BICYCLE Safety Issue
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Fleet Owner
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From: Drummonds, TN USA
BICYCLE Safety Issue
As we know – one of the ways to get around high fuel prices is to look at alternative vehicles. A bicycle is one of those machines. But how safe are cycles on two lane roads?
This is a question near to my heart (not to mention knees, elbows, skull, and various other anatomical parts of me that I prefer to remain unskinned…). I ride on country roads, as it makes no sense to me to fire up my big blue mud-slinger to go to a country store that isn’t quite a mile away from here. Those roads for the most part have either no shoulder on them, or the steepest slip-slide on the other side of the white line that you can imagine, and a fair chance of coming to a stop at the bottom right next to somebodies prize Brahma Bull!
More than likely wrapped in barbed wire, into the bargain…
For two or three weeks now, I have been mulling over the reasoning behind an apparently nonsensical rule that bicyclists on public roads must ride on the side of the road that is going in the same direction as the motor traffic on it. To me, this is tantamount to suicide! And yet – a local Sherriff came up behind me the other day and made exactly that pronouncement over the unit’s PA horn as I was struggling up a grade and keeping a sharp lookout for oncoming vehicles.
I suppose theory has it that the combined speeds of the bike and a car or truck would be reduced if they were travelling in the same direction, but lets do some simple math here, okay? If the bike is doing an average of five to ten miles per hour, and the motor vehicles are averaging forty five to sixty:
Facing traffic? Combined speed of fifty to seventy MPH.
Riding WITH traffic? Combined speed of forty to fifty MPH.
I’ve got news – if a car hits a bicycle at forty MPH, there ISN’T going to be much left of the bike rider. Even at thirty five MPH, the remains would have to be collected with a wet and dry vacuum…
Conversely – facing away from traffic, there is very little chance at all of avoiding an impaired driver, a driver that had a cigarette ash get in their eye, one that had a power steering belt or hose give out, etc, etc… And that isn’t even considering the "ROAD ****’s" out there.
FACING TOWARDS traffic is safest because the rider can see exactly what is coming.
PERIOD!
I have been cycling on public roads since 1967, when I grew up and my parents taught me to ride, the first thing they told me (both riding, and WALKING along a road) is ALWAYS FACE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. It was part of that same lesson topic titled: "LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING THE STREET".
Now – WHAT "Jackmule" is it that has suddenly reversed not only the laws of bicycling, but common sense and safety awareness apparently simultaneously, and not just in Tipton County Tennessee, but also on military bases, in San Diego, and just about everywhere I have ever ridden a bike before? I submit that none of these jaspers has ever ridden a bicycle in traffic before, and would benefit highly to get off there behinds and go see just what it is they are talking/legislating about before they get any innocent people killed out there.
You can’t evade an accident that you don’t see coming. As an experienced cyclist I tell ya what – when you see me on the facing side I guarantee there is a very good reason for it. And it disgusts me to have someone that doesn’t ride or even think about it shooting their mouth off over a PA system from an air conditioned cruiser when I am at the end of a forty mile ride in eighty five degree heat, just trying to keep from being killed out there.
Yes, this is my official rant for the month ending May 31<SUP>st</SUP>…
~Wolfie
This is a question near to my heart (not to mention knees, elbows, skull, and various other anatomical parts of me that I prefer to remain unskinned…). I ride on country roads, as it makes no sense to me to fire up my big blue mud-slinger to go to a country store that isn’t quite a mile away from here. Those roads for the most part have either no shoulder on them, or the steepest slip-slide on the other side of the white line that you can imagine, and a fair chance of coming to a stop at the bottom right next to somebodies prize Brahma Bull!
More than likely wrapped in barbed wire, into the bargain…
For two or three weeks now, I have been mulling over the reasoning behind an apparently nonsensical rule that bicyclists on public roads must ride on the side of the road that is going in the same direction as the motor traffic on it. To me, this is tantamount to suicide! And yet – a local Sherriff came up behind me the other day and made exactly that pronouncement over the unit’s PA horn as I was struggling up a grade and keeping a sharp lookout for oncoming vehicles.
I suppose theory has it that the combined speeds of the bike and a car or truck would be reduced if they were travelling in the same direction, but lets do some simple math here, okay? If the bike is doing an average of five to ten miles per hour, and the motor vehicles are averaging forty five to sixty:
Facing traffic? Combined speed of fifty to seventy MPH.
Riding WITH traffic? Combined speed of forty to fifty MPH.
I’ve got news – if a car hits a bicycle at forty MPH, there ISN’T going to be much left of the bike rider. Even at thirty five MPH, the remains would have to be collected with a wet and dry vacuum…
Conversely – facing away from traffic, there is very little chance at all of avoiding an impaired driver, a driver that had a cigarette ash get in their eye, one that had a power steering belt or hose give out, etc, etc… And that isn’t even considering the "ROAD ****’s" out there.
