Motorists vs. Cyclists: Can't we all just get along? - The Pulse - ehagedorn's Blog - Bakersfield.com

May 8, 2008 at 03:05 PM : The city has all kinds...

The city has all kinds of bike lanes and there's no problem with that. I get irritated when bicyclists use roads in vehicular traffic, especially at intersections. Use the crosswalk, idiots, you are not a motor vehicle.

May 8, 2008 at 03:05 PM : catpaw, by...

catpaw, by law, bicycles ARE considered like vehicles, not pedestrians, who use crosswalks.

May 8, 2008 at 03:05 PM : While I feel I'm...

While I feel I'm fairly easygoing when it comes to sharing the road, I sometimes get nervous when there's a bike traveling near my car, especially if the cyclist looks wobbly and uneasy.

But, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles' Web site, "Bicycles riders (cyclists) on public streets have the same rights and responsibilities as automobile drivers and are subject to the same rules and regulations as any other vehicle on the road."

For more information on this, go to www.dmv.ca.gov/about/bicycle.htm.

May 8, 2008 at 03:05 PM : There are different...

There are different kinds of cyclists, just as there are different kinds of motorists.

A certain kind of cyclist that often ( but not always ) wear the full outfit and have skinny bikes tends to flit through intersections and cut in front of vehicles with little regard for the fact that they are not always very visible, and that their behaviour is unexpected and may cause an accident.

There are also plenty of cyclists in the full outfit that are polite and courteous to others on the road, and so on it runs through the whole spectrum.

( When I'm on my bike, I dismount and behave like a pedestrian at intersections with traffic lights. Vehicles simply do not see you or expect you if you come zipping along the side of the road or between lanes of cars. Much better to hop off and take the extra minute to be safe than end up spread over the tarmac. Sure, technically the Californian Driver's Handbook gives you rights much the same as motor vehicles, but since when have all government rules been practical? )

Bottom line: respect others and they'll be much more likely to respect you.

May 8, 2008 at 03:05 PM : Just get the hell out...

Just get the hell out of my way......

May 8, 2008 at 04:05 PM : Regardless of what the...

Regardless of what the law says, bicycles are not any less a driving hazard when in traffic.

May 8, 2008 at 04:05 PM : I'm not surprised...

I'm not surprised at Mr. Resnicke's experiences. This is The Valley, which is an inexpensive place to live when compared to much of SoCal or the Bay Area. In low-rent areas, you get low-rent individuals, who, unfortunately, too often act like the morons who assaulted Mr. Resnicke. How do you think they'd like it if someone did that to one of their kids? Oh, but that's different...

May 8, 2008 at 04:05 PM : A local columnist once...

A local columnist once said of Berkeley "It's the only place I've ever been where walking out into the street against the light without looking is par for the course." The pecking order here is cyclists, pedestrians, people in wheelchairs, then cars.

The cyclists are nuts up here. I've been yelled at for thinking a cyclist would slow down at a stop sign, almost hit by a few while walking in a crosswalk, and saw two cyclists go over the hood of a car who made a protected left hand turn. I ride my bike a bit and I see terror in the eyes of drivers when I stop at a stop sign. They just assume I'm up to no good.

May 8, 2008 at 05:05 PM : I wonder how Bako...

I wonder how Bako would handle

Critical Mass?

May 8, 2008 at 05:05 PM : The motorists are...

The motorists are armed down here, Tom. :)

May 8, 2008 at 05:05 PM : And so are the...

And so are the bicyclists rf.

May 8, 2008 at 06:05 PM : There have been...

There have been several instances that I have nearly lost my life while cycling in Bakersfield. That has had a lot of impact on my conversion to Christianity. I also have had a couple of instances when things have been thrown at me. Once when I was riding a bike on a down town parade route. Some one threw a bottle of water at me from the crowd. The other was when I was walking down Union Ave. Some kids in a car threw their soda at me splashing my leg. Because of these types of experience I try to ride against traffic so I can keep a eye on the incoming vehicles. I also find it useful to walk, ride a bike, and drive a motorcycle or car. People who just drive cars have no idea what the other forms of traffic are going through. The other forms of traffic also must be respectful of the car traffic and try not to surprise them. Pedestrians may have the legal right of way, but the laws of physics triumphs that most of the time.

