Article - Sabotage and hatred: what have people got against cyclists?

[Jolt]

So! I'm convinced that new and established drivers should be made to learn specifically what cyclists are taught to do on the road, so they know what to expect from them. This should be incorporated into driving lessons and the test. Both cyclists and drivers need also to be taught to 'ride to the conditions', slowing down when necessary, not expecting to carry on at high speed regardless of weather, congestion, obstacles etc.

I agree...and I also think that cycling safety education should be part of phys ed in schools, starting around probably second grade (most kids should have learned to ride a bike by then, even if they learned a little later than most). Kids would be safer riding their bikes to school etc., parents would be more inclined to allow them the freedom to go places by bike, they would learn good riding habits that they could take with them into adulthood, and I think it would make them better drivers when that time comes (being familiar with the rules of the road already, and knowing how to share the road with cyclists). Cycling is a good physical activity that also happens to be a useful form of transportation, so why not replace some of the silly games played in PE class with a bike curriculum?

[Crankin]

I agree that if a kid is a cyclist, s/he will be a better driver. My son, who raced in HS drove home from the registry after his permit test and generally had a much easier time driving than the other one.

[Aromig]

I agree that if a kid is a cyclist, s/he will be a better driver. My son, who raced in HS drove home from the registry after his permit test and generally had a much easier time driving than the other one.

I agree with this. When I cycle with my 14-year old, we often talk about what drivers know/expect/look for so he can cycle accordingly. I sure hope this means he's learning basic safety and defensive driving techniques as we're cycling.

We've also seen drivers be pretty erratic and you can tell they're looking down into their laps (phones). Seeing firsthand how scary they are is a great lesson to him that texting and driving is not a "skill" you can learn and it is not OK. I think you notice things like that more when you're cycling (slower and more vulnerable) than you notice while driving.

[BikeDutchess]

We've also seen drivers be pretty erratic and you can tell they're looking down into their laps (phones).

That is actually one of my bigger fears - not the aggressive driver as much as the inattentive driver.