Handling Yourself in Traffic
This wonderful little essay was written and posted to a local forum by Claire Petersky in response to someone who was nearly right hooked by a car. Lots of advice was posted about lane position and riding with traffic, but I enjoyed this response so much I asked if I could share it with all of you here. Claire graciously allowed it, so I hope it both entertains and informs you too!
Quote:
Instead of giving you advice about how to handle yourself physically on the road, I’m going to give advice about how to handle yourself psychologically. One of the things you have to realize is, as soon as you swing your leg over the back of your bike, you are Queen of the Road. You are the sovereign of everything from the yellow center line to where the pavement ends. All of it is your realm.
This means that you use any part of the road that you see fit. You are not going to run alongside the curb like some guttersnipe. This is beneath you. You are going to ride on your road, the road that you command.
Since you are of the highest nobility, it does not demean you, however, to let lesser vehicles pass. This is lèse majesté, or noblesse oblige (or some other phrase in French, who knows), that means that you are confident enough in your higher stature, that it is no flesh off of your proboscis to allow others little favors. So certainly, you can ride on the shoulder – it’s such a small thing for you, and it means so much to them. But just because you grant such favors from time to time, doesn’t mean that you cede your right to the road. No, this is truly yours, to take as you need it, for your own safety, and for the safety of all around you.
Now, it is true, that occasionally, your royal presence will be noted with a horn. This is similar to the trumpets that would sound in medieval days, heralding the arrival of the king. Such tootling should not disturb or dismay you. When you hear these horns, you should acknowledge their salute. I recommend the wave perfected by her majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. It uses all the fingers of the hand, not just the middle one, and it looks as if you are screwing and unscrewing an invisible light bulb. So this is how it goes: honk; you give a big beaming smile to the motorist, and do the Royal Wave. Got that?
One of the amazing effects of riding royally is that you are treated with much greater respect by other road users. When you cower in the gutter, you are treated like the muck that resides there: motorists give you the brush pass or right hook you at the light. When you ride with confidence in the road that is truly yours, then all acknowledge your sovereignty.
written by Claire Petersky
