Jargon Watch: Bikeism

I continue to maintain that the "Kum By Yah" attitude that most cycling advocates maintain (the main element being that we actually should not run red lights) is holding us back. Responsible disregard of traffic laws make sense. It's safer. It's more efficient. And there's no reason to have such draconian rules about traffic for people who aren't riding a half-ton lethal weapon.

I think there is an in-group/out-group identity problem, and, like so many other out-groups that have made progress, the first step is militancy.

I just wish the cyclists around here would stick to the sidewalks if there aren't any pedestrians. Especially the double-wide sidewalks made specifically for them.

@Flipside:

There are good reasons not to bike on sidewalks:

1) Studies show that it's more dangerous. The proof in in the statistics, but you can understand why biking on sidewalks is dangerous if you consider that most collisions occur at intersections, and a bike on a sidewalk pops out into the intersection, to the surprise of drivers who weren't expecting vehicles coming from that direction.

2) It's illegal in many juridictions.

3) Even if there are few pedestrians, it's important to maintain a friendly environment for pedestrians and encourage more of them.

As a long distance racer/rider in college, and an occasional rider now, I find the attitude expressed by the first comment to be part of the problem. If bicycles want to share the road with cars, then they follow the rules for cars. If they want to ride on sidewalks or designated bike trails, not part of the general roadway, they can do as they will. I have nearly hit riders who blew stop signs, not waiting their turn, been stuck behind clusters of riders who are riding many abreast and not able to meet posted speed limits, and watched bikes (and motorcycles) ride between cars that are stopped in traffic. None of these behaviors is designed to engender respect, consideration, nor latitude on the part of vehicle drivers. I respect bike riders, I am one, but I don't go out of my way to anger other vehicle drivers when I ride. I also resent those riders who do, because they are the ones who help non-bikers disrespect the whole rider community. Do remember the old saw, "One bad apple." Ride safe, stay on the right, signal, obey the traffic rules, have fun, be Green.

FlipSide - there are a LOT of problems sticking to sidewalks. People don't look at the sidewalks for fast moving traffic. This is a problem with intersections or driveways. And since the sidewalk crosses these points sooner, they have less visibility (less clearance for trees/bushes), and vehicles often have to pull into them to get a safe view of the road (blocking your path).

Traveling fast on them can be very hazardous because there is very slow moving and vulnerable traffic (i.e., strollers).

I will use both when I am riding, depending on the situation. A dedicated bike lane seems to be the most sensical, so long as regulations are enforced protecting those lanes from becoming parking, turning, or passing lanes.

typically i feel most cyclers i've experienced were inconsiderate human beings. i've had my dog's leashed run over, with my dog dragging behind it while crossing the street on a red light. the cyclist was hidden by traffic. my dog yelped and the cyclist looked at me like i was the idiot when he was the one breaking the law. some cyclists believe they are above the law because police can't catch them.

Just bought a three wheeled Schwinn bike from Walmart online. I plan to drive it on side streets and bike paths, with my small dog in the basket in back. I have purchased an orange safety vest, and an orange stocking cap, plus lights. Hopefully I will make a big visible impression and vehicles will not run me down. Bikes should abide by all traffic laws., but should be given the same respect as a larger vehicle. That means waiting to pass until it is safe etc.

I was the cyclist in the picture, I would punch that guy so hard.

Been bike commuting 4ever and I've always assumed that I'm invisible and it is my responsibility to make sure an auto is aware of me. I run red lights after determine safe. Actually some of the bad bikers make drivers nervous and often times they assume I will screw them at 4 way stops, and thus we often end at an impass when I respect their right to go first. I then have to unclip and put my foot down. Drivers also don't realize that bikers can't see past their windshield and can't see if they are waving them on or not.
Sidewalks - NO Bike Lane - YES (even 1 to 2 feet will work)

I think cyclists that stay to the right and allow cars to pass should be allowed to "safely" run red lights but the ones that "hog" the whole lane should not be allowed to. There is nothing worse than to have a cyclist in the middle of the lane in front of me not allowing me to pass for three blocks. When I finally get around and have to wait at a light they go around up next the curb and the whole situation starts all over again.

It's just like any group of people. The "bad apples" spoil it for the whole group.

