Categories: EtiquetteLa Vie VelominatusTechnique

The Lowest Common Denominator

Bikes and cars don’t always get along this well.

Stupidity is a powerful force never to be underestimated. Geese are a good example; a more stupid vertebrate one would be most challenged to come across yet should you wander into a flock of them pecking about peacefully in a field, one is likely to erupt from its grazing to grab a billful of your ass and commence beating you savagely with its wing. I witnessed such an event in Minneapolis, where a goose goosed a friend of mine. To our collective dismay, he showed off his buttockian bruise proudly for many weeks.

I’m not immune my own stupidity, which is unfortunate because if you already have to deal with other people’s stupidity, you should at least be free of dealing with your own. Tragically, the opposite appears to be true. In point of fact, a dominant portion of my life is spent recovering from my own acts of idiocy. For example, I recently rode an Imperial century on Whidbey Island in scorching heat. To combat dehydration, I carefully prepared my usual two bidons – one with electrolyte and one with plain water as is my custom – and proceeded to leave them in the car rather than place them on the bike. I was gleefully unaware of this oversight until I was well over an hour into the ride and I reached down for a drink in my usual Casually Deliberate style and found the cages mockingly empty.

Stupidity is also why I believe the iPhone has always been designed to be a one-handed device, to allow its user to send messages with one hand while driving, leaving the other hand free to drink coffee or wave the bird at other drivers. This leaves plenty of bandwidth for the vehicle to swerve off the road and stack up bicyclists on its hood.

There is no courage without fear, and no intelligence without idiocy. The problem with the latter in both cases is that they are much easier than the former and it feels a lot like easy win on the push with most of the population. Which means that in the majority of cases, we are dealing with idiotic cowards which is not an encouraging scenario, especially when taking your own stupidity into account.

Last year, the New York Times published an essay on the mentality of motorists when it comes to Cyclists. Its a terrifying read, the sort of writing that makes you question whether its smart to keep riding on the road. My personal conclusion is that the road is where I find my soul; to stop riding would be its own kind of death. Nevertheless, it is frightening thought that not only are many motorists inattentive, but some feel bicycles don’t belong on the road in the first place, and that should they be struck and killed, it is somehow their own fault. A truck driver in Seattle recently killed a female Cyclist who was commuting downtown. The local news celebrated the driver’s integrity for not leaving the scene of the accident.

Which raises the question of how one is to stay safe while riding. Personally, I’ve found myself riding ever more defensively aggressive when I’m on the road. I’m riding farther out from the side on narrow roads to keep cars passing at dangerous points and I’m avoiding the highest-trafficked roads whenever possible. In the rain, I’m even riding The Reflective Bike of Authority. (I draw the line at donning a YJA; we’re not a savages.)

These are easy things to do, but the fact is we are still at the mercy of our peers on the road who may not be watching for us, or – worse – not care if they hit is or – worst of all – feel it is somehow our own fault by being on the road in the first place. Changing this begins with us, the Cyclists, through the idea that we are ambassadors for our sport. With that, I felt it an appropriate time to remind us of our Urban Riding tips and update them a bit.

Lead by example. Always obey traffic laws, taking special care to avoid violating hot-button laws like running stop signs. Every time we break a law, we send the message that the rules of the road don’t apply to us.
Don’t escalate. You will invariably be placed into a dangerous situation by a driver who is either ignorant of the danger they caused you or is simply an ass. In both of these cases, screaming obscenities at them will only serve to put them on the defensive and make them hate cyclists even more than they already do. If you absolutely must say something, do your best to let them know why what they did was dangerous; if you’re polite and assertive, the message is much more likely to find it’s way home.
Be gracious. If a car does the right thing, wave at them in thanks. If you know you are holding them up because you’re obstructing their path, move the side as soon as it’s safe and gesture your appreciation of their patience.
Avoid telepathy. Always signal your intent and try to make eye contact with drivers whenever you’re not sure if they see you or not, especially in scenarios when you’ll be crossing their lane of traffic.
Pay attention to the cars around you. Take note of the subtle signals the drivers are sending you. Are they overly fond of the brake pedal? Are they speeding? Are they swerving, texting, or otherwise distracted? Or do they drive predictably and use their turn signals properly? These things will tell you a lot about how safe you’ll be when they’re close to you.
Ride predictably. When out training in town, consider yourself to be riding in the bunch, except the other riders are cars that can kill you. Just like riding in a group, when in traffic, hold your line, signal when there’s a hazard or when turning, and generally ride as predictably possible.
Ride towards the side of the street. If there is a shoulder, ride in it, but if not, stay as far to the side as you safely are able to. Don’t ride so far to the side that it means you’re riding in debris that might cause a flat or might cause you to move erratically; there’s nothing safe about suddenly flying out into traffic while trying to avoid an object. Never ride through a puddle you can’t see the bottom of; it could be a much deeper hole than you think.
Ride aggressively defensive. If there’s a narrow section of road coming up where it will be dangerous for a car to pass, signal to the cars behind and swing out into the middle of the lane until it’s safe for them to pass.
It’s helpful to be able to accelerate quickly to move with traffic if necessary. In the event that you’re riding in a lane in order to discourage cars from passing, it’s good to move as close to the speed of traffic as possible.
Avoid overly dangerous routes. Ride on the roads you need to in order to train properly, but also avoid unnecessarily dangerous areas or only ride them when traffic is at it’s lightest. Roads with good shoulders are preferable and, counter-intuitively, bike paths are not always safer places to ride; these are often filled with people of a variety of skill levels who may not be paying attention.

