This is not just an American problem, it's a world wide problem. Well, maybe not a Dutch one, but still. All around the world much more money NEEDS to be invested into making roads safer and more accessible for cyclists. Not only does this mean more and wider bicycle lanes, it also means taking more cars off the roads. The latter can only be achieved by building and expanding public transport services so that they not only become a viable alternative to driving, but so that they become superior to driving in terms of travel time and expense.

But apparently, governments around the world seem to think that this is a non issue. After all "More buses? What are you talking about? Buses are empty half the time..".

I don't drive, and I intend to keep it that way. But to be honest, on some days I really would like to murder the people responsible for public transport. Sometimes one gets the impression that they run late just to annoy their customers.

I cycle to work everyday and have lost count of the times drivers have either knocked me off my bike or come close - i agree that much better provisions need to be made for cyclist but until the mentality of car drivers changes and we are seen as valid road users the problems will continue.

It seems to me that everytime a maniac driver pays little or no attention to bikes and creates a dangerous situation they're infuriated that we're even there in the first place.

Safety while bicycling is such an important issue that needs to be dealt with more stringently, especially as we try to combat greenhouse gas emissions by reducing vehicle use. There has to be a viable solution. Perhaps, expanding sidewalks to allow room for bicyclists too or adding a bike lane to roads.

Imagine if one 'accident' and you lose the priviledge of driving foreever. Do you think people might drive more carefully? All it takes for pedestrian or cyclist is one 'accident' and they're privildge of walking or living is revoked forever.

"But apparently, governments around the world seem to think that this is a non issue. After all 'More buses? What are you talking about? Buses are empty half the time..'"

Maybe we need more and smaller buses running on a better schedule. Rather than two large buses running every hour, how about 4 smaller ones running every half hour. That would make it much more convenient.

Another improvement would be the ability to pay for a bus with your cell phone or debit card. I don't carry cash, let alone exact change, and no bus driver is able to give change. So if I've got a $5 bill and the bus costs $2.50, I'm paying twice the price. At this rate I might as well take my car.

Driving with attention and consideration for cyclists, pedestrians, and other motorists should be taught in driving school and enforced.

Pedestrians should not automatically have the right of way. They have better vision and more to lose.

Proper cycling and walking should be taught in school. If they can waste students' time lecturing about condoms, they can put in 3 credits dealing with effective personal locomotion.

Cycling should be rewarded and venerated. Once more people do it, more drivers will become accustomed to their presence.

I don't cycle, but I do respect their/your right to do so. I am careful, and considerate. I watch the road and the other people, no matter their mode of transportation, who are on it.
What upsets me is the people who honk and swerve around me when I slow down because a cyclist is on the road in front me me and the road doesn't have a safe way for them to scoot over to let me pass safely.
There are a lot of cyclists in my neighborhood in Austin, Tx and most of the roads in my neighborhood have bike lanes and sidewalks, but there is one part that doesn't. the road curves three times and goes over a hill and across railroad tracks in the space of about 5 blocks. Right there, there isn't even a shoulder.
the number of people i have seen honk and go into the oncoming lane - where you can't see if someone is coming around/up the hill. . . I am amazed every day when i pass through there and don't see "accidents".

Americans drivers are "unsafe.". As for the rest of the world, I don't know. But I have spent 20 years driving in the USA and, over that period, American driving skills have decreased.

I think one reason for the lack of driving skills is the lack of education. There are hundreds of laws, per state, concerning opertaing motorized vehicles on public streets. But the DMV only asks us about 15-20 questions, plus a basic "behind the wheel" test. What about the other 100s of laws that the average driver knows nothing about? They were written to increase safety, but never shared.

Then, of course, we can buy 3 ton trucks with tons of power and limited visibility that take up the entire lane, especially as they swerve around while on the cell phone.

And ultimately, poor driving behavior is not punished effectively. I think more cars should be impounded on the spot and never returned. If you can't drive responsibly, you shouldn't drive at all. It is a privilege, not a right. It is a privilege because of the social responsibility and liability involved. If people with firearms went around accidentally shooting peole while they dialed their phone or irresponsibly used guns in public, would they get a ticket and be sent along on their way - with gun?

I think we let people get away with too much. I know I did when I was young and stupid. And no matter how much we get away with, we try to get a little more. So I think strict enforcement is a partial solution. Smaller cars, slower speeds and most of all, education, will also improve road safety, in my opinion.

And thank you to all the great drivers out there who are teaching by example.

"Accidents don't 'happen', they are 'caused'."
-Vic Klepacki, NY Subway Motorman.

"You're surrounded by assassins."
-Tom Murphy, flight instructor.

This will not change until the idea of motor vehicles as the status quo changes.

One solution is to have more cyclists on the road. Not only will motorists be unable to ignore them, but motorists will be more likely to have a friend who uses a bike for transportation.

On the other hand, cycling is really not as dangerous as all that, and has numerous health and social benefits that I think still outweigh the risks.

As Doctors in the UK have suggested NOT cycling is more dangerous to health due to the increased risk of Heart disease /Diabetes/your favourite disease caused by lack of exercise/obesity.

the only time i drive aggressively is around a hummer... only on the freeway... i suppose thats bad too :-\

I wrote a blog along the same lines. They need to take the car away from drivers convicted of dangerous driving - otherwise they drive anyway. I don't know how the courts figure that a person who has disregarded the law by driving drunk, speeding, etc. will suddenly become law-abiding when told not to drive at all....

thespyofcharles is right - they should take away the car of someone who gets their license suspended. Think about it, if you are stopped and there are drugs in your car they can confiscate it - regardless of whether you were under the influence. A car is a lethal weapon, if you can't use it safely you should have it taken from you and technology can, should and must be used to enforce that rule.