I drive a truck (not very green is it). I find that many cyclists roll up to stop signs, wait until their turn (whithout actually stopping), and then go. I'm fine with that. It makes sense to me, to not waste your energy by coming to a complete stop. At the same time, I understand how some drivers a confused and irritated by it.
I've also encountered some people like BradyDale. Eventually he'll get run over, and it will be his own fault. I won't feel bad for him, nor should anyone else.

Yeah, I don't understand how the motorist - out of their car and all - got the advantage in that situation. I mean, the bicycler has the bike to use as a shield or throw, if necessary, plus, possibly a u lock.

The only possible explanation I can see would be that maybe the bicycler would be wearing "roadie" shoes, with no usable traction to speak of., and no way to react to an ass hole motorist situation should it arise. This is a practice which should be discouraged for commuters. Stick with mountain bike shoes/pedals, or better yet normal shoes with clips and straps, or with bmx pedals.

-Patrick-

I'm a fellow cyclist who tries to follow the rules of the road. I work on a college campus where there is a lot of mixed car and bike traffic and I think it's the unpredictability due to the mix of biking styles that causes the most trouble. There have been times where I have waited patiently at four way stops for my turn while other bikers have blown right past me forcing the car I was waiting on to slam on their brakes. How can we expect drivers to respect us and our safety when they have no idea what we're going to do?

Why is this even a problem?

I went to college in Munich, Germany and learned to ride my bike on 6 lane inner city roads with plenty of cars. It was quite scary at first but you get used to it IF the drivers of cars behave as if you are not there. Most of the time you follow the rules, if it is safe you sometimes don't. If you get caught or in trouble it is your own fault. Generally speaking you are the weaker and more vulnerable participant when sharing the roads with cars.

This is ONLY an issue because some people make it an issue. Is it envy? I don't care when I see bicyclists disobey the law while not being unsafe or irresponsible. Why would it? There is not disadvantage to me at that moment. If a dog crosses the intersection at a red light and no one needs to react, no one cries for the police either. Learn to consider bicyclist as really big insects. They do what they want and as long as they do not endanger you or force you to react suddenly leave them alone and try not to hit them. The world would be a better place if you were using the bike too.

A bicyclist cannot afford to assume that drivers of cars are following the rules. It might kill them. In return a driver of a car should assume that it is none of their business how bicyclists behave as long as it is save and responsible. If it goes wrong it is usually the bicyclist who pays the price.

And if you ride your bike, you have to REALLY pay attention to pedestrians because they are even more vulnerable than you.

Karsten
http://www.polluteless.com

Patrick, I don't know what cars you're looking at, but I sure can see the driver. In fact, it should be easier than if you are in a car yourself, because you are looking through one less layer of glass. That said, when a driver stops for me when HE has the right of way, I point at my stop/yield sign then cross my arms. Or, I make a right turn then ride around his vehicle.

Bikes should not be beholden to the same laws as cars. Can you imagine the traffic jams if every cyclist took the lane and stopped in single file at intersections? Preposterous. Bikes are not vehicles, they don't maim people in collisions and stop a lot quicker anyway. This is like saying walkers are vehicles. Do you think walkers should come to a full stop at 4-way intersections if no one is coming?

Cyclists are doing something for the environment and their own health and should be given even more special advantages, like tax breaks and subsidies.

However, I think cyclists should have to take a training course and be licensed. This is something that can be easily done in elementary schools.

If you are a driver stuck in a traffic jam and are frustrated by someone whizzing by on a bike, you know what to do-- buy a bike dummy!

Having commuted by bike for over 15 years now, 5 of them in very big cities, I can honestly say that the biggest issue out there is a small fraction of bikers who irritate drivers, who then take it out on the rest of us.

Yes, bikers who run red lights and ride at night without lights, that means you!

Bikes should abide by the rules of the road, and in return will gain the respect of drivers. Drivers who are a-- holes to bikers will be punished. I once ripped the wipers off a van after he hit me at an intersection and refused to admit it was his fault despite several witnesses who sided with me. I routinely slap the trunk of cars who cut me up. But for the drivers who are just courteous and treat me like the fellow road-user that I am, I stay out of their way and play by their rules.

