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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@uptitus
I was already onboard reading the first bit of this article until I got to this:
In the context of avoiding conflict with an opponent who is actively trying to kill you, this is humbling to put into the speeds we deal with on the bicycle. So cool.
...And also remembering that at our speeds we still die when it happens. Point is, I am digesting the FUCK out of this article. Thanks for passing along!
@Winnipegcyclechick also wrote a rant about this earlier this month:
http://winnipegcyclechick.com/propaganda-and-the-fabricated-war/
I had 3 encounters on my 17km commute to the office this morning:
The first was when coming down the hill fast and a car turning onto my road coming from the left (I live in a country where people drive on the correct=right side of the road, no offense) who did not notice or ignored to think that I might be going faster than the average cyclist, so I had to break hard.
Hence Obs #4 could be extended to say that not only does it take us more time and distance to break but some of us also go faster than other cyclists.
Second one was at a pedestrian crossing. A mum was walking the sidewalk with her kid approaching a pedestrian crossing but not clearly aiming for that.When she turned to go on the crossing, it was too late for me too stop (Obs #4), which led to @Steve T's observation.
@uptitus
That is very good. Should be part of every road users education.
That part about constant bearing was something I came across a long while back. Part of my defence when I see a car come to a road end when I know there is no traffic behind me, is to move to the centre of the road. The reason for this is to try to move across their vision to some extent to try to ensure I am seen. It also gives me more options in avoidance if I am not.
This summer I had an instance were even that did not work but because I was already in the middle of the road I was actually able to completely cross the road to avoid being hit. That was a close a call as I'd ever like again as the car was moving at some speed having done a quick glance and not even slowing at the road end. I still wonder whether he say me flash past his bonnet.
Re #4 and even worse when you are going downhill as happened to me only this week.
Somewhere there was something I saw ages ago about changes our eyes (well brains) do not see. I'll see if I can find it.
Apologies. Break should be brake of course.
@frank
Any chance you can take a look at my PM?
@frank
Escalation is a dangerous thing, doubly so when the other guy is behind a pseudo-tank and you are holding a tiny carbon stick.
Being very prone to unleash the hulk in these occasions, I try to direct my anger at the road, she is kind and forgiving and can take all kinds of shit. If I get the chance, in a red light or a junction, I try to point out what they have done wrong. If not I secretly hope they get dysentery.
It is just not worth it, road rage is bad enough between motorized drivers. Let us be the better men (and women), after all we do outclass them in everything else.
@KogaLover
3?
Also you live in a (supposedly) cycling friendly country too.
@pedro
and failing that how can I get Laser vision to bore holes in their tyres?
@Teocalli
I am glad you ask that...for when diplomacy fails:
http://gizmodo.com/287222/head-mounted-gun-patent-blows-minds-literally