True or False: "I am a better driver, because I ride"

[indigoiis]

I am teaching the kid how to drive.
I told her to ride more. It will make her a better driver.
Do you think you're a better driver because you ride?

[spokewench]

Yes, I think I am a better driver because I am more aware of things around me; more defensive, and, of course, see bikes and peds more than most who don't ride or walk a lot to get to where they go.

[Cataboo]

I can't say that I am a better driver for cycling.

I am more aware of cyclists than I used to be probably.

[SadieKate]

Yes, I anticipate better by looking ahead farther (as in more than one car in front of me).

I can focus on narrow lanes better (like singletrack, look where you want to go). Think how close concrete construction barriers can be.

I'm more comfortable with icy conditions due to mtnbiking on loose surfaces.

I think mtnbiking more obviously improves these skills than road riding, but both help.

[Aggie_Ama]

I pay more attention to everything. Is it because I cycle or moved to a more urban area? Not sure. I do notice more cyclists and pedistrians.

[lph]

Definitely. I'm a lot more aware and understanding of cyclists needs.

But for me it's more the opposite. I rode a bike for many years as an adult before I got my drivers licence, and I'm a better bike rider now that I'm a driver too.

[OakLeaf]

No, I don't think so.

I'm a better driver AND a better bicyclist because I ride a motorcycle.

I'll grant that maybe, with me, it's because I never had a break after childhood riding. I transitioned seamlessly from tooling around the neighborhood and to school the way kids do, to commuting to work on my bici in heavy traffic at 16, to riding hundreds of miles a week both recreationally and commuting at 23, to racing at 27. So I never "learned" to ride a bike with new eyes. At 31 I burned out, mothballed the bici and learned to ride a moto.

Riding a motorcycle taught me a lot of the things others have mentioned - lane positioning, seeing with my whole eyes, avoiding target fixation, body steering (ok not relevant to cars :cool:), eschewing distractions. When I came back to bicycling, I brought those skills back with me. I'm not sure I ever would've learned how to see at 70 mph by riding a bicycle at 20. I guess that's where MTBing might help (obstacles being closer means they appear to be coming at you that much quicker), but I never did much of that.

[Mr. Bloom]

absolutely yes!

The crazy thing is when I yell out "Hole!" or "rocks!"

[SadieKate]

. . . body steering (ok not relevant to cars :cool:)Yeah, body english doesn't work in SUVs sliding across the ice. Ask me how I know . . . .

The skid class instructor was most impressed with my attempts though!

[pinkychique]

I definitely drive better since I ride. I have been really riding for 4 years now, so I have seen the different perspectives. I'm a lot more careful, like at stoplights where there are notoriously red-light runners, I just wait 1 car...2 car...anyone else? Ok go. I wouldn't necessarily notice that as much in a car since I'm padded by four walls. And I definitely notice other bikes on the road.

[PamNY]

indigoiis, I think that's awesome advice for a beginning driver. I'd never thought about it but I'll bet all the bike riding I did in HS made me a better driver.

Pam

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think I'm a more patient, careful, and considerate driver since I started riding my bikes.

[Biciclista]

Ha, bicycling has made me a more timid and frustrated driver. I think I am on a bike sometimes while i'm driving, and I watch intersections and cars like they are going to kill me! while I drive my car. And in stop and go traffic, I sit and stew because i know if i was on my bike I'd be far far down the road.

[martinkap]

No, I don't think so.

I'm a better driver AND a better bicyclist because I ride a motorcycle.

Riding a motorcycle taught me a lot of the things others have mentioned - lane positioning, seeing with my whole eyes, avoiding target fixation, body steering (ok not relevant to cars :cool:), eschewing distractions. When I came back to bicycling, I brought those skills back with me. I'm not sure I ever would've learned how to see at 70 mph by riding a bicycle at 20. I guess that's where MTBing might help (obstacles being closer means they appear to be coming at you that much quicker), but I never did much of that.

I completely agree with OakLeaf.

I've ridden bicycles as a kid and young adult. Did not help my driving a bit (however, I was never a bad, timid, nor dangerous driver, I like to think). At 33, I started to ride motorcycles, but it was not till I started to ride at racetracks when my driving extremely improved. I position myself in lane properly, never run wide, make sure that I am turning where I suppose to (entry of the turn, apex, accelerate properly and safely on exit), being able to have 'wide' vision in high speeds and avoid target fixation. The best, I learned to predict what other drivers will do: "Ride as everyone other is out there to get you".