The fallacy in many of your comments is that auto drivers are following the rules. That's not true. Auto drivers exceed the speed limits, stop in the crosswalks, don't signal, and lots of other rule breaking. Most road users don't follow the rules -- so be realistic and realize we all break the rules we don't like and think we can get away with.

The attitude of motorists towards cyclists can be easily explained like this:

1) The only time I see them, is when they're breaking the law and endangering their own lives.
2) The only time I see them, is when they're slowing me down. Slowing me down is a sin punishable by death.
3) The only time I see them, is when I've run one over.

There are two reasons that motorists only ever see the bad behaviour of cyclists. The good cyclists avoid motorists at all cost by either riding on designated cycle paths or side-streets, and obey traffic laws all the time. Plus they're far less visible than 3/4 of a ton of glass and steel with big blinking lights on them.

Plus, it seems that the act of being a motorist brings out some of the worst of humanity. People become more impatient, less attentive, and when they're drunk... well, you know.

It's hard when you cycle about 80k per week to work, through the cold and wind (Victoria, south vancouver island, canada), saving liters of petro fuel and other resources, not just for yourself but the environment which everyone shares - and you're treated like a liability and a threat to everyone on the road.

I want motorists to learn more about the road rules. I also want a lot of cyclists here to learn. The sheer number of people driving who don't know how to use a 4 way stop for example is terrifying.

The only issue really, in my opinion, is not enough people understand the rules.

As an avid cycle commuter, I must say that 'bad cyclists' (like the one who ran over your dog's leash) are few and far between. Obeying the law is one thing, respecting others is another. I've many cyclists run a red, while drivers get mad. Oddly enough, if you put one of those drivers on a bike, they'd do the same. My honest opinion, they get frustrated because the bike makes better time on the commute then they do. RESPECTING others though, is different. One can run a red (after making sure there is NO oncoming traffic), but still be very respectful towards others as they approach them, providing ample space to pedestrians/vehicles and giving right of way to whom it belongs. Like I mentionned, I've had more positive experiences than negative.
While we're on the topic, here's a funny little video some of you guys might enjoy about cyclist/driver relationships!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koh7QoMGKJo

I for one think drivers should be forced to ride a bicycle before getting a license (particularly teens and young adults) and cops should spend their first 6-12 months of duty on bicycle. Both crowds could learn a lot from putting themselves in a biker's saddle, and perhaps gain a lot of new permanent bikers while we're at it too.

Never ride on a sidewalk. You're endangering yourself and others. Always ride defensively otherwise. The road is relatively safe - I've only had one accident in at least 4000k of riding - and if you use common sense, take your time, take care of your bike, and avoid risky situations, you'll be okay.

Cyclists and motorists need to take their time to learn their regional/provincial/state/whatever road laws so they understand what to do, when to do it, and why everyone is behaving as they are on the road. Not enough people seem to understand what's going on out there.

I was so excited reading this post here on treehugger when it was talking about dispositional rather than situational attribution. I have been amazed at some of the utterly myopic comments made by people vis a vis bike riding on treehugger in the past. I was kind of hoping that explaining the psychology behind it might open people's minds up a little more. But so far, we're off to a rocky start it seems.

There are times when IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER YOU ARE BREAKING THE LAW OR NOT while you are a on a bicycle. And I say this as a lawyer who went to a very good law school and has an office in Beverly Hills, as a person who rides a bike to work most days, and as a person who's spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about this subject.

The fact of the matter is that there are state AND local ordinances that apply to bicycles. No one memorizes them all. And sometimes on a given bike commute, the law will actually change depending on what side of a street you are riding on. Literally one side of the street it might be illegal to ride on a sidewalk, whereas on the other side it is legal.

The biggest problem in all of this is that most people don’t know many or all of the laws that apply to bike riding. And then there are the laws that apply to bike riding that are completely impractical. In many places, it is legal for a bike to occupy a full lane of traffic where there is no bike lane. If a bike were to try to do this, though, the inevitable results would be much like the photograph sequence for this blog post – because the driver would be thinking it was the bike rider who was obstructing traffic.

