|
Share the Road...Please!
By Belinda Williams
June 28, 2011
I hope you all enjoyed that FANTASTIC weather and the festivities we had last week for Bike To Work Day! I couldn't have asked for a better day to commute on a bicycle!
Now to business...
First of all, I want to ask that you not let what's written here or in the embedded links frighten you. On average, cyclists enjoy better health later in life than sedentary people. We also have the emotional benefits of regular exercise, and there are few ways to enjoy more of the world around you that are better than from the saddle of a bicycle. The point I'm trying to make to everyone is a very simple one... share the road and share alike.
This week, I encountered several situations both online and in my personal life that as a cyclist I found upsetting. The views I'll address aren't as uncommon as you might think, but, thankfully, nor are they common. I've encountered such views from strangers (fortunately a vast minority) and even from a coworker. The coworker would joke that people ought to aim for me with their cars as I'm commuting. I didn't find it funny. In some ways, it made the emotional recovery even harder when I WAS hit by a car, only a block from where I work.
As such, today I'm going to respond to those frustrations.
Several articles address the case of a woman who had been struck by a car in Mississippi, then deliberately run over a second time by that same driver. Her husband was told that the only violation they could pin on the driver of the weapon vehicle was a violation of the 3-feet law, which states that drivers must give cyclists 3 feet of room when passing. No attempted homicide charges. No charges for attempting to flee the scene (ONLY because witnesses stopped the driver). The penalty for the misdemeanor violation? a $500 fine.
The cyclist was in ICU for a month. Only in the last few days is she showing any significant improvement. She has a long road ahead of her, and is unlikely to fully recover. Her husband has been keeping a blog on her recovery, which may be viewed here: Get Well, Jan!
The Mississippi legal system failed her. Laws here in Colorado are much sterner, but in spite of that, there still remain people of the attitude that cyclists don't belong on the road, and that if we're hit, we deserve what we get. While better than some states, our laws still aren't stern enough. Even before I was struck in a hit and run myself this past March, I found such attudes to be very callous and narrow minded, and while I doubt those people will see what I have to say, I want to respond anyway. While I'm addressing Annette Loe, the writer of the cited article in particular, this isn't the first time I've seen an article like this. A few months back, there was a similar article in the Wall Street Journal
While I'm talking to this person's points, I'm addressing every person who has this kind of narrow-minded callousness. This may be long, as I hope to address each point made in this response to the Mississippi woman's tragedy: Bicyclists Risk Own Well-Being
Here goes...
According to you, we bike on the road under the "guise of getting fit." Ummm... it's no guise, guys. It's real. Statistically, cyclists have better health late into life than sedentary people. We wouldn't be risking so much if other people just tried to understand.
You say you work hard and pay thousands for cars with safety features and insurance? I work hard, and many of us spend thousands of dollars on our bikes so that they fit and are as safe as possible for us. Moreover, we do this without polluting the environment, and we save money in the long run to boot. My bicycle is also insurred. I make sure that my bike is well maintained and fits right- for SAFETY. I also take what other safety precautions I can, wearing my helmet, making sure it's adjusted properly, and replacing it if I crash and hit my head. It makes me look like my head's a mushroom, but hey, my brain is my most valuable asset, and it's fun to look like a doofus. I even have a rear view mirror on my sunglasses, so I can see you coming up behind me and to help me change lanes safely when moving to make left turns. My bicycle itself is lit up like a Christmas tree, and I wear bright clothing with reflective accents, not caring that non-cyclists and the students I teach think I look utterly ridiculous.
You say cyclists should be required to pay road taxes? We already do, even if we don't own cars. I have news for you, it's not just owning a car that puts money into our roads. In any case, most of us DO drive cars as well, so we pay those additional taxes, just like you.
You say we should be tested and licensed. Hey, I'm all for rider education, and cyclists are already required to follow the same laws as motorists. If a cyclist is cited for violating these laws, I'm all for putting them through a rider education seminar on laws and safety in additional to the penalties for their violations. However, I'm not careening down the road in a 2-ton potential weapon of mass destruction. I'm on a 14 pound bicycle. In a conflict between me and you, I'll surely lose. As such, I have all the respect in the world for you. I should hope that you will return the favor.
I realize that there are cyclists out there who don't follow the laws, but I'm not one of them. Let law enforcement deal with the violators, just as they deal with drivers who violate traffic laws.
You ask me to ride on bicycle paths. I already do, where they are available, but I'm commuting by bike. Bike paths aren't going to get me all the way to work. Also, most bike paths have speed limits posted at 15MPH. That doesn't cut it for those of us who are training for events. You say to ride on country roads or well planned events. Why is that any safer than a street? A friend of mine, Marine veteran Robert Baldino, was riding in Race Across America last week with Team 4 Gone - a charity team. He was struck by a semi in Arizona on Sunday... on a wide open country road in a well planned event with support crews. Thank goodness he'll recover. His helmet saved him. He's in for a long, painful & difficult haul, though. The cause of the accident... morning sun glare affecting the driver of the semi.
If you're thinking we should ride on sidewalks now, think again. A cyclist is far more likely to be hit by a car when riding on the sidewalk- especially by turning vehicles or those coming out of parking lots and driveways. Drivers just don't look for us to be there. We need to be visible to you so that you DON'T hit us. Moreover, us riding on the sidewalk puts pedestrians at risk, and places even more hazards on us. Not every person walking their dog reins them in when they see a cyclist coming, particularly when those extra long leashes are being used. In some places, like Denver, riding on the sidewalk is illegal if you're not a small child.
You talk about injuries and fatalities. Have you ever seen the statistics for car accidents? Far more people are injured and die every year in car accidents. Also, when proper precautions are taken, the risk of death is greatly reduced. Eighty percent of cyclist fatalities are among those not wearing helmets.
Cyclists aren't off the hook. As I already said, I'm all for giving citations to those who violate traffic laws. We're not cited enough. You put drivers in traffic school. We need the same thing. Too many cyclists aren't familiar enough with the laws and how they apply to us. Cite us and send us to a bicycle laws and safety seminar. There are enough of us running stop lights and signs to make it worthwhile. I won't say cyclists are never at fault, because at times we are. The legal system SHOULD treat us as they would someone driving any other vehicle. However, we shouldn't be treated like lesser citizens, as we often are, just because we're riding bikes. We need things to be safer on BOTH sides of the fence. But drivers, bear in mind, we're just like you, trying to get from point A to point B. We have jobs, families, etc. that we're all trying to get to. Is it THAT much of a hassle to wait, usually less than a minute, to safely pass us with enough room? Is someone's life worth getting somewhere 2-3 minutes sooner than you would otherwise? Think about it. Bicycles were declared vehicles before cars even existed. We belong on the roads. If you're going to ban bicycles because we're slower than traffic, then you'll have to ban tractors, the Amish with their horse drawn wagons, and many others, of whom are often SLOWER than bicycles. We're here to stay.
So, suck it up and share the road. I'm happy to share it with you. Just give me the same courtesy. Oh, and get out on a bicycle... you just might find you enjoy it! Colorado information on laws & bicycle safety: Bicycle Colorado * * * Articles about the case of the Mississippi cyclist: Driver who struck cyclist won't face felony charges Sadness in the South: Mississippi Crash Spurs Anger, Activism Friends, family of accident victim don bright yellow to promote road safety, honor recovering patient In spite of '3-foot law,' riders injured, killed * * * If you have any comments or questions, Belinda Williams can be reached at:
tazowolf@gmail.com | 