May 8, 2008 at 08:05 PM : First, in answer to...

First, in answer to the above: NEVER ride against traffic. It's illegal and one of the most dangerous things you can do on a bicycle.

I've commuted by bicycle in Bakersfield for almost 15 years. No crashes. I got good training years ago and went on to become a league certified instructor (www.bikeleague.org) I've seen the full spectrum of behavior on the part of both motorists and bicyclists, from great to truly lousy and even criminal (yes, I've had bottles, cans, trash and even a snowglobe thrown at me, and I've been smacked in the back by a passing motorist who stuck his arm out as he passed). A lot of the worst stems from ignorance and a lack of education, someties combined with being ethically challenged, which in my opinion is the cause of a lot of other problems in the valley as well, but that's another story line. In general, though, most commuters just want to get home in one piece and are pretty considerate overall, whether in a car or on a bike. It would appear that the jerks are still a minority. Bottom line is, that bicyclists are safest when they obey the laws and act like other traffic. Both studies and experience bear this out, so the law as it stands is good and bicyclists and motorists would do well to follow it. Also, contrary to popular myth, bicycling isn't a high risk activity overall.

May 8, 2008 at 08:05 PM : I am amendable to...

I am amendable to correction hyver, please show me why it is a bad idea to ride against traffic? The law for one was written by non cyclist and it has been my experience that riding against the trafffic it doesn't create any problems accept at turning at intercessions. These can safely managed by clearly communicating your intents to the other drivers. Some intercessions are not disigned with bicyclist in mind. The lights are either trigggered by weight sensors that only register a car or the pedestarian cross walk buttons are not in easy reach of the cyclist. The solutions unless they ever enginear the streets to be cyclist friendly; is for creative and respectful adaptation of the cyclist to his enviroment.

May 9, 2008 at 12:05 AM : I try to ride four...

I try to ride four miles a day. Recently I was at the intersection of Harris and Ashe when a young man in an failed to yield when making a right from Harris to Ashe. Going straight (heading east through the intersection) I believe I had the right of way. He missed my back tire by three or four inches. So close that I could feel the heat radiating off his front hood on my back.

Griffon64 on May 8, 2008 at 03:55 PM

There are different kinds of cyclists, just as there are different kinds of motorists.

They're not any nicer to other cyclists either. One of my rides down Gosford was almost disastorous because another cyclist kept shouting at me when I slowed for yellow or red lights at cross sections. I kept signalling that he should go around me but he wouldn't and I never figured out why he chose yelling at me over moving along.

That has had a lot of impact on my conversion to Christianity.

How so?

May 9, 2008 at 04:05 AM : I ,trying to be am...

I ,trying to be am aware cyclist,noticed a woman backing out of her own driveway and not looking. I tried to slow down enough but she hit me anyway,knocking me to the ground. Luckily I was okay,having slowed enough.She looked out her window at me,laying in the street and sped off. Never realizing she could be so easily found I guess...bikes need to behave the same,i.e. follow the rules of the road, that way motorists know what to expect. Read the law and follow it. But much like motor bikes,walking ,cyclists need to know who wins in an encounter with a vehicle.

May 9, 2008 at 08:05 AM : Wayfarer, there are...

Wayfarer, there are many good reasons not to ride against traffic. First, it's illegal nationwide, not just in CA, though CA does have some of the better traffic laws for bicyclists, and they have beeen influenced by bicyclist input.

Second, just because you can "see what's coming" doesn't mean other road users will see you or expect you. In fact, they don't expect wrong-way bicyclists and won't be looking for you. This is even more the case at intersections, cross streets and driveways, where motorists pulling out or turning will check for the normal traffic flow, not contra-flow anomalies. And 80% of all traffic collisions happen at intersections, so you'd do well not to increase your risk even more by riding against traffic at those locations.

Third, you can't see traffic control devices at intersections when you ride against traffic, so you never know when it's safe to cross. This, combined with the fact that you are unexpected, unpredictable and less visible, increases your risk enormously.