This is maybe not the bikers fault, nor the drivers fault, but a systemic problem of our society as a whole. But basically, what I’m saying is, everyone who has an opinion about what is and isn’t proper bike riding is probably wrong at least some of the time. Sure things like stop lights are a no brainer. But if you’ve never been on a bike and watch as car drivers get pissed at you for actually stopping at a stop sign when they’re tying to let you go through the intersection—you need to STFU because your opinion is not derived from any empirical reality. The truth is pretty messy.

I don't encounter many cyclists on days that I drive, and usually if I do, it's a pack of road bikes that obey the laws very well and are courteous to drivers. The only time I can remember that I've gotten irritated with a cyclist while driving was when driving up a fairly steep hill near my home (my cycling route takes me around this for a reason) when I got stuck behind a man pedaling for dear life but only going about 5-8 mph up the hill. He waved me around him, which I would not do because it's a blind hill, 1 lane each way with no shoulder, and the extra 30 seconds he added to my drive didn't make a difference.

That said, when I bike to work, I DO ride on the sidewalks (always looking far down the path for pedestrians and ringing my bill in addition to slowing down and saying "Pardon me" or something similar if I do come upon one). I tried following the law to a T but after getting yelled at and threatened by drivers (even when over as far as humanly possible) who buzzed me so close I almost got hit in the elbow my a mirror, I decided to only ride on the street when absolutely necessary. It takes me a little bit longer due to stopping at intersections and driveways and a bit of crosswalk management at one point in the ride, but it's worth it. I just hope I don't ever get a ticket, and if I do, that they understand my reasons.
*Sorry about the holy crap super long comment.*

If you are on a bike, you are on a vehicle - which means you follow the rules all the other vehicles follow. That's the rule here in Ontario, and I try to follow it as best I can. Sometimes that includes biking down the middle of a lane. One of the roads I have to bike down to get home (and no, I can't go another route) is a 4 lane road that has a bike lane for about 20 feet which then disappears. And when it does, I tend to bike pretty far into the lane. I am often extremely uncomfortable with cars whizzing by so close to me when I'm driving on the side of the lane - especially when they're moving that fast. I have just as much right to be on the road as them, so I am going to use that road too.

stevejust,

Regarding your last point. I've participated in this sort of interaction and while the driver is being polite - letting you get through the intersection without stopping - it's a recipe for disaster.

The problem lies in the other drivers who may not recognize what you are doing and breeze through the intersection when they don't see you (on the bike). If you're lucky you wont be in the path of the second car when they realize what's going on.

Wave and say "good day" to all the other cyclists and walkers. They are your community.

Assume the motorists are trying to kill you - avoid them but otherwise ignore them. It is not worth dragging yourself down to the level of isolated morons.

Maybe eventually the cappuchino sucking tunnel vision cagers trapped in their little motorized wheelchairs will notice that all the cyclists and pedestrians are out enjoying themselves.

Until then let them waste their money, it is not their fault they have fallen for the brainwashing & advertising but we can't force then to change until they realize it themselves. Ignore them.
.

Steve says: "The only issue really, in my opinion, is not enough people understand the rules."

I'm with you there, buddy. This Steve is a 70k a week bike commuter and do whatever I can do obey traffic rules. For the most part, when motorists get angry with me it's because they think I'm holding them up (by only driving 20km/h) or that I should "ride on the sidewalk" (illegal here). They don't know the rules, plain and simple.

I ride daily in ATLANTA, with a helmet and lights at night. Recently I added a bell. I'm either ringing at a friend I pass, or a car thats about to back into me, turn into, otherwise flatten me.

I ride with the mentality that I will get hit by a car if I ride in the street. because a lot of drivers aren't even paying attention to their driving, I don't expect them to see me.

So I take control. I make sure I am aware of my surrounding and I cross intersections when its safe. I know how fast I can go and accelerate and I don't take risks.

Adolescent persons of any age will take risks while driving cars and bikes and motorcycles.

Sad but true.
Everything else is just a situation. There are plenty of people out there respecting each other.
I find cyclist especially respectful of their cities, environments and social health of their community.

I don't see how there are non-cyclist on treehugger. Don't you see the full picture?

I ride to work, and even when I stick to the bike lane I am in danger. I am on my third front wheel and my second rear because a car turned right without looking. If my brakes were not as good as they are I would have won a door prize at least twice.

