Advocacy & Safety - Cycling is dangerous!

Originally posted by Asia_biker
However, I do agree that cycling on roads is getting dangerous nowadays especially in urban areas and countries in Singapore.
Many motorists are responsible for road deaths , some being druken and impatience drivers (Sometimes we even have road hoards).

It's the way we use the roads, generally speaking, cycling is safe if there are responsible road users ALL around, but hardly we see that in the country I live in. Many are very impatient with pedestrains and will sometimes will horn at you if you are slow & the motorists will try to get past you even before you have finished crossing the road.

I think you might have misunderstood my point. I did not intend to suggest that one can cycle on the road carelessly and expect to be 100% safe. I merely suggested that with the appropriate precautions, it's not nearly as dangerous as this Arek tosser was making out.

I also suggested that the mere idea that it might be dangerous for some is not going to stop me doing it. After all, we're all going to die sooner or later (skin cancer will probably be what finishes me), and it might as well be sooner if we're not prepared to do the things we love because fear stops us.

Hi all,

I just thought it made the most sense to post this message here. On Friday, April 12th, I was hit by a van while riding my baby. I was able to walk after the accident, but my baby (Trek 2000 WSD) was mangled. Since the accident was the van driver's fault (there was a witness who attests this as well) his insurance will pay for the reconstruction of or replacement of my baby, depending on the extent of the damage. I know the fork was messed up, but I'm not sure about the remainder of the frame.

I had ridden about 23 miles and was feeling good. I was wet, as it had rained the majority of the 23 miles - but had a bright yellow rain jacket on, and was approaching an intersection where I had the right of way.

This van made a rolling pause at the stop sign he had, and I put the brakes on (I was going about 25 mph), and when I figured out I wouldn't be able to stop in time, I attempted to steer out of the accident, but ended up hitting the van with my entire left side.

Amazingly enough, there are no broken bones or concussions. I go to see an orthopedic specialist on the 22nd to see if any rehab is necessary. Which is a good idea since I am having hip pain.

Anyway, I am going to continue riding as long as I am physically able since I feel complete, free and grounded when on my bike.

Ride some miles for me!

Sorry to hear about your accident Anastasia. Hope everything turns out OK for you (and your baby.):) Glad you weren't hurt any worse.

Good to hear you weren't too badly injured. Hitting a car hurts a lot, I did the same last year, similar situation to yours. It's good also that you still want to ride after such an accident, it takes a huge amount of courage to get back on and ride again. The first few rides after a crash can be a bit scary, it seems like every car is out for you, this will hopefully pass after a month or so. I nearly had an accident yesterday morning, again similar to your's but thankfully the driver stopped when she heard me yelling, a few more feet and I would have gone over the bonnet. Ride carefully, cover the brakes and expect people to drive like ***-holes.:mad:

CHEERS

Mark

Originally posted by Anastasia
Amazingly enough, there are no broken bones or concussions. I go to see an orthopedic specialist on the 22nd to see if any rehab is necessary. Which is a good idea since I am having hip pain.

Anyway, I am going to continue riding as long as I am physically able since I feel complete, free and grounded when on my bike.


Glad to see you came out of it reasonably OK and that it hasn't put you off riding. There are some real tosspots out there, many of whom should have been culled out at birth.

Fatal Justice -

Thanks for the laugh "culled out at birth". I know several of these types......

Thanks for the well wishes everyone.

Anastasia

Keep us up-to-date on your progress. We'll be waiting for you to get back on the bike and join us for a Sunday ride.

You won't miss much this coming weekend since the weather is supposed to be back in the 50's (F) and rain.

Glad to hear that you willing to get back on the bike.:p

Its amazing, cover yourself with neon yellow, attach flashing lights and screaming sirens, and drivers will still pull out in front of you--just ask any fireman.:D Even the threat of death by large truck does not stop these people, so how can we expect our potential death to influence them.

I looked at Arek's website. The good points he brings up are funny though. For example: If car pollution is bad for bikers, he insinuates that's our problem and we shouldn't bike in traffic. To me the solution would be for drivers to not fart their exhaust in my face. Why is it my problem they do this? That just takes the responsibility and blame off of cars and puts it on the victim. If deforestation bothers me, then what's the solution, to stop it, or to stay in the city where I don't have to look at it? It's a silly argument.

Arek uses good information--much of it seems to encourage biking, and other parts just point out areas for improvement that could help bikers. But it's just bad reporting to take all this constructive info. and put a personal, negative, editorialized spin on it. One can do that to ANY info. To sum his site: Mostly good material (the stuff he didn't make up), some good sources/links, very bad analysis. He should leave it to the professionals.

Originally posted by Oxymoron
I looked at Arek's website. The good points he brings up are funny though. For example: If car pollution is bad for bikers, he insinuates that's our problem and we shouldn't bike in traffic. To me the solution would be for drivers to not fart their exhaust in my face. Why is it my problem they do this? That just takes the responsibility and blame off of cars and puts it on the victim. If deforestation bothers me, then what's the solution, to stop it, or to stay in the city where I don't have to look at it? It's a silly argument.


I heard somewhere that the air inhaled is 2-7 times worse inside the car than outside it (I don't have a reference for that, but hey, if it works for Arek...) I think Arek just has massive problems, and perhaps we should all just leave him alone with his problems and not worry about what lunatics like this think.

