It may seem like wishful thinking but summer is coming and with it will be the many bicycle riders on our roads, even the narrow ones. This is good time to think about road safety, for both motorized and pedal-powered users of the roads. We should also think about how our roads could be improved to protect our bicyclists.
Cyclist deaths accounted for two percent of all traffic fatalities in 2012, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The number of cyclists killed that year — 726 — was six percent higher than in 2011. This alarming increase in cyclist deaths in recent years has undoubtedly helped to fuel the rage on both sides of the issue: cyclists blame motorists for inattention, and motorists blame cyclists for stupidity. Both groups, it turns out, have a good point. So where do we go from here?
Bicyclists’ Concerns
Motorist aggression
The Marin County Bicycle Coalition reports that cyclists frequently encounter harassment by motorists. While attempting to safely navigate traffic, bicyclists are yelled at, honked at and barked at. Some motorists even throw things at bicyclists, purposefully drive too close, or pull in front of a cyclist and then abruptly slow down.
Motorists’ ignorance of the law
Many motorists fail to yield right-of-way or break some other traffic law simply because they don’t consider bicycles as vehicles that legally share the road. In New York City, for example, cyclists are subject to the same regulations as drivers, but it’s often the drivers who need to be reminded of this, even though this information is included in NYC’s permit test.
Unequal police intervention
In many situations, police will ignore casual traffic infractions by motorists, such as exceeding the speed limit or failing to signal a turn. However, for many cyclists, comparable traffic infractions on their part are singled out and ticketed. Furthermore, in some cities police have fostered a culture of harassing bicyclists by forcing them to use bike lanes even when it is unsafe to do so, or forcing them off the road altogether even though bicyclists are legally allowed to drive there.
Lack of road safety
While bicyclists are legally permitted on almost every road, very few roads were designed with them in mind. Many lanes are too narrow to comfortably share. Drain grates with parallel bars can catch a bike’s front tire and cause an accident. Traffic signals with loop detectors are not sensitive to bicycles, and some are not green long enough for a bicyclist to clear the intersection.
Motorists’ Concerns
Bicyclists' disregard for the law
Many cyclists act with apparent disregard for their status as a driver of a vehicle. They drive on sidewalks, ignore stop signs, and even drive against the flow of traffic. All of these practices contribute to traffic collisions and fatalities.
Unsafe cycling practices
Most people assume that if you can balance, pedal, and steer, you can drive a bicycle. However, most bicyclists don’t have the basic skills and techniques necessary to drive safely in traffic, such as correct stopping, shifting gears and looking over a shoulder without swerving.
Bicyclists’ disruptions to traffic
Overall, motorists just don’t like to slow down for bicycles. During rush hour, waiting for a bicyclist to pedal up a hill can cause major irritation and impatience on the part of the motorist.
Recommendations
Change public perceptions
One of the easiest ways to diffuse the conflict between bicyclists and motorists is to encourage auto manufacturers to stop making car commercials that promote aggressive driving. If the public perceived that motorists share the road equally with bicyclists, traffic safety would improve.
Increase education and training
More in-depth and accurate bicycle education should be included in elementary school, and training materials should be sold with every bike. For a more creative approach to bicycle training, cyclists should try out a bike train like LA Bike Trains, which are groups of bicyclists led by experienced urban cyclists on safe routes.
Drive safely
NHTSA.gov recommends that both bicyclists and motorists follow the rules of the road: maintain safe speeds, yield to pedestrians, merge right for turning and traveling slowly, and turn off electronics. These basic safety techniques will improve all aspects of traffic safety.
Enforce the law equally
Law enforcement should distribute traffic citations equally to motorists and bicyclists who disobey traffic law. Both groups learn to imitate bad traffic habits when they are not held accountable. And many beginners will correct their behavior after one ticket.
Design and maintain roads with both groups in mind
Long term, cities and counties could solve a lot of problems by designing and maintaining better road systems to accommodate bicyclists. Wider outside lanes and signs to “Share the Road” could encourage better behavior for both groups.
It might seem like an un-winnable war, but with a few investments in infrastructure and a few changes to behavior on both sides, traffic safety can drastically improve for bicyclists.