The best rides are those you come home from; always ride to proactively avoid placing yourself in dangerous situations and have a plan if you find yourself needing to take a risk. Stay safe and always remember we’re all brothers and sisters on the road. Vive la Vie Velominatus.

frank

The 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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frank says:

Sep 16 2014 at 5:06 pm

@DeKerr

@Teocalli apocryphal or not, that is a great anecdote and one I'm keeping in my vault of random and eclectic trivia.

This.

@Ccos

@@blackpooltower

"Don't escalate" makes total sense. I've tried the sweary, aggressive method and it has done no good.

If, instead, you catch up with a bad driver at the next lights and say something like "Can you give a bit more room please, mate? That was scary back there", you achieve so much more. By staying polite, you don't trigger a confrontation. By drawing attention to your vulnerability you appeal to their better nature (everyone has one somewhere) and by asking them to do something differently - this is the key bit - they might actually do something differently.

A big row changes no one's behaviour. Think about the actual outcome you're trying to bring about: better awareness, one driver at a time. Not tribal war.

I agree, just be careful when doing it. I've had a friend drive up to me while I was riding to shout some encouraging remark through his open passenger window only to have my brain momentarily react like he there to kill me. And the same friend was equally freaked out briefly when I rolled up to him later to say "hi" when he was stopped at a light.

Add that moment with the aforementioned stupidity and they may be standing over your bullet riddled body telling the cops an entirely different story from the actual facts.

Also this. Sensibility might come into play; a little wave to get their attention, gauge their demeanour, gesture to roll the window down...that sort of thing?
pistard says:

Sep 16 2014 at 6:25 pm

@frank

That said, heavy machinery and bus drivers are the worst. A bus recently deliberately tried to run me off the road. It was full. He finished off by swearing at me and telling me to get off the road (I was in the bike lane). There is no reasoning with people like that and getting mad and aggressive will only make it worse.

I know a couple bus drivers and they've shared some stories: split shifts and weird hours mean a disproportionate rate of drug use, i.e. speed and coke, and resultant road rage. When they're that over the top, get the time and route number and phone in a complaint.
Gianni says:

Sep 16 2014 at 7:19 pm

@Rob

@Puffy did not see the apology vid but she was fired from her job - a police officer! What a twat.

@Frank, Im not sure I want to play nice anymore? Back in the dark ages as a lone commuter for 4 years in London I had to obey all traffic rules and cars were, for the most part, respectful. Fast forward to these days, bikes as anarchists and cars pissed off, I choose to follow the lead of the cars and act like them - which in Miami is give them as much shit as they give each other and me. The translation for those who do not know is every one is freakin riding and driving like turds so I will be aggressive, offensive and ride very visibly as defense against their dumb, aggressive shit.

Yes I probably piss off some good gentle folk but I do not care when 3-4,000Lbs of impatient asshole is shut down just a little, it feels good. What I'd really like is a law that allows us to carry Samurai swords, the long fuckers on our backs and when the next Caddildo Escalade cuts me off or can't find the 10 seconds to wait before it comes close enough to nick me with the wing mirror then its time to chase it down and at the next light slash its hood/bonnet, chop off the offending wing mirrors and deflate all four tires.

Ok, I feel better and of course, especially here in "hey everyone has a gun" Miami, I am just taking it all with the attitude that unless they make contact or threaten me I let it go. Its just bad driving. But I am serious about being Offensive, aggressive and visible as the best defense.