All of these skills made much better cyclist when 1.5 years ago I started cycling again. I am not invincible but I am better driver and bicycle rider because of my motorcycle riding training.

But then, 95% of drivers feel that they are better than average (median). Go figure.

Btw, Oakleaf, did you ever try to hang off a bicycle. I think I have finally mastered it (granted only in one sweeper turn) but definitely cannot drag my knees :)

[OakLeaf]

Btw, Oakleaf, did you ever try to hang off a bicycle. I think I have finally mastered it (granted only in one sweeper turn) but definitely cannot drag my knees :)

LOL, I can't even get my knee down on a MC. :p (Not that I've ever tried, since I'm strictly a street rider.)

[tulip]

Absolutely. I think I'm a better driver particularly because I spent years commuting by bicycle in and around Washington, DC. Commuting by bike really makes you aware of rush hour traffic. My riding now is mostly on country roads at non-rush hours, and I don't think that would have the same effect on my driving as commuting by bike does.

[sgtiger]

Ha, bicycling has made me a more timid and frustrated driver. I think I am on a bike sometimes while i'm driving, and I watch intersections and cars like they are going to kill me! while I drive my car. And in stop and go traffic, I sit and stew because i know if i was on my bike I'd be far far down the road.

+1

I was a bit of a nervous driver to begin with, and the less I drive, I find the more my anxiety goes up when I do drive. I do think cycling has made me more aware of my surroundings, though, and made me slow down a bit too.

[indigoiis]

I know for certain it has slowed me down in the car. I used to get a speeding ticket a year. Knock wood, haven't had one since I started riding regularly.
I think it also helps me see peripherally.

I still can't gage properly the distance between the right side of my pickup and, say, a fencepost, while going through a tight driveway entrance on a curve... though. D'Oh!

[Cataboo]

I can't say I've slowed down when driving - On a highway, I still drive fast - in a city or in suburbs, I'm usually driving a bit slower and always have.

I know when driving in Europe, I had a really really hard time navigating roundabouts, trying to figure out which way I was going with foreign language signs, and dealing with cyclists and pedestrians everywhere... The combination of the 4 was stressful. If you add in driving on the wrong side of the road in Britian, it's just bad. I'm not sure cycling has improved that at all in me, because I haven't tried lately.


However, I've always had a habit of slowing down when I see a motorcyclist on the road and just putting distance between me & them. Some of them tend to be quite unpredictable and I really don't want to be the agents of their demise.

[ASammy1]

I would say true! Because I ride, I tend to be more aware while driving.

[smilingcat]

don't think it has affected my driving for the better or for worse. not sure :confused:

Then again, I have yet to collect a speeding ticket or moving violations. Only few parking tickets evar. one in NYC and one when I made the mistake of day of the week.

I've been taught to be keenly maintain situational awareness. Living in NYC makes you do this and also being an engineer. I think these two has made me a better driver.

[redrhodie]

"I'm a better rider because I ride" ;)

I'm definitely better on a bike. I still get impatient while driving. That just doesn't happen cycling. But, I have improved in the car, so I guess "true" for me, too.

Good luck with the lessons! My mom tried to teach me, and lasted one short session. I went to driving school. She never did feel comfortable with me driving (the driving teacher taught me to be very aggressive--1st time out, we did the Thurbers Avenue curve :eek:).

[Geonz]

Coming to the bicycle from motorcycle has simply planted, indelibly, the stamp of "vehicle" on my riding. I'll be sitting there at the red light (with cars there) while the cyclist across the street does the stop, check, and proceed because no, there isn't any traffic. I'm reasonably sure that if I hadn't had the years on the motorcycle in between the 'just riding around' on the bike that I'd have that "out of the mainstream" approach.
I also developed habits for perceiving when I'd been seen that come in handy - and perhaps most of all, got used to riding in the cold. Bicycles are infernos compared to motorcycles - except for those muffler burns...

When I drive (pretty rarely) I do, also, get this weird idea that I'm invisible, especially at four-way stops. I want to wave everybody else through ;)