Do you come to a complete stop at every stop sign?
Just because we can legally ride two abreast and occupy the lane does it mean we should? Obviously, it’s enraging motorists. Recently while watching footage from our film, Peter and I were riding side by side in the lane. Not only do I feel like a hypocrite but also frightened because we were too busy talking, laughing and enjoying the scenery and not paying nearly enough attention to what was coming up behind us, despite having helmet mirrors. I know how hard it is going to be to break this habit, but we need to try if the roads are going to be shared. Just because we’re smaller and lighter, doesn’t mean we need to be the boldest or the most obnoxious.
For cyclists to be less preyed upon by the TruckNutz Dangling hothead SUV drivers or oblivious soccer moms we need to do a lot more to protect ourselves and to be more on the defensive.
With that said, the reality is that the police are not going to protect us and they are not going to thoroughly investigate the collisions that kill us. This week it was reported that a cyclist was killed while riding on a bicycle path! A 13 year old who was stopped at a stop sign on his bike was hit by a school bus! Drivers are not looking for us or pedestrians, so let’s make them and this needs to come from all of us, not just the “granola crunchers” or the recumbies or the uber safer’s. But the clubman, the weekend century roller, the fixedhipster, the bmx punk, the trickster, people who ride these things, racers, commuters, group riders and this guy.
We are reclaiming our place on the roads, our history is longer than that of the car, let’s be the example of sharing the tarmac despite how hard it is when you read headlines like these:
Bicyclists don’t need ‘three foot rule’
Baltimore Sun – Second, that bike lanes advance the use of bicycles and safety of bicyclists. They don’t. And third, that any form of feel good legislation aimed at errant …
Child on bicycle struck by minivan in Terra Bella
Visalia Times-Deltan – A 7-year-old bicyclist was struck by a minivan in Terra Bella on Sunday, the Tulare County Fire Department reported. The collision occurred at 6:16 pm in …
Cyclists impeding traffic in Florida
Examiner.com – Regardless, there’s a tendency for police officers to enforce impeding traffic laws against cyclists as a means of promoting high traffic flow, …
Opening Car Door Knocks Bicyclist into Path of NYC Transit Bus and Kills Her
InjuryBoard.com (blog) – A bicyclist is dead after an opening car door struck and pushed her into the path of a bus, says NY1.com. The accident happened early Wednesday morning, …
Cyclist died from Clementi accident
Straits Times – By Mavis Goh ONE of two cyclists knocked down in Clementi on Sunday night by a suspected drink-driver died in hospital on Wednesday from head injuries. …
Modesto cyclist dies in auto collision
Modesto Bee – The 73-year-old cyclist died Monday after he was struck by a pickup on southbound Claus Road near Scenic Drive. According to police, he was in the right …
Paseo reopens after car kills bicyclist
KRQE – A car headed eastbound on Paseo del Norte near Second Street lost control, drove off the road and through a fence, killing a bicyclist on the bicycle trail, …
Bicyclist hit by vehicle in Chino Hills
San Bernardino Sun – A 17-year-old bicyclist on Sunday night suffered major injuries after being hit by a vehicle. The Chino Hills boy was traveling east about 9 pm on Valle …
Pickup truck hits, kills bicyclist near I-17
AZFamily by Jennifer Thomas PHOENIX — A 51-year-old bicyclist was killed after he was hit by a pickup truck at Interstate 17 and Glendale Avenue Monday morning. …
7-year-old hit-and-run victim dies
by khou.com staff HOUSTON — A 7-year-old girl left in critical condition after a hit-and-run at Bear Creek Park died Tuesday evening, officials said. …
Zambia: Bus Runs Over Chibombo Cyclist
AllAfrica.com – A 29-year-old man of Chitanda area in Chibombo died on the spot at the weekend after being hit by a bus on the Lusaka-Mumbwa road. …
ChipSeal: Impede Traffic, Pull Over a Cyclist!
By ChipSeal – The cyclist was traveling west-bound on East Ennis Avenue having just crossed Kaufman Avenue, on his way home with groceries. He was pulled over in the 200 block in heavy traffic. Because there was no place to pull off the roadway, …
Crap Cycling & Walking in Waltham Forest: Woman cyclist crushed by …
By freewheeler – Last Thursday, on what felt like a warm, sunny first day of Spring, I was witness to the immediate aftermath of a collision involving a cyclist and a 32 tonne articulated lorry. It was a truly horrible, chilling sight. …
Tags: Bicycling, bike, bike lanes, cyclist, road safety, share the road