When I see other bikes run stop signs or red lights it pisses me off because I know I am going to get yelled at for it by some driver later. I also don't like when people walk down the center of the street on campus and yell at me when I ride by them.

The rules need to be standardized and they need to apply to everyone. Give tickets to drivers, riders, and walkers when they break the law.

As a cyclist I agree that sometimes SOME of us need to get our responsibilities straight.

Driving through traffic without looking and expecting drivers to stop for us is asking for a death warrant. and one of the posters here mentioned that getting off the intersection is a dangerous as studies show and blah blah.. sure getting off the intersection is bad only if you cycle like a maniac without stopping to see if theres a car coming. thats like driving through a busy intersection with your eyes closed or stepping into fast moving traffic expecting cars to fly over you if they cant stop in time.

drive on the road sure. thats not a problem, but remember that your on wheels as well and also remember that cars are a whole lot heavier, so don't go all maverick and rebellious just because we are the minority.

all this can be summed up in one universal statement: USE COMMON SENSE.

Perhaps if in a the USA you had decent laws and got rid of 4 way stops which strike me as very cyclist unfriendly, cyclists would get more respect.

In the UK it's ILLEGAL for adults to ride on the sidewalk so they're more commonly seen on the road. It's LEGAL to filter through stationary traffic. Car drivers are taught to give as much space as a car to a cyclist. Cyclists are taught to not ride in the gutter where all the debris collects.

That's not to say both cyclists and car drivers stick to those laws and tuition - far from it - but as the original article points out, there's a disconnect between non-cyclists and cyclists because of cycling being outside a non-cyclist's experience. Cycling on the sidewalk or bike lanes just reinforces the idea that cyclists aren't to mix with cars.

Come to the Netherlands and see how well bike and car traffic can get along.

So you are saying that citing observable ILLEGAL behavior of cyclists is now a hate crime?

"The underlying unpredictability of cyclists’ behaviour was seen by drivers as stemming from the attitudes and limited competence of the cyclists themselves, rather than from the difficulty of the situations that cyclists are often forced to face on the road (i.e. drivers made a dispositional rather than a situational attribution)."

My problem is cyclists who break the rules and put themselves at risk. The law in California CLEARLY requires that a cyclist decide whether s/he is a pedestrian or a vehicle and not change that at whim. So riding on the sidewalk then popping out into the street in intersections without warning, failure to signal, riding right on the line, etc are CRIMINAL citable misconduct.

The rules are clear. If you are a pedestrian you must stop at intersection and walk your bike across the street. This is not a "difficult situation" this is a clearly covered by law situation.

Time after time after time I see cyclists acting very CARIST . .they hate people who drive cars and think they are better than drivers and eschew obeying rules they consider beneath them.

The problem is that there are too many cars and not enough bicycles. Car drivers tend to think of bicycle traffic as an annoyance. I have been assulted (knocked off my bike) simple for being in to road. I have no sympathy for anyone who hates on cyclists. I do try to remember however that the car drivers are the ones piloting deadly weapons and so confrontation should be avoided at all costs.

I'm a cyclist and have been for many years, I don't drive at all and use bike for both pleasure and commuting. In my city the cycle lanes are a joke and in order to be safe at times I have to adapt the rules of the road to my situation. For example - there is a red light stop junction on my way to work, shortly after this i have to turn across the flow of traffic - a manovour which is very dangerous as the cars never give way.

I DO jump that red light some days - why? because I've checked that all the cars coming across the junction are turning the other way so my route ahead is clear.
Because if I jump the light I can make a clear turn across the flow of traffic before all the cars catch me up so I wont' hold anyone up and I won't risk myself.
Because the Cyclist only zone which is designed for us to move across lanes safely prior to the turn off is being blocked by cars.

I would love to see decent cycle lanes, wide enough for you to actually ride on them - whoever said 1ft was OK is enviably slim! my handlebars are slightly wider than a foot, (so are my hips!) and if the cycle lane is only a foot or two wide many car drivers edge into it leaving you with even less space. I've been knocked off my bike several times by car drivers coming too close to the cycle lane and hitting me with their wing mirrors.

Yes the netherlands does have a good car/bike road sharing situation - so how can we replicate it in the US and UK?