Cycling safety rants, campaigns and petitions have dominated my social media feeds of late… except for Tumblr, of course, which is still cat memes and super high-res photos of bafflingly lean pros.
As cyclists are usually friends with a massive number of other cyclists via social media, these posts always seem to gather an enormous number of ‘Likes’. Which, somehow, seems to make these posts true and right historical fact.
Yes, there are a lot of car drivers who don’t treat cyclists very well, but what Facebook ‘Likes’ don’t tell you is that there are a lot of cyclists doing really dumb stuff.
I’m talking running red lights, weaving through traffic, drafting trucks, going over the speed limit, taking up multiple lanes, crossing into oncoming traffic and all the other stuff. Where is the ‘Dislike’ button when you need it.
Cyclists cry out for motorists to “share the road”, but is that really what they want?
It seems that cyclists want the law to protect them by making cars give way to them by law and for any motorist that hits them to be given life without parole.
Yet the cry from cyclists for other cyclists (or themselves) to follow existing road rules isn’t garnering the same number of ‘Likes’.
A few weeks ago I saw a Facebook status from a guy whose friend was in hospital after being hit by a car on his bicycle. Essentially it said, “John is doing well in hospital, we talked to his friend, a local politician, about cyclist safety initiatives”.
Later that day I was commuting home and this individual rode up next to me. We were chatting away when we got to an intersection, we were on the path and the crossing signal was flashing red.
I stopped but the other rider jumped across, the crossing signal went red when he was about halfway across several lanes of traffic, the traffic lights went green and one car almost ran into him.
I pointed out his risky behaviour via a comment on his earlier Facebook status – actually I did it immediately, as it really made me mad.
This guys response was A) “What I did was fine”, and B) to de-friend me, preventing any further comments.
Should I have just given him an unconditional ‘Like’ because publicly dissenting with someone’s opinion ended in 2005?
This guy is essentially saying that he wants action to be taken to reduce risks when cycling, but he isn’t going to take any action personally to reduce those risks. In fact, he’s engaging in behaviour which increases the risk of incident.
To me this is fairly typical of many cyclists when it come to the road safety debate. They want laws to protect them, but if the current road rules are going to interfere with a Strava PB then too bad.
I agree that some government initiatives to educate motorists would be helpful, but the road cycling community has to understand that they are equally responsible for fostering a positive and respectful relationship with motorists.
In the modern age you can find any number of people to validate your opinions, views or attitudes.
But we need to have a real discussion about road safety – and we all, regardless of our chosen vehicle, need to be prepared to change.
up in the north
Guest
I am reluctant to do this, but +1 Ian. I did write a response the other day but it somehow got lost in the ether. What I think we need to accept is that life is finite. So don't take silly risks. Anyone who is familliar with doing risk assesment will know it is impossible to factor out the hazards inherent in driving on the road. By any means. Meaning if you have minimal protection you are at higher risk. In a perfect world I would travel at 20kmh, in case a satellite fell from the sky, you know just in case.
Iain Moynihan
Roar Rookie
Skippy, you're attitude towards motorists is exactly the issue I'm alluding to. Saying that motorists are always responsible to prevent accidents and labeling them as bullies is in no way constructive. I suggest that the hostility in your posts is why no-one has signed your petition. I think possibly reign in the hysteria and gain some perspective on the issue. It's road safety, it doesn't require an international umbrella cycling safety organisation, just a bit of understanding and consideration between road users. Being hostile to motorists and apportioning all blame to them, whether that blame is warranted or not, is going to turn them off the dialogue that could go towards forming a positive relationship between road users. Essentially, I think that the cyclists who is hysterically ranting about drivers bulling them is the lycra version of the motorist hysterically ranting about how they had to slow down to overtake a cyclist.
Skippy
Guest
PETITION now has 11 supporters ! WHAT IS THE PROBLEM ? Enjoy being bullied on the road ? Today is a Friday 13th and will shortly post a blog , revealing the NIGHTMARE of a morning that i had ! Skippi-Cyclist.blogspot.com , even in Austria , there are a few with a " Superiority Complex " when riding in a vehicle ! DO YOURSELVES A Favour , costs nothing to sign on : https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/ioc-chairman-thomas-bach-create-an-international-umbrella-cycling-safety-organisation The LIFE saved , could be YOUR OWN !
