herbm

'Share the road' is a two-way street
Some bicyclists' attitude toward drivers isn't helping their case

Hector Tobar

July 15, 2011


You're driving down the Hollywood Freeway and you see a guy in a two-ton SUV, somehow holding the steering wheel while texting at 65 mph.

A few minutes later, you pull off onto Sunset Boulevard. While you're waiting at a signal, a skinny guy on a four-pound touring bike speeds past and runs the red light.

Which of these two men is the greater threat to public safety? To me, the answer is obvious. But to many of my readers, it's the guy on the bike who's the menace.

https://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...2407319.column

hector.tobar@latimes.com

Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times

CbadRider

This article makes some good points. Drives need to share the road and cyclists need to act like vehicles and obey traffic rules.

CSG

Yup. I cycle and drive an SUV. I'm considerate of cyclists when in my vehicle and act considerate as a cyclist. Unfortunately, some cyclists give all of us a bad name when they don't obey the same traffic laws every other vehicle is required to. I think a lot of our issues and troubles are brought on by us. When I see a cyclist blowing stop signs, red lights, or otherwise acting like idiots in traffic I wish I could cite them. The frustrated drivers quoted in that article have valid complaints IMO.

alicestrong

A four pound touring bike?

I love that Hector Tobar is taking such a pro-cycling stance recently.

"But there's no arguing with the fact that in a crowded, sedentary city, with too many cars and too much obesity, more bicycles is a better thing."

Chaco

It would be interesting to see how many times the average cyclist breaks the law as opposed to the average driver. I bet drivers would come out way, way ahead. The cyclist blows a few stop signs along his/her route, and may occasionally run a light. The average driver is over the speed limit as often as possible, talking on a cell phone, and even blowing a few stop signs here and there. The difference is that when a driver sees a cyclist blowing a stop sign, there's a feeling of inequity - "why is that guy running the stop sign when I have to stop?". But the cyclist can't see the vast majority of traffic violations committed by drivers, and there isn't a similar feeling of inequity, because the average cyclist can't break the speed limit.

Cyclists are expected to be perfect angels on road; drivers can break the law with impunity, and few people care, unless it's running a red light or DUI.

A cyclist breaking the law,9 times out of 10, or maybe 99 times out of 100, is endangering him/herself. They may endanger other pedestrians, but certainly not drivers.

Drivers breaking the law endanger other driver, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Don't get me wrong - I drive and ride my bike, but I find this whole argument placing cyclists and drivers on the same plane a bit ridiculous and on drivers' parts, sanctimonious.

As for blowing stop signs, I admit I do it regularly. Why? Because an intersection is far less safe than a road, and the quicker I get out of it the better. I also blow some lights. Why? Because some lights come just before an exit to the freeway, and the only way to get out of the way of cars trying to get onto the freeway is to blow the light and get into the lane just to the left.

Idaho seems to be the only state that has recognized that though cars and bicycles are vehicles, they do not have the same dynamics.

kenji666

Some stop lights have sensors that don't "see" bikes.

bitingduck

I've met very few that I can't turn, but cities do a lousy job of indicating where a cyclist needs to be to turn them.

snowman40

So where do we get these 4lb touring bikes?

The main difference that seems to be overlooked is a bicyclist is like a small rock (one that can easily fit in a plastic shopping bag, but still big enough to cause damage) falling off a cliff on PCH and the automobiles (cars, trucks, SUVs) are more like bombs and missiles dropped by the military in terms of physical damage caused. That is why, I believe, that bicyclists get away with it 9 out of 10 times. Besides, the cities will get much more money from the autos, just look at how many there are on the road.

snowman40

I've given up trying to trip the lights by using the road sensors. I just use the bike push to cross button (not all work.....I usually find out as I watch the other 3 directions cycle through 2 or 3 times).