Original post written: 2012
Dear Bicyclists,
Every bicyclists is my cousin. Whenever I bike, walk, or drive and see a bicyclist, I root for my cousin. Bike for the rest of us courteous. Be adventurous. Have fun. Be safe. Watch out for drivers and pedestrians, especially the ones who really do not like us.
Dear Drivers,
Every driver is not my cousin because there is a closer bond amongst bicyclists. However, driving is a privilege. Do not abuse it, fellow drivers. There are some things you do not understand about bicycling, but there is no need to get frustrated and aim to knock off bicyclists. We will learn. Drive safely.
Dear Pedestrians,
You do not always have the right-of-way. So, please walk with your head up and not like it is only your world. You can stop faster than bicyclists and drivers. Remember that when the roads are slick and when walking against the green light when bikes or automobiles are coming down the street. Walk with your head on a swivel.
I was not always a bicyclist until I moved to Boston and Cambridge in 2006. I do not always drive or bike perfectly; however, safety is key as well as good and defensive driving and biking. Some other things seen on the road make me question if individuals received their driver's license falsely or if some bicyclists think they are invincible. Do drivers want to critically injure bicyclists, and do bicyclists want to be king of the road as if no one else is present. We need a clear and legitimate understanding about which drivers and bicyclists can show compassion.
Don't approach a big T-intersection at full speed.
When approaching an intersection when you have the green....pay close attention to cars turning left that are going the opposite way that you are. They [the cars] whip left turns swiftly and sometimes without seeing or caring to see bicyclists coming towards their direction. The first left turning car may turn in a hurry or slowly. Sometimes, the second car in line will blindly and hurriedly turn left as well (called a blind left turn), which is very dangerous. If you are speeding on your bike, then you would careen directly in to the second car. In part, drivers should never execute a quick and blind left turn. For one, the car in front of them may unexpectedly stop, leaving the second car grid-locking the intersection to oncoming traffic. At worst, a car coming across the intersection could potentially slam in to the blocking car. Imagine a bicyclist in the middle of the wreckage. It is best to ride defensively as to avoid a collision at the intersection. Slow up and let the cars turn. Hopefully, they will learn that left turns are the most dangerous turns at busy and narrow intersections. There is no time for unnecessary accidents!
Stop at the stop sign, everyone. Drivers....at T-intersections when a bicyclists is riding south-bound, and another car is moving north bound trying to make a left turn on to the road that you are making a left turn off, guess who is jammed? The bicyclists and the north-bound car. Why does this happen? Because the car coming out in to the intersection did not stop at the stop sign. Guess what non-stopping car at the stop sign....you do not have the right-of-way, so get out of the way for both the car and bicyclists advantage.
Keep your head on a swivel. Cannot say this enough when turning corners or passing through intersections. There are crazy drivers out there.
Harvard Square's intersection where Massachusetts Avenue meets Cambridge Street looks like a potentially notorious spot for a driver who is supposed to continue around the bend (toward the left) because they have the green light. Instead, the driver might think, "Oh, I made a mistake. I meant to travel north bound on Mass Ave." If this incidence occurs, then this driver is not only headed toward innocent bicyclists and pedestrians walking with their right-of-way, but the driver is proceeding with a solid red light. Dangerous. Injurious. Let's pay attention!
Ride the bike lane keeping a close eye on potential door openers
Running a red light/stop sign? Why do it when cars are around?
Cars are turning - get out of the blind-spot and notice their turn signal
Buses are exiting their stop? Don't try to beat them on the outside
Buses/trucks are making wide turns? Don't try to beat them on the inside
Stop halting traffic on major thoroughfares. If you're riding here, then go at car speed and not at 20 mph.
Watch out for your fellow bikers - tell them about hazards, give a waive or head nod
Compliment fellow bikers on their bikes or attire - build camaraderie among the two-wheelers even when you are driving.
Watch out for cars parallel parking as you roll down the bike lane
Cars are not aware of what bikes are doing. Bikes are not aware of what cars are doing. Two cultures that do not completely understand each other.
Pullover (just like a car) when emergency vehicles are coming by.
Watch out for cars that have no idea what they are doing. Those cars that are coming in to traffic from a parallel parking space. Sometimes, they...really do not know what they are doing.
Can you stop at a red light or stop sign? Yes. Will drivers still be annoyed that you are on the road? Yes. But, remember that you will most likely always be at the front of the line at a red traffic signal. The 5th bicycle in line is near the front and can make a short light. The 5th car in line is near the front but will not necessarily make a short light.
Drivers, do not honk at a biker who needs to share part of your lane for only a few feet since the bike lane is being blocked by yes...another driver.
Dear drivers....driving defensively to you looks like...
Dear bikers...biking defensively to you looks like...
Drivers....use your signals. Bicyclists, use your hand signals...(Really, they both can decrease the amount of accidents).
Drivers....what is your rush? You are controlling a car. You will always be faster than a bicyclist because your speedometer goes to 120mph or somewhere around that speed.
Why do we, bicyclists run stop signs? Well, I know. We should not run them. The open environment, weather, the good feeling of riding is very tempting. Drivers really do not understand that. But, get this...driver's stopping at a stop sign is more important than bicyclists stopping at one. Why? Because we can abort our plan if a pedestrian suddenly walks in front of us. Cars take longer to stop. Drivers have blind spots even when the object or pedestrian approaches from an angle at 10 or 2 o'clock.
When a runs a stop sign? Well, watch out. That driver is in a hurry with a 2-ton machine!
Watch out for rogue drivers. These are drivers that rush left turns as you travel south bound an they travel north bound. This driver may typically honk at you even though you have the right-of-way.
The other rogue driver is the one who travels down a roadway against the direction of the light.
Bicyclists, watch the driver's side mirrors and driver's seat to see if anyone is in the driver's side in order to avoid being doored.
There is no need to move to the right when stopped at a red light to make way for other bikers who wish to run red lights. What are they going to say...move over for those of us who like to run red lights? Well, that does not make to much sense.
Don't forget to say thank you. A gesture that unites both bicyclists and driver.
Keep your head on a swivel. Bicyclists ride with their eyes (not just what is in fornt of you but look at cars going th eopposite directoin...are they stopping abruptly for a reason?), with their ears (hear your surroundings and emergency vehicles, with their bodies, seeing through the mirrors of parked, stalled, or cars stopped at a light (it works when you cannot see over a car for oncoming cars.
All in all, watchout for pedestrians....sometimes, they really don't care because it's their world.
Derek - @teemptraining
