It's getting to be that time of year when PCH is crowded with cyclists on the weekends, especially as people train for the Malibu Tri. A few suggestions based on what I've observed lately.
1. Never pass a cyclist who is unaware of your presence on the right. Today I was stopped at a red light on my bike when someone blew past me on the right doing at least 25 mph (a slight downhill section at Kanan/PCH). This is incredibly dangerous and leads me to point 2:
2. Respect the traffic laws, including stopping at red lights. Lots of people have worked hard advocating for cyclists with Malibu city council and every time there's a conversation it gets bogged down by council members expressing frustration at cyclists for blowing through red lights.
3. Avoid riding right next to the fog line (white line), especially if you find yourself being passed by cyclists a lot. By riding so close to the fog line, you force passing cyclists into the lane where they have to deal with traffic. The shoulder is wide enough in most parts to allow a cyclist to pass another one without having to go into the lane. It's also safer to ride away from the fog line - drivers routinely enter the shoulder while they are texting, looking for a parking space, checking out the break, etc.
4. Even riding solo, it's good to hold a steady line (which can be altered to avoid debris etc.). Many riders seem to weave all over the shoulder for no apparent reason. Riding in a predictable manner will help other riders. Same for canyon roads. Many riders weave from the shoulder to the center line on climbs. If you're doing the Malibu tri, this is also the #1 way to avoid a crash.
1. Never pass a cyclist who is unaware of your presence on the right. Today I was stopped at a red light on my bike when someone blew past me on the right doing at least 25 mph (a slight downhill section at Kanan/PCH). This is incredibly dangerous and leads me to point 2:
2. Respect the traffic laws, including stopping at red lights. Lots of people have worked hard advocating for cyclists with Malibu city council and every time there's a conversation it gets bogged down by council members expressing frustration at cyclists for blowing through red lights.
3. Avoid riding right next to the fog line (white line), especially if you find yourself being passed by cyclists a lot. By riding so close to the fog line, you force passing cyclists into the lane where they have to deal with traffic. The shoulder is wide enough in most parts to allow a cyclist to pass another one without having to go into the lane. It's also safer to ride away from the fog line - drivers routinely enter the shoulder while they are texting, looking for a parking space, checking out the break, etc.
4. Even riding solo, it's good to hold a steady line (which can be altered to avoid debris etc.). Many riders seem to weave all over the shoulder for no apparent reason. Riding in a predictable manner will help other riders. Same for canyon roads. Many riders weave from the shoulder to the center line on climbs. If you're doing the Malibu tri, this is also the #1 way to avoid a crash.