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I really think this whole article was written in a very negative tone, mostly towards cyclists. My normal commute is on a busy road with a shoulder the size of a lane, I honestly have very little interaction with the motorist and usually (SHOCK!) it is pleasant. Maybe it is because I wear a skirt/wrap over the lycra shorts and only at a few points do I impede traffic and then it is so brief they hardly notice me.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25695376/
I think the editor should have stuck with the tone set by the opening vignette of the driver switching to a bike.
The focus could have stayed on how new biking "problems" on the road are caused by drivers making a poor behavioural transition from driving to cycling.
Put 'em on a bike, and they cut loose with the behaviours they couldn't get away with at all in a car. (but daydreamed about!)
And they do it on the roads they are used to driving on. (instead of going a block or two off the main drag where most of the experienced cyclists are, away from the heavy car traffic) Thereby making themselves the most visible example of a cyclist.
At least the article included a synopsis of the rules of the road.
I think it's pretty accurate. I saw a guy on a bike this morning almost get hit by a car... because he ran a very, very red light at a high rate of speed... as if the light didn't exist. On the last group ride I went to, a guy rode the white line between cars to get to the front of the line of cars at an intersection- only to have those motorists get pretty pissed when they had to pass him again when the light turned green. On the same ride, someone blatantly ran a 4 way stop sign while a car that (luckily) saw him coming was nice enough to wait, even though it had arrived well before him and had the right-of way.
People in Memphis suck in general at rules of the road- whether they are on a bike or car. It's just worse when people break the rules on a bike because the motorists here are, for the most part, ignorant of the fact that cyclists have the same rules/rights, and are generally hateful towards anyone on two wheels.
I did not read the article as negatively. I see inexperienced or obnoxious riders around here all the time, riding against traffic, weaving in and out of traffic, cutting in front of cars to run a red light. And car drivers that think the bike lane is their temporary parking lane... The point about trains and buses not being able to accommodate more than a certain number of bikes is valid, even in the most bike friendly environment -- for a better social outcome, that needs to be enforced during rush hours even if the bike riders are commuters, too (a non folding bike taking up space that otherwise people could occupy).
I see both sides as well. I regularly pass (obviously new and inexperienced) riders who are riding on the sidewalk or in parallel parking places (then weave in and out of traffic) and ignore stop lights/signs, etc. I try to set a good example by being extra diligent about following the rules of the road.
Unfortunately, the town I live in has a great cycling community but not a good bike shop where people can get good information and tips (the only option is in a sporting goods store where the mechanic is not a rider and knows nothing about bikes- it's quite sad).
Maybe bike shops should try to educate folks as they make the purchase (especially when its obvious that they don't know what they're doing), or the state DOTs could create information sheets for drivers and riders and mail them to people.
And of course I experience drivers who don't even try to pass appropriately or try to squeeze me out of the road. Some are doing it out of ignorance but others are doing it because they don't like to share the road. I even had a town police car pass me so close, I thought my elbow would bounce off the side mirror :eek:
I don't know what the answer is.
Maybe I am a little defensive because we have had a couple of bicyclists killed or injured here and the public sentiment has been bikes don't belong except on paths. Then people chime in and say not on paths cause they don't watch for moms with strollers. I found many parts of the article were cyclists are a nuisance, get used to it. I agree the new riders are at risk because they don't know. But I see plenty of experienced riders doing stupid crap and it makes me fearful because it causes a blanket of hostility to us all. I unclip at stop signs, ride practically on the little curb and generally try to be courteous. But I get told at stop lights I need to get off their road, I am going to get hurt, why do I want to do something so dangerous or just get the finger.
Last week I am sitting in the car in heavy traffic. A cyclist in a full team kit comes through, on the left, down the yellow line and then traffic got too heavy, so he started going the wrong way in the other lane. I wanted to sink in my seat since my car has a big "please be kind to cyclists" bumper sticker.
Personally, I want the local cops to start ticketing the hell out of cyclists. I also support requiring a cyclist license, which has been suggested about 900 times in the local paper.
I am seeing more and and more new cyclists, who are doing terrible things. These are people obviously commuting to save gas. No helmets, on the wrong side of the road, big giant headphones (I saw that on Tuesday when I rode to my acupuncture appt.). We also have the people who go up between the cars, but generally they have the bike handling skills to do that. My husband does that on his commute; no matter what i say to him, he says why ride if you have to get in the lane with a long line of traffic :eek:? I just forget about it, because no amount of lecturing will change his mind. He does not do it when we ride together.
I think the bike license idea is good! My area already had a ton of cyclists who come out from the city to ride here. Now we have zillions of them!
I was very concerned about the number of inexperience riders that were going to be on the road, not knowing the rules and potentially causing accidents. Then I fell yesterday (see commuting forum). I can't believe how many people at work were yelling at me for riding in the road! Hello?! I'm a vehicle! I don't belong on the sidewalk! For some reason, I can't get this point across to them.:rolleyes: Both sides are responsible. Cyclists need to learn the rules and wear the proper safety gear. Motorists need to learn that cyclists have a right to be on the road. Unfortunately, there are many bad cyclists that don't obey the rules, and so most drivers lump us all together. It's going to be hard to change their opinion, especially with all these new riders flooding the streets.
I do think cyclists who break the law should be ticketed- as we've all said, it will take both sides to reach a happy compromise.
It is really disgusting to see a rider in a team kit doing stupid, irresponsible stuff. Our local college has a few arrogant guys on the cycling team who do ignore the laws and give other cyclists a bad name. I think we are all ambassadors for the sport and if you are decked out in your team/club/shop kit you are responsible for the organization's rep too.