Finally, it's not just me saying this: studies have shown that riding against traffic is one of the leading causes of car-bike collisions for teenagers and adults.

Also, sidewalk riding isn't illegal everywhere, only where local municipalities outlaw it, but it's not necessarily safer. A League study showed that adult bicycle riders had 4-5 times as many crashes when riding on the sidewalk. Your best option, as I said before, is to act like other traffic. Take a League Road I course if you want to learn some skills to make this easier. It's not that hard, folks.

May 9, 2008 at 08:05 AM : You ride with traffic...

You ride with traffic because it's the law. You don't assume the law doesn't apply to you because you "clearly communicate" how special you are and how everyone else should accomodate you.

May 9, 2008 at 09:05 AM : Another point against...

Another point against riding against traffic: when a vehicle is waiting to turn left, they do not see you coming up behind and to their left, because they are expecting all traffic to their left to be approaching from the front. Now, maybe you can see that they are turning, and maybe you will take evasive action or stop and wait for them to complete their turn, but a) what a hassle! and b) you cannot always see clearly what is going on, more on that in a minute. Why not stick with the flow of the rest of traffic? Or are some people above some laws ( don't think so! )

I turn into my driveway from a busy street with a center turn lane, and I've learned to look over my shoulder because there are an amazing number of cyclists not thinking straight who come down the street the wrong way. Since I'm approaching these idiots from behind, they often do not see me as I get into the center lane and prepare to make my turn, because now I'm behind them, or just to the side of them. And sometimes I don't see them because I'm not looking for them there. Sometimes I've been parked in the center lane for a while ( it is a busy street ) and I have to scoot through a small gap, and some cyclist who doesn't realize I'm going to take that gap is suddenly right in front of me, riding against traffic. Some near misses have occured. It just boil my blood because I fear that one day I'm going to forget to look and get t-boned by a cyclist, or knock one over, or have to stop and get t-boned by an approaching car. It is a nuisance that could be avoided if everybody respectfully followed the laws.

Jun 16, 2008 at 09:06 PM : I ride 75-100 miles a...

I ride 75-100 miles a week, about half of which is on the city streets, and I haven't had any serious problems with automobile drivers. But please let me address a few of the comments above:

Hi Catpaw—Let me just say you are showing your true intelligence—cyclists have the same privileges to use the roads as cars do. We are not idiots when we are exercising that right. A responsible cyclist rides defensively and obeys all laws—just as drivers should. Thanks, Emily, for including the link to the CA laws regarding this issue.
And hello to you, too, Griffon64—I have those “skinny tires” on my bike and I do not “flit” through intersections or cut in front of vehicles—both would be suicidal. If you see “us”, on our skinny tires, going through intersection you can bet we have looked all ways many times and are obeying all laws. Just because you are afraid to ride in the street doesn’t make our behavior “unexpected”. The people I see disobeying the laws, and risking their lives in the process, are the younger kids who ride with no helmets—against traffic—up and down the sidewalk—in and out of parked cars. Those behaviors ARE unexpected and dangerous. And lastly, respect is a two way street and thankfully, virtually every driver I have ever encountered has been aware of my presence and acted in accordance with the law and common sense. Maybe I’m lucky or maybe, JUST MAYBE, I ride in an appropriate, expected manner.
Hey there hpver—thanks for your comments, you justify my feelings that, generally speaking, commuting by bicycle is a positive experience and worth the extra planning involved to make it a successful commute.
Dear Wayfarer: Riding against traffic, is the ultimate “unexpected” move by a cyclist. A motorist should not have to look in one more direction for hazards—which is what you’re expecting when you ride in that manner. It’s no wonder you don’t feel safe riding in the streets. A driver has plenty to look for and they shouldn’t be expected to look in one more direction for someone who doesn’t want to follow the laws.

There will always be accidents, it’s just the way things are, but if we all follow basic common sense and the DMV laws, we can coexist comfortably on the roads. Bike Bakersfield has a very good list of “Rode Rules”. Check ‘em out.

I invite any of you to ride to and from work with me anytime--you'll see what I'm talking about.