Advocacy & Safety - Daniel Borenstein: Cycling community must adopt a stronger culture of safety

http://www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_21125640

what is this cycling community of which he speaks? Like to sign up

A large road ride and this guy wants everyone to announce passes like they are on a MUP with peds. And no passing on the right. The guy should be talking about riders holding their line until they know it is safe to move left or right. One cyclist overcooks a downhill, slides out and this guy gets over excited.

what is this cycling community of which he speaks? Like to sign upThe cycling community of 'you must ride exactly the way I do'.

After complaining about the lack of safety training for cyclists, most of whom have had the same training as motorists since they are also motorists, the author goes on to cite an example of the danger cyclists face from scofflaw motorists.:bang:

In my experience, people ride like they drive. Improve the training and licensing requirements for motorists and not only will cyclists be better trained, the CARnage on our roads will be reduced. Of course, safety isn't the main reason for the article. The author was merely looking to give himself a shout-out for finishing the Death Ride, as though that is some big deal.

The cycling community of 'you must ride exactly the way I do'.

There are oodles of members of that community pontificating everyday about wrong kind of cyclists' errors on this list and a few others at BF

Safety ProTip: Don't ride on group rides. They can be pretty unsafe for a lot of reasons.

So if you do ride on a group ride, don't ***** about unsafe riders.

Safety ProTip: Don't ride on group rides. They can be pretty unsafe for a lot of reasons.

So if you do ride on a group ride, don't ***** about unsafe riders.

The only group ride I will do is with close friends that I have been riding with for years but my preference is to ride alone that way I don't have to worry about how anyone rides but me.

Rode a short distance with my friend & his new GF. I've ridden with him for years, he's safe to ride with. She was all over the place on a narrow path chattering like the proverbial magpie. She is the type who causes accidents & never notices.

Cycling community? Does that include everyone from the fat drunk dude on the beach cruiser to the peloton of entitlement?

I'm a roadie, my wife's a runner, but she rides with a group of runners one day every weekend. Those guys are NUTS! I understand that they don't understand pacelines, drafting, echelons and the like, but they totally ignore basic rules of common sense, and their self-imposed group leader blows stop lights through tiny gaps between cars. Every man for himself. His battle cries are "It's clear enough" and "It's green enough," and he expects everyone to try and go through with him. I tried to give a provide a brief, pre-ride briefing once, and it was soundly ignored.

For a group of people who also share the roads and are totally at the mercy of cars, they are totally clueless when it comes to bicycling.

I have seen a lot of squirrely riding on the type of ride mentioned in the linked article. The type of ride that has a prestigious or famous name and has become what is called a "destination ride" due to it's fame or beautiful locale or both. Usually these "destination rides" are centuries, not quiet as hard as the very famous ride in the article but there are a lot of similarities.

So here are a few thoughts on "Destination Rides" and due precautions.

Rides like this seem to attract a lot of riders that are newish to the sport and don't have much experience riding in groups or near other cyclists in technical conditions, on narrow roads or descents.

This is one of the main reasons I now ride double centuries almost exclusively as my organized rides to get the camaraderie of riding with other cyclists. I have now ridden 12 doubles and the difference in rider common sense, experience and group riding skills is dramatic compared to the "destination ride" type of centuries I have been on in the past.

So if you ride in a super famous or prestigious "destination ride" have a great time. They are famous and prestigious for a lot of good reasons. Just beware and be careful. Some riders on the road with you may not have your skills and may do the worst thing a cyclist can do: They may be unpredictable. Unpredictable to cars on the road and unpredictable to their fellow cyclists.

If you get a chance be a cycling good will ambassador and take one of these unpredictable newbies under your wing on your next "destination ride". Share some of you knowledge with them and help them become safer riders.

I was helped along by others when I was green as grass, I try to pay it back. Please do too.:hug: