nemo

We have all read numerous threads with the same theme... guy on x-mart riding foolishly. well today after I had gotten the van to go pick up children from daycare, I encountered one such awesome cyclist. On a road commonly called "lover's lane" of all things, I noticed a bicycle going west in the east bound lane of traffic. The guy is riding a shiny new next f/s with all new gear, lights helmet, lock etc. suddenly he looks behind and darts across 4 lanes to the correct side of the road. this brilliant maneuver caused a quick stop on my part and much mumbling. I said to my self "maybe he doesn't know better?" So i pulled along side and asked if i could talk to him a minute. I explained my daily commute and how long I have been doing it asked if he was commuting or pleasure cycling. Turns out he just started a 15 mile commute and had no idea how a bicycle is supposed to behave. I shared my thoughts and facts I have learned about the law in our fair state.Tomorrow I agreed to modify my home bound route to parallel his for awhile and maybe learn him a few things? Hope I don't make a fool of meself Maybe he won't get killed?

ATAC49er

Good job -- the problem lies with these stores (I work at one, so I know), who will not allow anything resembling advocacy/education to be posted near the bikes, where someone could just take a pamphlet and be better than non-equipped when it came to info about the activity. Ohhhhhhhh, Noooooooo -- that's for Bike Safety month in May!! We can't be liable for someone getting hurt because we gave them a pamphlet!

Stupid. Sometimes I hate my job....

Vodalus

But doesn't your proactive solution ruin the fun of coming back here and complaining about how awful all these new commuters are and how much they're going to tick off motorists?

nemo

Well yes it does rob me of the ability to feel superior, however I don't believe I can sit by and allow someone to unwittingly put their life in peril either. Morals or Pride what is one to do**********?

Vodalus

I'm new to commuting, so I'd always appreciate kind words like that if i was screwing something up. That said, I don't think i was ever that bad!

nemo

I will humbly say I was almost as bad when i started... my first goal was to pedal all the way to work......5 whole BLOCKS away!!!!

nemo

Ignorance can be easily fixed. the cure for stupidity is usually more terminal and much more messy.

ScottE22

I give you credit for doing that. You never know who you're going to roll up on these days.

holmes9

do you per chance listen to the national or am i just randomly seeing musical lyrics in what people are writing?

Vodalus

i truly hope you're seeing lyrics

nemo

We; as in those who post here; always complain that drivers yell at us and what not. I believe this is because they do not know how to predict the behavior of cyclists for the most part and it is unnerving. If I want the drivers around here to stop the first step in my opinion is to make sure I follow the traffic rules as well as helping new folks to understand them as well. so you see my motive is less than altruistic.

commuter33

Personally, I wish there were more people like the OP'er. With gas prices being so high, and only to go up more, I think more people will start commuting by bike. These people need to be educated for the safety of everyone around.

I can't talk much because I'm a noob right now and I am still learning myself. But I sit in front of the computer for most of the day so i find myself reading up on this stuff all the time. That's the age of the internet for you

Banzai

That's pretty cool. Having someone to ride with him, and show him "how it's done" may be the difference in whether or not he keeps riding. (Or lives, for that matter!)

That kind of encouragement and support for a new cyclist is priceless.

nemo

well here i go time to go meet Glenn on purpose this time.

starla

I was so afraid that I'd do something so outrageously bad that would brand me as a hopeless noob when I first started riding that I read everything I could on cycling etiquette and proper road behavior before I started. Not that I have not made my share of mistakes anyway (um -- turning left in front of an oncoming car? -- wouldn't recommend it), but I know that it helped me tremendously to have an idea what I was supposed to be doing!

I think what you did is awesome! I would love for someone more experienced to tell me if I'm doing something wrong/potentially dangerous. And to offer to ride with me for a while? I'd be over the moon with gratitude!

Sawtooth

Bring him here. The information on this forum is priceless.

nemo

I hope I have helped, I agree with a lot of posts i read in that when i started I WAS all alone. I worked on an it helpdesk at the time at night so i had a lot of time and a lot of broadband to research with. It tok awhile to find BF, but the info i have gathered has made al the difference to me. I went from basically a 2 car family to no family and car-free virtually overnight this was my start part choice part necessity. I did mention BF to Glenn today as well as other resources available. Glenn states, "I am 35, I have not ridden a bicycle since i was a kid. We were always taught to ride on the sidewalk, and when one was not available to ride against traffic so we would be seen. I always thought that was right. you know once you learn to ride a bike you never forget?" Anyway armed with maybe some better knowledge he might just survive to tell about it. He suggested a kind of seminar on cycle commuting? good idea maybe, but i doubt this being where rednecks come from and all; anyone would attend. It was once said to me that people in this part of the country will drive even if gas gets to $12.

Banzai

So are you going to ride with him again?

n9viw

I can understand where he's coming from, I rode on the left side once... I was seven, and just about got killed for it. He drives, that basic rule of the road is in the general road test. I can't imagine a fellow got to 35 and never figured this out. Lucky he's got understanding people like you to point out the right way before the wrong way gets him in a heap of trouble.

nemo

yeah he is alright i will keep with him for a bit besides it doubles my commute home

Banzai

I think you've done a Very Good Thing.

It is so easy for a newbie to get discouraged, and determine that commuting by bicycle is an impossible and insurmountable obstacle. That person will then get back to trying to figure out how to hang on to their fossil fuel lifestyle.

A newbie is probably in poor shape, on a bike that maybe fits...but isn't set up properly to fit him, so the whole process hurts. He has no idea how to conduct himself on the road, and how to navigate about without 3 tons of steel. His bike may be set up by some big box store kid, and he can't comprehend all the mechanical trouble he's having.

Lump all those things together, and a person is VERY likely to quit in a week, if they go that long. Some guidance and help from an experienced cyclist, plus a ride partner in the beginning, may be the step that keeps a newbie riding.

Good job, nemo.

Gonzlobo

You mean 90% of the folks on this forum that claim to stop at stop signs (and in reality only 10% actually do).

Mr. Underbridge

Way to go!

Going out of your way to help teach a guy is outrageously cool.

nemo

Alright gentle people Glenn is getting his first wet commute.. called in a panic because it is raining... I am off to ride home and get wet and cool

Mr. Underbridge

Oh noes!!!! The rain! I'm mellllllllting......