Two Wheels or Four Wheels, It's All Good

I am a cyclist.  I am also a motorist.  I think that being a cyclist has made me a better motorist and being a motorist has made me a better cyclist.

Fearless Editor and Grand Poobah Kris Janish approached me with a bicycle/pedestrian safety press release from the Department of Public Safety and suggested that I make something out of it.  I made a paper airplane and a hat out of it, before my wife suggested that he meant to perhaps write something.

I didn’t want to completely regurgitate what the press release said, but I did want to touch on some things that they may have missed or add some depth to some things that they said.  I also wanted to pass on some safety ideas that I preach to my daughter, a cyclist herself.  I also wanted to babble.

DISCLAIMERS:

1.)     I am not trying to get everyone out of their cars and onto bikes.  I ride a bike. I drive a car.  They both have times and uses.  I can’t even convince my wife to ride a bike, so I don’t think I’ll be able to persuade you.

2.)    I don’t know everything about cycling, just like I don’t know everything about driving.

3.)    To quote Sgt. Esterhaus, “Let’s be careful out there.”  (Extra points if you know this quote without Googling it.)

4.)    I’m just an old fat guy on a bike.

For the cyclists (But many of these aren’t bad advice for drivers as well.)

Expect stupidity

Not just from drivers, but from other riders, pedestrians, animals, et cetera.  If you expect people to do the absolute stupidest, most dangerous thing and have in the back of your mind your reaction, you will not only be ready, but pleasantly surprised when people, as they usually do, act normally and rationally. 

It’s not that people necessarily are stupid, it’s just that we’re all seeing what’s going on from different perspectives and our minds sometimes aren’t where they ought to be and we miss things. 

Even the Tour de France, with closed roads and professional caravan drivers is not immune to stupidity between cars and bicycles. This driver wasn’t where he was supposed to be and overreacted to seeing a tree near the road.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFHjpEIma0A  (The crash is at the ten second mark.  The guy who flew into the barbed wire fence, Johnny Hoogerland, received 33 stitches and would not only finish the stage, but race the remaining 12 stages as well) . 

“Rights-of-Way”   

There are many instances where I know that I have the right of way, yet cede it to drivers.  Why?  When push comes to shove, proving you have the right-of-way isn’t worth Last Rites.

In crowded four-way stop intersections, I’ll often wave cars through and then pretend to check my front brake from the shoulder until a situation presents itself where I can safely cross without being a target.  Why?  I’m not training for a race or trying to set a record on Strava.  I don’t need to fight with a car.

Be Predictable 

Predictability for motorists is good, because of the first rule.  Maintain your line unless it is not safe to do so or unless it is safer for you to move in another way (such as farther onto the shoulder).   If you have to change your line, always  look over your shoulder.   Not only does it keep you safe, it is a cue for motorists around you that you’re potentially going to make a move.

You’re invisible

I don’t care how much day-glo spandex you have on, you can have flashing lights and a siren…it doesn’t matter.  You’re invisible.  After all, sometimes people don’t even see emergency vehicles on the road.  They miss gigantic business signs. They don’t see all the members of the Beatles standing in the Red Roof Inn parking lot, waving.

The point is, yes, it’s good to attempt to make yourself more visible, but you should never assume that you’re visible.  To be honest, you should never assume that you’re visible in a car, either.  How many times do you hear about an accident where one person “just didn’t see” the other one?  And this is something that happened to someone in a big, shiny piece of metal.

Obey the traffic laws

If the sign says stop, you stop.  If the light is red, you stop.  Following the rules is simple, really.

Just say “No” to Critical Mass.  To me, Critical Mass is much like Greenpeace or PETA.  Yes, there are good parts to the cause, but there’s a lot of folks who are there to cause a scene, promote themselves, or just be a jerk.  If you’re looking for a group that actually accomplishes something more than self- aggrandizement and driver annoyance, may I suggest People for Bikes or the League of American Bicyclists.