Skippy
Guest
With a Cambridge ,UK , b ike shop having a 137 year history , CAN YOU tell me when the FIRST Car used the roads ? Four wheels were propelled by feet , at that time ? Regardless of how fast the Truck was going , on sighting the Cyclists , the driver is responsible for taking action that would avoid creating an incident . Sounding the Horn/klaxon , does not automatically remove the need to prepare for eventualities ? Cycling 2 abreast is the safer option than single file , AND it may well make passing safer for any type of vehicle , with the reduced distance needed for a SAFE Pass option . Roll on the Day that ALL Australian States have the 1 1/2M Safe pass Laws being introduced in Queensland on 1st Jan 2014 . Meanwhile Cyclists can help each other by assisting this Petition : https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/ioc-chairman-thomas-bach-create-an-international-umbrella-cycling-safety-organisation Judging by the response todate , there are plenty of whingers but few hAPPY to help EACH OTHER survive the Bullying attitude of Vehicle Drivers ?
anopinion
Guest
The issue is getting people to share the road. Of course we have heard it all before. The problem is that some people do not want to share the road due to an attitude that roads are for cars (cars were here first is the argument). Those who are coming around to the idea of road sharing are happy to do so if they do not actually have to slow down. The cultural shift is too far for a few Brisbane drivers to close.
Iain Moynihan
Roar Rookie
On a cycling path yes it's probably just to talk On the road riding two abreast is often a lot safer (also legal, in all Australian states), in a dual or single lane it prevents cars squeezing past you which can be dangerous as the rider can be clipped by the car. It's also legal for cyclists to be on the road/two abreast even if there is a bike lane and again, even with a bike lane two abreast is safer, or at least that is my experience, there have been studies which show that motorists make less effort to be aware of riders if there is a bike lane, and lack of awareness is really where accidents happen on the road, with cyclists/cars/pedestrians/any combination of these. Finally bike lanes are often full of debris, glass, gravel, rocks, storm drains, so a bike lane isn't necessarily problem solved for cyclists. Three abreast isn't legal on the road and is one of the things I think cyclists shouldn't do.
Slane
Guest
Just out of curiosity, do cyclists insist on riding two or three abreast simply to converse? I live in a very cyclist friendly area of Melbourne and I'm confused by why anybody would ride side by side so that one cyclist is not in the cycling lanes.
Tricky Dicky
Guest
Not trying to defend the cyclists especially, but would it change anything if they were riding two abreast (ie. riding legally?) Your whole comment is predicated on the fact that you need to overtake these guys immediately. What speed were you doing? Did you need to be doing 100kmh if it means that you might not be able to stop in sufficient time? So, the "choice you have" is to slow down a bit in anticipation that there might be a vulnerable road user around the next bend who you might need to slow down behind until it is safe to overtake them. We all need to moderate our behaviour.
Iain Moynihan
Roar Rookie
Yeah i think that's another example of poor behavior by cyclists. I hope riders appreciate that trucks often have issues with seeing cyclists, just because of where the driver is up in the cab etc. Also for your sake as much as the riders, I hope you don't run into anyone. I think that could cause multiple lives to be ruined.
up in the north
Guest
This morning while driving a heavy vehicle along a 100kmh rural road I was stunned to come upon 3 cyclists a-breast, from about 3-4 hundred metres out I sounded the horn, applied exhaust brakes and braked way too hard. I got zero response from these beautiful people. So I of course had to swerve into the wrong side of the road, which was obviously clear luckily. My point is that given a repeat tomorrow, if the on-coming lane is taken by some bodies father/mother/family I will have no choice but to stay in my lane. Sorry if that sounds callous but what choice do I have? I would much rather have the death of a selfish beautiful person on my conscience than some unlucky innocent who happens to be in wrong place at the wrong time. I am not saying don't ride your bikes, just do it safely.
Jamie
Guest
I'll give you a Facebook Like for that one!!! Good Article. It astounds me on my ride to work the number of riders who don't do the right thing, but there are so many that do.
Kris Swales
Expert
Good article. It's all about awareness and respect from both sides really - as a recent Boris biker around London, I was certainly respectful of anyone driving around in several tons of metal. Returned behind the wheel here and it astounds me that dudes on bikes seem to just ride along without scanning, checking who's behind them or even looking left or right. If they were going for their driver's licence, they'd fail the test on that alone.