Cycling in Waterloo Region

[MidTowner]

Have we talked about shoaling here before? On my way in this morning, I had the experience of waiting at a red light with one foot on the curb, when a woman passed me to wait ahead of me in what I feel is the "line up." She had to stop in the crosswalk to get all the way ahead of me, which annoyed me as someone who is often on foot. Then she inched forward as the cross street's signal turned yellow before s-l-o-w-l-y proceeding through the intersection while the light was still red. The light turned green, and I went through, and then passed her (while making a not-so-rude comment about passing me at the lights being unnecessary). I don't know why she wants bikes to have to pass each other in the narrow bike lane. I'm pretty sure the thought doesn't enter her mind. What really got me annoyed was that she was middle-aged and not exactly on the athletic-looking side. I guess she could still easily be a really fast cyclist but, sure enough, she wasn't.

I do admit that I was on the right side of the bike lane, with my right foot on the curb- should I not do this? Maybe not, but it seems like, if I'm on the left side of the bike lane, people will pass me on the right, which seems even more egregious. I'm guessing this is just a behaviour that a lot of people are into, and I should figure out how to deal with it and be more confident when passing them on the next block. But, for now, it bothers me, and I don't get why people are doing it. Motorists don't do this (I hope).

All right, I'm done venting about it (for this time).