Ngchen

I created a Word document yesterday that contains a bicycle warning sign and a "share the road" supplemental on one side, labeled "friendly reminder" on one side. On the reverse, I've included the main Michigan Traffic law pertaining to me, namely MCL 257.657. (Of course, substitute the law for your state when making yours). Printing these on a home printer onto cards that can be purchased relatively cheaply, and then distributing them at bike shops, parking lots that don't ban soliciting, and such seems like a decent way to advocate w/o spending a lot of money, and w/o having to deal with much aggravation. FWIW, the creator of the sign image permits its use; however, the text needs to be included, and the cards would not be allowed to be sold, only given away. The card template is #8371 or #5371. Print page 1 (only) on one side, and then page 2 on the other.

If anyone creates versions for other states, it would be great to add them to bikeforums. FWIW, I just found out that my file size is too large to upload - please email me if you want a copy. Image is for reference only. It might not make it, even though I've attached it somewhere. If it doesn't, I'd appreciate help in learning how to get it to properly attach. Thanks.

dynaryder

Here's the official one for Washington DC folks:
https://ddot.dc.gov/ddot/frames.asp?d...ation_card.pdf

* jack *

Here's one I made a few months ago:



Haven't had the opportunity (or state of mind) to give them to motorists or other cyclists, but I've stuck a few on bulletin boards around town and on campus. These are 3.5" x 5". I should make some smaller, two-sided ones someday.

edit:
as per requests, here's a .pdf: https://www.jackedinger.net/images/NC_ShareTheRoad.pdf

Roody

Those look great! Thanks for doing that over there in Ann Arbor.

I have stopped to argue or debate with motorists a couple times when they told me to get on the sidewalk. They didn't believe me when I told them I have a right to use the road in Michigan. Morons. I think it's funny that they were in such a hurry they had to yell at me, then they have time to argue about it in the middle of the street.

genec

I've got my own for California... when I can I will make a suitable "picture" in some format for others to use... currently they are in Corel draw so I could print on both sides of the card stock and not everyone has Corel.

I guess this is the only way that drivers will ever learn that the laws may have changed since they were first granted a license... or that perhaps they didn't look at the page dealing with cyclists, in their ever speedy effort to speed memorize the stopping distance page.

At any rate, every motorist that has yelled at me and I have had a chance to talk to... also has shown a lack of understanding regarding cyclists rights to the road.

One guy made a point to tell me that we should only be on the far edge of the road... I asked him how we were supposed to make left turns... his reply "that's your problem... "

Sure would be nice if states put some cyclist questions on the tests.

Roody

For once Michigan is ahead of California. It used to be that only happened in the Rose Bowl.


Actually, I don't think the laws have changed (Michigan's code was enacted in like 1937), but some people just don't know the laws. But it might not be their fault. I told one young kid he must have been absent from driver's ed on the day they talked about cyclist's right to use the road. "I never cut that class. They just never told us anything about bikes."


Yeah, I know you think this would help. I think it would help make cagers nicer to us, but I don't know if it would make us safer.

EricDJ

Some drivers are idiots. My wife was in a coworkers car on lunch break and in a parking lot, and told her to watch out that the car in front of her was in reverse and might not know it and back up. She asked my wife how she knew, and was surprised that after she had been driving for some 40 years didn't know what the rear clear/white lights were.

When my wife relayed it to a friend of hers, also didn't know that. She said they never told us that in drivers ed. I think someone should have been paying more attention.

DCCommuter

Virtually every state -- including California -- now includes cyclist information in the driver's manual. Most of it is pretty good, it's written by the only people who care about it, cycling advocates.

The last time I took a driver's test there was a question about cyclists. However, it was one question on a 20 question multiple choice test.

I think the problem is that people believe what they wish was the truth.

genec

Well the other issue is that many folks already hold a license that have not seen those "recent changes" in the driver' manuals. I believe the laws have only been in place for about 35 years or so, so anyone approaching 50 years old didn't even get a license under those laws, nor have they seen any such information regarding "cyclists' rights."

While the business card ideas are nice... why do we cyclists have to go out and 1:1 inform the general motoring public?

genec

Here is my business card in PDF format... not sure how well it will work on "your printer" as I formated it for my printer. This is for California laws.

Roody

Well, I guess we don't have to, and it might not do much good, but it might be fun. Besides, some cagers might listen. Some of the most ignorant drivers are young people, and I like to think they are more open to "new" ideas than us old fogeys.

genec

Actually I am finding that the old fogeys are pretty bad... the young kids can probably be intimidated into believing that there is a law... but the old guys "know" the laws... or so they say.

noisebeam

Great idea, but I never get close enough to offenders to be able to put them on car. I think a gun that shoots these to stick to cars may be needed. I still don't understand how folks communicate with offenders unless you are stuck in gridlock or are on very slow residential streets in which case offenses are much less severe and mostly avoidable.

