I imagine that unless you’re a Cyclist, it is quite difficult to understand what it’s like to ride a bicycle on the open road amongst traffic. It is a vulnerable feeling to be riding along a road with limited or no escape routes, surrounded by vehicles who outweigh you by several orders of magnitude. Particularly when you take into consideration that the driver likely does not hold your safety in the same esteem that you yourself do, but that they in all likelihood consider their Instagram feed to be of equal or higher priority to the task at hand, which in this case hopefully involves not hitting cyclists.
For as many sketchy encounters I’ve experienced between myself and a motor vehicle, I have found that only in rare situations do the drivers have any real malice towards us as we pedal along; normally the problem with vehicles are those of inconsideration and a lack of appreciation for the plight of the Cyclist; using the bicycle lane as a turning or passing lane, for example, is an case of ignorance, not malice. The good thing about ignorance is that it is curable through education, assuming the afflicted party is willing. The bad news is both are equally deadly to the Cyclist.
In the spirit of communication and in the hope that communication might lead to education, I humbly submit the following observations:
- Observation #1: There is no Venn diagram that shows the intersection between human, car, and bicycle as a “win” for any involved party. Best to avoid this, irrespective of who is at fault.
- Observation #2: As we are move along together in traffic, the best practice is to move predictably and consistently; I will do my best to do the same.
- Observation #3: If we’re both at an intersection, chances are that I can’t see you inside your car window to notice you kindly waving me through; treat me like any other traffic and we’ll all wait our turns. No one likes a Seattle Standoff at the stop sign.
- Observation #4: We take much longer to stop than you do, even in dry conditions. If you pass us before slowing abruptly, we are going to be in a very bad situation very quickly. Leads to observation #1 above.
- Observation #5: At a stop light, I may turn to look you directly in the eye. This is simply to make sure you see me and to reassure myself that you know I’m there. It is not to intimidate you, although I do appreciate how badass I look in my super hero outfit and my dope-ass shades.
- Observation #6: The bicycle lane is not a turning/merging lane and neglecting this fact will lead to an impromptu empirical study of the legitimacy of Observation #1.
- Observation #7: If you are following (im)patiently behind me while you wait for the right time to pass me, give me enough room so I don’t have to listen to you rhythmically hitting the gas pedal every time you think there might be an opportunity to sneak by. When you do decide, move quickly and assertively; don’t hesitate. Most of us don’t carry toilet paper.
- Observation #8: If I’m riding in the middle of the lane, it means it isn’t safe to pass me, not that you should squeeze into the gap between me and oncoming traffic.
- Observation #9: If I look back at you while I’m riding and move to the side, then that means I know you’re there and you can pass as soon as you’re comfortable. If I then also wave you through, it means I feel it’s safe to pass if you also do.
- Observation #10: Yelling at me will not discourage me from riding my bike. Also, I do, in fact, pay taxes so don’t hold the fact that I’m not also burning fossil fuels against me. In return, I’ll only yell at you if you scared me to death, but I promise to feel bad about it later.
Share the road, and let’s all return home safely to start it all over again tomorrow. Vive la Vie Velominatus.
frankThe founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking.
As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it.
Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen.
Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.
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@Randy C
On one occasion on my commute home, I was aware of a builders van waiting impatiently to pass as I negotiated a few narrow bends. On passing me afterwards (within a couple of feet), guy leans out of the window and shouts "fucking prick!", causing a momentary wobble, I don't mind admitting. So, obviously, I shout back "wankers!", with accompanying hand gesture, only to see the same van pull over half a mile further on. Turns out the driver is just dropping his passenger off at the pub, but that was a nervy few minutes as I debated how I could get out of there in one piece. I now try to curse under my breath on such occasions.
I tend not to take any shit these days. My mouth is writing cheques my ass can't possibly cash. One day I'll pick a fight I can't possibly win. But when the blood is up and some fuckin' cockwomble has just narrowly avoided skelping you with a ton of fast moving metal it's actually much harder not to react.
Anyway, the look on their faces when you catch up with them is just priceless; "WTF, he's on a bike! How did he...?"
Be a PAL! P = Predictable. A = Alert. L = Lawful.
@SamV
Yes. Another point should be "I'm going a lot faster than you think I am."
Regarding the behaviour between drivers themselves, being more and more dangerous and selfish, it could already be a lost battle.
