At the risk of sounding like an embittered older woman, I do need to share and help get the word out that cycling is inherently dangerous – but there are those on the road in cars who increase the level of danger through their behavior. I am fortunate that – at the moment – I am cycling in a location that has an abundance of bike lanes allowing me my own ‘space’ for nearly 95% of almost every ride. I should also note that – at the moment – I am currently doing 100% of my cycling outside as I don’t have an indoor trainer with me meaning that I’m spending an increasing amount of time on the roads every week as my training continues to ramp in preparation for the Trek Portland to Portland ride this summer.
The following are a few thoughts from a cyclist who is spending hours and hours on the road each week. Inevitably, I’ll miss a few – but these are my observations from my most recent rides, including my ride this morning. Please take a moment to review them and, if so called, share them with others. These are observations and thoughts that could save lives of other cyclists on the road.
The biggest culprit of dangerous behavior… those driving pick-up trucks.
Whenever I hear the noise and feel the wind of a vehicle coming from behind to pass me and the sound is relatively loud and approaching more quickly than other vehicles, it is inevitable that the vehicle is a pick-up truck. At the risk of offending or generalizing, these are the culprits 9 times out of 10. A close – very close – second is Mom’s driving large SUVs. But, back to the pick-up truck. There is something about pick-up truck drivers that feel the need to drive these vehicles very fast along open, and even more urban, roads combined with the fact that there is little awareness of the amount of space consumed by these large and often lifted trucks.
Be mindful that a cyclist most often doesn’t have a rear-view mirror and has to rely on sound and spacial awareness as they are riding. They also don’t have the benefit of hundreds, if not, thousands of pounds of steel protecting them while on the road. There is a sizable vulnerability being on a bike – please be empathetic to what it must feel like to have a very large vehicle pass by you from behind at very high speeds, and often in very close proximity. If you see a cyclist on the road, please give them space – and, if possible, even slow down slightly. That said, the speed is less concerning if there is a degree of space between the cyclist and the vehicle.
Where streets have no bike lanes.
Again, am fortunate to have a fairly decent number of streets around where I am that have bike lanes in both directions of traffic. That’s not always the case for everyone. Couple this with the idea that, in many locations across the United States, bicyclists have the same rights as cars when it comes to roadways and cyclists are expected to follow the rules of the road as other vehicle operators. With this in mind, there are a few important thoughts to share.
- Please do not yell at cyclists to get off the road. Not only is this unnecessary, rude and distracting – and scary – it goes against the rights the law provides for cyclists to use the roadways on a bicycle in the same way they would a car.
- Echoing the challenge with pick-up trucks – as well as other cars – driving at accelerated speeds and within close proximity to a bicycle –
- If there are two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction, and a cyclist is in the right lane (as most will be – I have yet to see a cyclist in the left lane other than to turn left), please give them the entire lane and pass them as you would any other vehicle. This means, use the left lane if possible and pass in the left lane leaving the right lane entirely free for the cyclist.
- If there is a single lane of traffic, please pass the cyclist as you would any other vehicle. I have had many a close call with vehicles thinking that they can squeeze their vehicle into the width of the lane as well as the cyclist. This is dangerous for all involved. I have started riding more towards the middle of the lane of late to prevent this behavior by vehicles as there have been many times when I have been within inches of someone’s passenger side mirror.
These are the most common challenges I’ve faced while cycling of late. Will update as any other recurring themes arise, but please be sure to give a quick read and consider these concerns while you are out on the road in your vehicle. We are all trying to get somewhere. Sometimes, cyclists are merely trying to get in a ride outside. The idea of rushing by a cyclist in a vehicle to save what may end up being seconds or even minutes than one could count on one hand only increases the risk of danger to the cyclist. Let’s all slow down somewhat and remember that the cyclist you may be flying past is someone’s mother, father, sister or brother, or friend.
There is no scenario important enough that a few extra seconds or even a minute or two will make a meaningful difference.
