cities.
  • 05/16/2012 8:01 AM
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    Reply # 921979 on 913190
    Deleted user

    Honkers, yellers, and flippers off are a good kind of driver in my opinion- that means they see you. As far as their behavior, whatever. They can tell it to their senator or congressman.  The deadly people are the ones that never saw the cyclist.  If you can get yourself north of 380 the driver angst seems to subside quite a bit.  That or Cooper are really the best options as someone else said earlier.
  • 05/24/2012 11:26 AM
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    Reply # 929348 on 913190
    Deleted user
    Hi Shannon and welcome! Wow, I guess I have a different experience than some of the other riders that have posted, cause I don't seem to have as many problems with drivers. In 7 years of riding I've been honked at maybe 4-5 times, and I commute to/from work 2-3 times per week during peak traffic times. I think a lot of it has to do with what route you choose. I save the bigger streets (Alma, Stonebridge, Virginia, Hardin, etc.) for off-peak times like early AM weekend rides.

    not to mention the number of cars that don't even bother to change lanes when passing me.
    Don't give cars the option to pass you in YOUR lane. I'm only making an assumption here that your riding close to the curb. If you ride in the middle of the lane then cars are forced to change lanes to pass.
  • 07/09/2012 9:03 PM
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    Reply # 1003028 on 913190
    Shannon Luton
    Thanks everybody for the great suggestions.  I probably was riding too close to the curb and giving cars the option to pass me in my lane.  I racked my bike this evening and rode the Cooper Sprint route.  It was great.  I'll be doing that from now on.   Thanks again.

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