It apears that sometimes I don't want to go cycling because I don't want to be beside all those cars. Damn it.
Few weeks ago a driver, passing me, shot my leg with his rear view mirror. Fortunately i didn't felt down. But I knew there was a roundabout a few hundred of meters away, so I sprinted like hell to catch him, thinking, "being sat in your car, you would fight with somebody whose arms and guns are already warm, would you ?"
And then what ? Well, nothing, except the fact that, I proved to myself that I could catch him and, one minute later, I told to my self : "I should be thankfull, I didn't sprinted like that since a longtime...". And, regarding that, the five star pavé sections I rode a bit later were very quiet.
But I'm still dreaming on cycling highways. The only way to fix the problem to my mind (even if, then, we'll be considered as dangerous fast cyclists by the others).
Ohhhh, how I hate the Seattle Standoff! Okay, you honk at me if you think I ran a stop sign...but now you're waving me through and encouraging me to break the law! Just go ahead and assume I'll follow the road laws.
A few things:
- no texting & hands free usage of phones need to be NATIONAL law, not state-by-state
- use your fucking turn signals. If you deviate your line, it's the LAW. They aren't optional.
- there is a room in hell solely for people who run red lights habitually. Or even once and awhile. Leave earlier if you're in a fucking rush.
- when it's rainy or overcast, put on your goddamn lights. Notice how 85% of the other cars have their lights on? Get the fuck with it.
- Finally, this makes me the most angry, as the vast majority of drivers operate their vehicles illegally a majority of the time they're driving. What other fucking certification do you take/pass at 16 years old and you NEVER, EVER have to be re-certified? Fuuuuuck. X-ray techs have to re-up more frequently. Driving in the U.S.? Sit in a classroom for a few hours, take a test, go for a drive. HERE YA GO! Drive until you're dead. It's infuckingsane.
I also really don't buy into the "they probably just don't understand what cyclists face." I understand, to a degree. BUT...watch how motorists behave around children on bikes. Then watch them around adults. Being 8 or 28 doesn't change the ease with which a car will kill you. If they know they need to be extra careful around a kid on a bike, they gotta know they need to be careful around ANYONE on a bicycle.
Both times I've had a motorist crash into me has been because they were driving illegally (running stop signs, failure to yield, failure to signal). I'm hoping to avoid that happening ever gain.
@NEIL
I used to be this way. I still feel it, but I try not to react. Gonna guess you're a young feller? I'm not a young guy anymore and have a VMH and an 4 month old. Getting into a physical fight with a crazy driver is something I now try to avoid, when in the past I liked letting reckless drivers know how I felt about them. Age, spouse, child have changed things for me.
@frank
@frank, just not putting in the time I should here... For business I've become a Instafool and time on the road is #1 before and after work. I think there needs to be a South Florida mid winter Cogal so I can see everyone at once?
The Dahon is waiting a gear upgrade from 72" to 94" - what I currently run on the Gitane fixed for commuting (remember my average elevation for a ride of 50 - 200km is 5 meters!). 94" allows getting on slow scooters for drafting and wicked good rides times for the 16km commute with a tail wind.
Also my short sword is awaiting the making of a shirasaya (plain wood scabbard) that would not be so obvious when carried on my back, unlike the silver mounted lacquered formal scabbard. Thank you for the Hattori Hanzo clip, it never gets old!
@Buck Rogers
Yes! Have you moved across the pond? When are you coming to Miami and how many of those Velonippers are in college now??? Miss you!
@all, my commute has settled into a routine here, that always starts with the same self lecture.
1) Lets have this be a mellow non confrontational chill ride.
2) You rode hard on the weekend/yesterday/this morning so one relaxed recovery ride will be good.
3) Remember - DO NOT overreact.
4) Remember they have guns here.
I usually get 3 to 15 blocks out on the 16km ride before it all goes tits up and I find myself...
1) Cursing under my breath (heart rate now higher) or
2) Swearing a blue streak as loudly as I can (blood pressure and heart rate...) or
3) Full rightcheous chase mode to tell the fucker just what I think of his/her shitty driving at the next light (heart rate at 90%) or
4) Banging on the car with clenched fist as its attacking me then banging on the closed driver side window to really let him/her know what a friggin dipshister they are, oh did I mention people carry guns here...?
Needless to say my commute has made me very fit!