Al

genec

You can't always communicate with motorists... but there are times...

The time before last someone yelled at me and then went up a few blocks and went into a resturant parking lot where I was able to catch up and discuss the situation. The time after that I was yelled at (from one lane over) while making a left turn... the offender then went up to the next light and was waiting... I turned around and came up to talk to them.

When the opportunity presents itself, these cards are just the thing... otherwise you are both simply making statements about your beliefs.

Sure they may not even believe the cards, but it gives them something to think about.

noisebeam

I never really catch up with a cars at the next light. Well if a car passes just before a red light, yes, but I've never gotten crap right before a red light.

Oh there are a few exceptions, like when I was intentionally bumped by a driver while stopped at a light. But my experience stands that the times I am agressively buzzed, honked at, yelled at, the driver and car are long gone before I have a chance to respond.

Al

Roody

I talk to cagers all the time. Mostly pleasant chitchat, but sometimes it isn't so pretty.

noisebeam

I also chat quite often with drivers when stopped at lights, etc. Mostly during the fall/spring when its open window weather.

Al

Cuddles

Here's the ones for Kentucky...

https://greendragon.gwgaming.net/str/bikecard-front.jpg
https://greendragon.gwgaming.net/str/bikecard-back.jpg

Images formatted to print on 8.5" by 11" standard paper. 4 "cards" per sheet.

Roody

True, but if I want them to, they can hear me through the window.

BTW, Nelson (the OP) sent me the template and I will soon have copies of the Mich. Veh. Code to share with those very infrequent cagers who think I should be on the sidewalk. The cards look real purty.

DCCommuter

The problem with the message that bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as the operators of motor vehicles is that most people have notions about the law that have no basis in reality. For instance, it is a very widely held belief that there is some law that says that bicycles mustn't impede cars. In fact, outside of an incredibly small circle of cycling advocacy wonks (90% of whom are here), that I'd say that belief is pretty much universal. I've heard it from people who run cycling advocacy groups, I've heard it here on Bike Forums, I've heard it from cops -- I've even heard it from cops here on Bike Forums! If people believe that bikes aren't really allowed on the road, because there is a law against it, saying that bikes have to obey the law won't change that belief.

A case in point: a few weeks ago, I was commuting home on a three lane road. Traffic was light and I was in the right lane; the other two lanes were empty. A car came up behind me, honked, and then pulled around and buzzed me. When I caught up to him at the next light, he rolled down his window and shouted, "Same Roads, Same Rules!" And he meant it -- he had heard somewhere that if cyclists want to use the roads, they have to play by the rules, and he believed that there was a rule against cycling in a travel lane.

Ngchen

Well, nobody said it's easy educating the public, esp when there's such ignorance ingrained. FWIW, same roads means exactly that. Same roads. Same goes for same rules, aka the horse-drawn carriage, bikes, cement truck, and so on. But hopefully with more and more people cycling, things will get better. I'm trying to do my part , and these cards can't hurt, IMO.

genec

My point is that while we are educating the public one to one, why can't there be a campaign by bike manufactures or state and federal agencies to do this en masse?

I know that right now in California there is a boat safety campaign going on... So places that boaters frequent are plastered with posters on boat safety... and officers have actively approached boaters on the holiday weekends and given them fliers and a brief talk.

Meanwhile motorists go on driving with all kinds of misconceptions and being further encouraged in their aggressive behaviour by stupid ads on TV ("zoom zoom" et. al.)

How about GWB and Lance getting together with a bit of "Same Roads Same Rules" for some PSAs.

Now that would be advocacy!

noisebeam

Maybe if we all started drinking heavily during our commutes and weekend rides the police would push for a bicycle safety campaign.

Al

ItsJustMe

With apologies to Ngchen, I made an exact copy of his card, using OpenOffice Draw, and exported it as a PDF file.

This is for Michigan, looks exactly like his but the resolution is better (this being a PDF).
I have printed 4 of them, front and back side by side, on a letter-sized page, with cut guides on the side. Print the page, flip it over, print again, and cut to yield 8 cards. Print on card stock for best results.

The OpenOffice draw file is included here as well, since it's a free and excellent suite of programs, everyone can use this file and customize to their state's laws.

Thanks to Ngchen for the idea and design.

Dchiefransom

Maybe you could hand some out........................................................at work.