Wear a helmet

You’ve only got one brain and without that, you’re nothing but an organ donor.  Helmets are light, aerodynamic, and, to be honest, helmet hair can be incredibly sexy (Okay, so the last one may be a stretch.)

For the drivers.

Three feet, please

Give us three feet of clearance.  In many states, it’s the law.  Even if we’re on the inside of the lane, most vehicles will have enough room to give cyclists three feet while staying in their own lane.   It’s safer for us, and for you. 

Watch your doors and mirrors

If you’ve just parallel parked, check your mirror before you get out.  Many bike lanes in areas like this are right along where the drivers’ side door would be, and even if there are no lanes, many of us will be riding near that for our safety and your convenience.  

What are you looking in your mirror for? You’re making sure that you’re not going to open the door into us.  It won’t feel good for us, might not feel good for you, and your car door isn’t going to like it much, either.

Yelling “Lance” 

We’ve heard it before and it’s about as funny as rolling down your window and yelling, “FORE!” as you drive by Prestwick or yelling “MOO!” at cows as you drive by.  It’s been done before and we may smile just to be polite (and in hopes that you don’t run us over.)

If you really feel the need to yell something funny at us (which, I suppose, is better than some things that have been yelled at me), pick a name from a Pro Continental or US Continental pro team.   You’ll really earn my respect if you throw out a nickname like, “Hey, TJ!” or “Hey, J-Pow!” or “Hey, Tre!”  If you yell, “One-to-go! One-to-go! One-to-go” a-la Dave Towle, I MAY wash your car.

Also, if you’re in an “ethnic” neighborhood, you do earn extra points by yelling a name of a cyclist of that background.  When cycling through a largely Spanish neighborhood of Saint Paul, I was amused by the number of people who would yell, “Contador!”

Lance and I may have been born only a day apart in the same year, we may officially have the same number of Tour de France victories, but I’m about 5 inches taller, far heavier, and he’s much more wealthy…at least until the sponsor lawsuits are done.

Now to answer a common question: 

Why aren’t you on the bike path?  There could be any number of reasons why someone isn’t on the “bike” path. 

1.)    They’re actually multi-use trails, which means that they could be filled with walkers/joggers, many of whom tend to either spread out across the entire path with their ear buds in so that you can’t warn them of the fact that you’re coming up on them .  Many also show a general incapability of moving in a relatively straight line. (Remember, we like predictability)

2.)    The trails may be under construction or being repaired. 

3.)    There could be animals on the path.   Many of the folks in “reason one” also bring Fido or Rover with them.   Amazingly, Fido and Rover are even worse at being predictable and/or keeping out of the way of others than walkers/joggers.  

Don't forget about wildlife.  I’ve come across geese, deer, and a fox during my rides (to say nothing of the time in my childhood when a bird flew into the side of my head.)

In a car, Fido and Rover are a minor issue.  You hope that you don’t hit them and once you pass them, it’s over.  On a bike, it’s essential that you don’t hit them and once you pass them, you hope that they don’t chase you. 

If you hit Fido and Rover in your car, it’s a sad moment for you and their owner.  If you hit Fido and Rover on your bike, the dog is usually okay, you’ve gone over your handlebars, and you’ve probably done some damage to your front wheel, to say nothing of your collarbone.

4.)    The trails are multi-use…but not just for recreation. Most of them are built inside utility easements, so there may be trucks or equipment out there.

This is actually a really smart place to put paths.  You can’t build a building within a utility easement, but you can build a path. Utilities need to be able to access their equipment in all weather conditions and a hard path allows them to do that.  Since many of the paths here in town are plowed, they can even get to problem spots in the winter.  It's the proverbial win/win

5.)    Some folks are actually training for a triathlon/cycling event and need a place where they can get up to speed.  With all the pedestrians, animals, and other cyclists on the trail, it’s not safe for them to do so on the trail.

Without sounding too much like Dr. Phil, it all comes down to respect.  Both cyclists and motorists deserve respect and it is essential that they do give respect.   I believe that the vast majority of cyclists and motorists just want to get where they’re going without causing a problem.   We can share the road.