No doubt you’ve heard the United States Postal Service motto, which goes “Neither rain nor snow nor cyclists’ rights will stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” Now some nitpickers might argue that the actual motto says “gloom of night,” not “cyclists’ rights,” and they may be technically correct. However, after having a postal carrier’s truck pull out from a side street directly at me while I was riding my bike today, I’m inclined to believe they’ve changed it.
When confronted with certain injury, if not death, the prudent cyclist will shout at the top of his lungs while waving his arms vociferously in a bid to attract the wayward motorist’s attention. This was my strategy when staring at the grill of the rapidly approaching truck. Apparently in the USPS lexicon of etiquette, protesting an imminent collision is considered gauche, as the driver was highly indignant in response.
“I seen you,” he shouted at me as he drove past, to which I responded, “I didn’t know that.” I followed him to the next street to try to explain why he shouldn’t start moving while a cyclist is directly in front of him. “I seen you!” he yelled before I could get a word out. “But I have no way of knowing that you saw me,” I said. “I seen you!” he cried. This incident, while slightly more dramatic than most, is repeated countless times every day on the streets of America. Vehicles pull up to stop signs, and while gazing somewhere down the street, will begin to pull forward as a cyclist enters the intersection. It’s hard to believe that the drivers don’t understand the terror a cyclist feels in that situation, but apparently they don’t.
Well, here’s a little equation that might help explain things: Car or SUV= more than 2,000 pounds. Cyclist and bicycle=usually less than 200 pounds (or more in the case of certain essayists). If you do the math it becomes obvious that cyclists rarely win this confrontation. Since many communities are apparently resistant to the idea of developing bike routes and dedicated bike lanes, cyclists and motorists must share the road. This means motorists have to treat cyclists with the same consideration they would other motorists. Not only does it help preserve cyclists’ safety and sanity, it is the law. Rarely do motorists start to drive into the path of oncoming vehicles, out of impatience, or disregard. Yet they do it routinely when confronted with a passing bicycle.
Recently I rolled to a stop as I approached a busy street. There was a woman in a black SUV sitting at the stop sign across the street, and a child riding along the sidewalk. As he approached the intersection, she accelerated across the street. It was fortunate that the child didn’t know his rights as a cyclist. Otherwise he would have crossed without stopping, and ridden directly into the path of the SUV. The driver, chatting merrily on her cell phone, went blithely on her way, completely ignorant of the fact that she had nearly run over a child. Here’s another handy equation: suburban woman + SUV + cell phone = run for your lives.
This kind of near disaster happens all too frequently where I live, especially during late spring and early summer, when cyclists take to the streets in greater numbers, and motorists are slow to shake their wintertime complacency when very few people ride. The fact that our houses and gardens look so beautiful at this time of year only adds to the potential for accidents, as both motorists and cyclists tend to be distracted by the sight of flowering trees and shrubs. It is important for all parties to practice extra diligence at this time of year.
Motorists need to understand that cyclists have the same right to use the road as they do, and to ignore that fact is tantamount to assault with a deadly weapon. For their part, cyclists need to recognize that motorists are possibly not yet used to seeing them. They should give cars, SUV’s and trucks the respect they deserve, and not intentionally obstruct their passage.
The League of Michigan Bicyclists offers a bumper sticker which reads “Same Road, Same Rights, Same Rules,” which sums up the obligations on both sides of the equation. Yes, cyclists have the same right to the road as motorists, and many are quick to assert those rights. But how many cyclists observe the same rules? How many stop at stop signs and red lights, even when no cars are coming? How many wait until the light turns green before proceeding through an intersection?
The fact is, cyclists are obligated to obey all traffic laws, and their failure to do so is not only dangerous, but it helps contribute to motorists’ view that they are irresponsible. It is hard enough to gain motorists’ respect without actively offending them. Yet at the end of the day, drivers and riders have to share the same space. We would all be better off if we used common sense and exercised mutual respect.