Rob is wise. Like Rob, after many, many years of sharing the road with cars, I do have a hair trigger for telling someone to fuck off if necessary.

Once, on my commute home I was about to take a right on my home street. Of course a car was passing me and it took the same right, no signal, no warning. Had I been going straight it would have been ugly. I called the operator an "Old Whore!" and we both careened through the corner. The car then pulled into the next driveway, where a grandson was waiting for his grandmother to arrive, the aforementioned Old Whore.

As she pulled in, and I rode by, the grandson gave me the shrug, essentially saying, sorry, she is old as fuck to be driving. No harm, no foul.
I fear I've told this proud story before. Oh well.
cognition says:

Sep 16 2014 at 9:04 pm

@frank

The reflective strips I put on the cranks help a lot - the moving cranks makes a huge difference.

If you're willing to desecrate a pair of rims, putting it on the rims can give an amazing result. The silver-color tape on an old pair of Open-4 CD's (or the like) hardly shows from more than a few feet away. Line one side of the rim and it has a pulsating effect, like a big blinky light. I don't know if it looks PRO, but it'll help keep you alive.
hondo77 says:

Sep 16 2014 at 10:19 pm

Wait, you went for a ride in scorching heat and didn't take a drink for an hour?
JCM says:

Sep 16 2014 at 11:06 pm

I want my 3 feet and "reasonable and prudent speed"!

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-bike-clearance-20140917-story.html

Of course there is also this:

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-milton-charges-deputy-20140828-story.html
Mikael Liddy says:

Sep 16 2014 at 11:26 pm

This is my go-to gilet/overshoe combo for winter pre-work rides. The stripes across the middle are reflective & the back has further reflective patches as well, needless to say the pink is fairly eye catching (I've been told by riding buddies I'm still visible from close to 1k away on a foggy morning) and my thinking is that given my feet are the bit that's moving, making them as bright as possible can't hurt in attracting attention.

The rumour that I also take considerable enjoyment from the odd looks I get walking to the office after parking the bike are completely unfounded...
davidlhill says:

Sep 17 2014 at 1:03 am

@Mikael Liddy

You're a brave, brave man, Mikael. I salute you.

I mean, photographic evidence of a Rule 50 transgression. Your name may start with an M but doesn't end 'arco'.

David (in jest, of course.....)
Harminator says:

Sep 17 2014 at 1:43 am

Bike lanes? Car lanes? Driver education? Traffic lights? Road rules? LUXURY!

I've lived in Cairo for a little over a year now. Its a city of 12 million people, with very limited public transport - the car is king. Petrol is cheap as are taxis and micro busses so the roads are very busy and well known for traffic jams. Fortunately I can walk to work. I don't imagine I will ever drive here. The road rules are routinely disregarded. There's only a few sets of traffic lights in the whole city and they get ignored. It's quite normal for vehicles to cut across traffic, push in, turn left from the right lane, shortcut roundabouts or drive on the wrong side of the road. Anything goes.

I ride the roads a bit. About 4-5 hours a week. Its about 15 minutes on the road to get to the MTB trails. The road bunch goes every Friday morning, returning before midday prayer time so the traffic is considerably reduced, but still solid. So its very much a matter of going when and where the cars are not.

On first impression its chaos but after a while you get used to the patterns. It can seem "dog eat dog" but there's an order to it. And there's very lttle agro out there. Everyone gets cut off all day so it becomes a non issue. There's not so many hoons but just as many idiots.

In the end, the way I ride here is the same as in any city, heavily regulated or not: Be hyper aware of every vehicle, expect it to cross your path or into your space, have an exit plan, ride predictably, make eye contact...etc

In many ways the increasing regulation of roads can make drivers less aware of the bigger picture and fixated with their "right of way" which they equate to some kind of ownership. Sydney was a beautiful place to ride but the divide between cars and bikes is getting extreme. At least in Cairo the idiots yelling out car windows usually cheer or call "Welcome to Egypt".
Ken Ho says:

Sep 17 2014 at 2:32 am

11. Run a mirror. Most fatalities in Oz happen when the cyclist is struck form behind, especially at pinch points. KNowing what's coming can save your life.

12. Make eye contact before crossing the path of a vehicle. If you can't see the whites of their eyes, they have not seen you.

I ride at night a lot, as previously noted. Less cars, less heat, no magpies. What's not to love.

Good lights, including a little blue flasher to give peeps taht "oh fuck, its' the cops" moment.