I asked myself,” What am I trying to accomplish by writing this column?”  Many bicyclist writers are “event” oriented.  Some are interested in races or in racers.  Most are seasonally oriented, and a few talk about maintenance, and some are advocacy oriented.

 

It’s not that I’m not interested in all of these things. I am simply just more interested in the promotion of cycling as a “normal” thing to do…a means of transportation for everyday travel as well as recreation and healthy exercise, and doing it safely.

 

I do my best to counter the “bad” image of cyclists that some motorists have, as well as the “bad” image of motorists that some cyclists have.

 

Bicycling is growing more popular, and its health benefits, fuel savings, convenience, and non-polluting aspects are encouraging even more people to pedal. However, as the popularity of cycling increases so are the concerns for bicycle safety increasing. Fear is a major reason that many people do not ride. And this fear is not unfounded. Sharing the road with cars is sometimes a scary thing. Sometimes drivers aren’t attentive. Sometimes bicyclists don’t obey traffic laws.

 

A good solution is to have separate bike paths that don’t require us to share the road. Just think about how many school children would ride to school if there were safe bike paths to all of our schools. This is not always possible.

 

When bike paths that are separate from the roads are not possible, using routes with less traffic, commuting during non-peak times and using bike lanes would be the safest approach.

 

Through education, enforcement, outreach and legislation, bicycle safety is reducing bicycle injuries and fatalities. Bicycling is encouraged as an alternate mode of transportation to motor vehicle travel by many, not just cycling enthusiasts.

 

To counter drivers who are not aware of cyclist’s rights or just plain are not sharing the road, it's often helpful to ride in such a way that motorists won't hit you even if they don't see you. You're not trying to be invisible, you're trying to make it irrelevant whether cars see you or not. If you ride in such a way that a car has to see you to take action to avoid hitting you (e.g., by their slowing down or changing lanes), then that means they will definitely hit you if they don't see you. But if you stay out of their way, then you won't get hit even if they didn't notice you were there.

On very fast roads cars have less time to see you because they're approaching so fast. Of course, you should avoid fast roads in the first place if at all possible, unless there's plenty of room for a car and a bike side by side. And if there IS such room, then on fast roadways, you can practice invisibility by riding to the extreme right. If you're far enough right that you're not in the part of the lane the cars are in, then they'll zoom by and won't hit you, even if they never saw you.

Remember, you're not trying to BE invisible; you're just riding with the assumption that cars can't see you. Of course, you certainly want them to see you, and you should help them with that. That's why you'll wave to motorists whom you think might be about to pull out in front of you, and why you'll be lit up like a Christmas tree at night (front and rear lights). Remember that in many cases you'll need to take the lane, in which case you're counting on motorists to see you.

Well, I’ve rambled a bit but in doing so it seems that I’ve answered my question. ,” What am I trying to accomplish by writing this column?” I’m trying to encourage more of you to ride, and in the process, hopefully giving you tips on how to do it in the safest possible way.

 

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There are all kinds of bicycles. I like to categorize them by function. I’ll try to give an overview that might be helpful to those of you that really wonder why there are bikes on the road when we have so many magnificent trails in the area. 

 

There are COMMUTER bicycles. These are a utilitarian type use for commuting, shopping, and running errands. Many have internal hub gearing, fenders and chain guards to keep the rider clean, and to make them more useful they are often equipped with a rack or a basket. Lighting is sometimes included. The tire width is in between that of a road bike and the wide tire of a mountain bike. The riding position is upright allowing good visibility for the rider. . Many commuters will ride in the road as paths, and trails will not always get them where they need to go.

 

There are MOUNTAIN bicycles. Mountain bikes are designed for off-road riding, they feature sturdy, highly durable frames and wheels, wide gauge heavy treaded tires, and flat handlebars that assist the rider in resisting sudden jolts. Some mountain bikes will have various types of  rear suspension, while all have front suspension. Mountain bikes are rarely seen on the road. The rider is stretched out over the bike for stability.

 

The ROAD Bike category, covers what many refer to as “racing” bicycles. These bikes are designed for speed. They are used for competitive road racing and triathlons.. They have lightweight frames and components with minimal accessories, “drop” handlebars to allow for a powerful and aerodynamic riding position, very narrow high-pressure tires for minimal rolling resistance, and multiple gears. Road bikes are not safe to ride except on the road. They cannot function properly on the trails. We see them often with groups of riders, who are doing training rides.

 

Then there are RECREATIONAL bicycles. The emphasis has come back to comfort for the recreational rider, and this category includes both the Comfort bike and the Hybrid bike (sometimes referred to as a Cross). The Comfort bike is basically a mountain bike with comfort features, like a suspension seat post, a comfy seat, and adjustable stem, front suspension, and all purpose tires.  The tires are similar to those on the Commuter bikes are similar to the Mountain bike tire , but without the knobby tread.  Hybrid bikes are a “cross” between a mountain and a road bike. A lighter weight frame, larger diameter wheel with a tire similar to the commuter bike tire – not fat, not skinny, but in-between. You will find the same comfort features including the suspension seat post, comfy seat, adjustable stem, and front suspension.

 

There are other types of bikes – Touring, BMX, and Cruisers – each with a purpose and style of its own. I think what’s covered above should help relative to that age old question, “Why do we see so many bikes on the road when we have such magnificent trails?” I recently covered some of the history about bikes being on the road even before automobiles. They have a legal right to be there.

 

Cyclists are to obey the same traffic rules as the motorists. Motorists need to accept the presence of bikes on the road. Together, we can learn to share the road responsibly. 

 

 

 

 

 

I have read that on

Handford Road

in Ipswich, England there are no posted speed limits, no lane lines, no posted speed limits, and very few traffic lights. Even so, drivers politely move aside to make room for other drivers, they slow down, and they yield for bikers and pedestrians.

 

Ipswich has joined several other European cities in testing the theory that traffic sins can actually cause accidents by giving drivers a false sense of security. Novel idea! 

 

By taking the signs away, the theory continues, people will act more responsibly. In other words, instead of chaos, the results have been quite surprising. Speed dropped by more than half. And accident rates fell as well.

The idea is that old fashioned values have been reintroduced. With no instructions to rely on, drivers made eye contact with other drivers and with bicyclists and pedestrians.

 

The concept, called “Shared Space” has been introduced in over a dozen Dutch towns as well as various towns and cities across Europe.

 

Wide sidewalks, nearly invisible curbs, and no lane lines have increased the number of things a driver on

Handford Road

needs to be alert to and gives bicyclists and pedestrians a larger share of the road.

 

I guess this strategy is not a cure-all and importing the idea to American Suburbs is probably a lost cause. “If you design a street like a gun barrel, drivers will drive like a bullet”, according to Ian Lockwooed, a traffic engineer in Orlando, Florida.

 

The experiment is still quite young so solid data is not yet available, but it does get us to thinking about our responsibilities to “Share the Road”  The same laws that apply to  motorists apply to cyclists. Drivers need to recognize hazards cyclists may face and give them space; Motorists must follow the new state law that requires a minimum of three feet passing clearance when passing cyclists on the road.