I'm with FJ. It looks like the guy has an ax to grind. Fine. Revenge websites are funny, but usually not very informative, except to get a picture of what anger can do to a presumably otherwise rational human being.

andy

Originally posted by Moose
I'm not aware of the proper cyclist slang for "autombile". Does one exist? If not we should dedicate the rest of this thread to making one up. :D



We in the Motorcycle community call them "cages" or "cagers" as referring to the actual auto or the driver.

Just a thought ... I kind of find it ironic that many in here put down cars. I willing to bet that almost every single one of us (of legal age) owns a car or truck. If that is true, wouldn't that make each of us the same as the one we are critcizing? I myself am part of the cycling, motorcycling and automotive community and love aspects of each genre. The fact is, there are thousands, probably millions of people that just should not have a license. Probably even some in this forum. Some probably shouldn't even be riding bicycles :D .
:beer:

Originally posted by Stor Mand
Just a thought ... I find of find it ironic that many in here put down cars. I willing to bet that almost every single one of us (of legal age) owns a car or truck.

Proud to say I'm one that doesn't :)

Originally posted by Stor Mand
Just a thought ... I kind of find it ironic that many in here put down cars. I willing to bet that almost every single one of us (of legal age) owns a car or truck. If that is true, wouldn't that make each of us the same as the one we are critcizing? I myself am part of the cycling, motorcycling and automotive community and love aspects of each genre. The fact is, there are thousands, probably millions of people that just should not have a license. Probably even some in this forum. Some probably shouldn't even be riding bicycles :D .
:beer:
It's a matter of measure. Cars are overused considering what they are capable of. They are very good at things like long distance trips and carrying heavy loads (eg. my wife and sons). Their use for things like most commuting trips, short runs to the shops for a Big M, ferrying kids to school etc. is marginal at best, and often highly inefficient. I do have a car, but I minimise my use of it for things that are impractical or inefficient with a bike. If everyone did this, a lot of the problems with cars would disappear overnight without a cent being spent on new roads.

The other thing is that we need to separate the problem of cars from problems with their drivers. Most of the ranting about cars I see on these forums is less about the cars themselves, and more about erratic, rude, incompetent, aggressive and just plain stupid drivers. The issue of overdependance/overuse of cars is a problem with society and, by logical extendion, individual drivers, rather than the car itself.

Cars have their place, it's just that for the majority of the time, that place is the driveway, not the road.

Originally posted by Allister
The other thing is that we need to separate the problem of cars from problems with their drivers. Most of the ranting about cars I see on these forums is less about the cars themselves, and more about erratic, rude, incompetent, aggressive and just plain stupid drivers. The issue of overdependance/overuse of cars is a problem with society and, by logical extendion, individual drivers, rather than the car itself.

yep... for some reason when a person gets into a car to drive, they somehow think they have a suit of armor on and can do anything they wish, as they are fully protected... and so this is why you get tailgating, agressive driving, speeding etc... oh well :rolleyes:

The problems are: 1) society's overreliance on automobiles; 2) the popularity of oversized, fuel-wasting vehicles; and 3) road design standards oriented toward serving motorists instead of ALL road users.

I will take it one or two steps further.

A person in an automobile has two problems to overcome: 1) they are anonymous; 2) they wield great power.

These two characteristics used to apply to men in white hoods with shotguns.

Originally posted by Allister

It's a matter of measure. Cars are overused considering what they are capable of. They are very good at things like long distance trips and carrying heavy loads (eg. my wife and sons).

Does your wife know you wrote that about her? :p :mad:

The anonymity of cars and their obvious power are defintiely a bad combination. One night last winter I was driving my car home and someone tried to blatantly pull out in front of me. I didn't let them so they had to wait for me to pass. They then tailed me for a mile or so. When I got to my street they turned with me. I was a little worried, but then I saw them turn in a driveway two houses down from me. They jumped out of their car and ran inside. I'm sure they were a little embarassed. Anonymity only works if you don't have to see the person again. I heard they are alcoholics, so maybe that explains it.

My wife grew up in a very small town. Everyone knows everyone. If you drive dangerously, you will be seen and later confronted. It's a great biking situation, but there is no where to go. If you leave town to bike on a backroad everyone drives like a maniac again. It's a good place to bike to the store though.

Talk of everything being dangerous. You can choke on a pickle... I still want dill slices on my cheeseburger. Scare UTEs, cagers... try it here in Texas. Not all have trucks. Some have cars that should never have passed safety inspections, some have trucks or utes jacked up on 30 inch tires (Bigfoot wannabes). I feel from time to time that I will throw my neck out, riding like I am a fighter pilot ( like Goose from top gun). There are times even on offroad trials with other cyclist that I feel unsafe around them. Why, I am not sure what their next crazy move would be next.

Streets - cars - bikes
middle east - well you get the picture...
Sorry long day at work and noticed that everyone has the opinion that they have superior motives for somthing. The one thing we need to keep in mind is that everytime someone looks through the window of their cage at you....they are looking at a possible ambassador of getting them on a bike themselves. The last thing we need is to give the wrong impressions of cylcing or cyclist.

Originally posted by SpiderMike
The one thing we need to keep in mind is that everytime someone looks through the window of their cage at you....they are looking at a possible ambassador of getting them on a bike themselves. The last thing we need is to give the wrong impressions of cylcing or cyclist.

Good point. That's a good way to look at many activities in life.