FACING TOWARDS traffic is safest because the rider can see exactly what is coming.
PERIOD!
I have been cycling on public roads since 1967, when I grew up and my parents taught me to ride, the first thing they told me (both riding, and WALKING along a road) is ALWAYS FACE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. It was part of that same lesson topic titled: "LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING THE STREET".
Now – WHAT "Jackmule" is it that has suddenly reversed not only the laws of bicycling, but common sense and safety awareness apparently simultaneously, and not just in Tipton County Tennessee, but also on military bases, in San Diego, and just about everywhere I have ever ridden a bike before? I submit that none of these jaspers has ever ridden a bicycle in traffic before, and would benefit highly to get off there behinds and go see just what it is they are talking/legislating about before they get any innocent people killed out there.
You can’t evade an accident that you don’t see coming. As an experienced cyclist I tell ya what – when you see me on the facing side I guarantee there is a very good reason for it. And it disgusts me to have someone that doesn’t ride or even think about it shooting their mouth off over a PA system from an air conditioned cruiser when I am at the end of a forty mile ride in eighty five degree heat, just trying to keep from being killed out there.
Yes, this is my official rant for the month ending May 31<SUP>st</SUP>…
~Wolfie
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From: Lolo Montana
I agree 100% with you. If I am going to get hit, then I want to see it coming. Then maybe I can avoid it. I am not much into riding bikes anymore. I ride my ATV to go shopping with sometimes. I just can't find a way to mount a reclining chair on the seat post. My rear and bike seat's were not made to met.
Tom
Tom
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Fleet Owner
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From: Drummonds, TN USA
Wise man say:
"No go far, until seat agree with backside..."
I don't even remember all of the jokes about what a seat on a bike feels like until you get used to it, and it gets adjusted to you (wears in).
"CROTCH HAMMER" is a phrase that will forever live in my fond memories...
Still - when we were young, and a bike was a cool thing that you HAD TO HAVE: We could ride those things all day long, couldn't we?
I think one of the differences was that we did not weigh as much as we do now, so it was not as hard on the "Mating Surfaces". But the technology has come along somewhat since then. I have found that once a seat is well worn in, I can sit in it for a lot longer than I thought I could. And we go farther than we think in fifteen minutes on a good bicycle.
A GOOD one.
A bad one will grind you to pieces...
(ON EDIT)
You just reminded me -
I had a Stingray when I was young. A stamped steel plate "Banana" seat, with an eighth inch of foam, and a vinyl cover. There's NO WAY I could ride on one of those now...
"No go far, until seat agree with backside..."
I don't even remember all of the jokes about what a seat on a bike feels like until you get used to it, and it gets adjusted to you (wears in).
"CROTCH HAMMER" is a phrase that will forever live in my fond memories...
Still - when we were young, and a bike was a cool thing that you HAD TO HAVE: We could ride those things all day long, couldn't we?
I think one of the differences was that we did not weigh as much as we do now, so it was not as hard on the "Mating Surfaces". But the technology has come along somewhat since then. I have found that once a seat is well worn in, I can sit in it for a lot longer than I thought I could. And we go farther than we think in fifteen minutes on a good bicycle.
A GOOD one.
A bad one will grind you to pieces...
(ON EDIT)
You just reminded me -
I had a Stingray when I was young. A stamped steel plate "Banana" seat, with an eighth inch of foam, and a vinyl cover. There's NO WAY I could ride on one of those now...
Last edited by Greywolf; May 31, 2005 at 01:43 PM.
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From: Lolo Montana
Black sting-ray with a banana seat. Slick on back. Late 60's early 70's. Rode over a hill at the ranch chasing cow's. It was the main road. Cow stops to take a crap, I did not stop until the handle bars met the butt and face plant. Dumb cow messed up my bike. But I paid it back. Beef is what's for dinner tonight.
Tom
Tom
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Fleet Owner
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From: Drummonds, TN USA
Fixed a flat on mine - must have been about 12 years old at the time.
I was so happy - I forgot to tighten the front axle nuts, and did a wheelie in my friends front yard...
Can you say "FORK PLANT!"
The front wheel rolled across the lawn, and I buried it and went half over the handlebars...
BUT IT HELD AIR!!!
I was so happy - I forgot to tighten the front axle nuts, and did a wheelie in my friends front yard...
Can you say "FORK PLANT!"
The front wheel rolled across the lawn, and I buried it and went half over the handlebars...
BUT IT HELD AIR!!!
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From: Garland Tx
We were taught in bpy scouts to ride against traffic. I think the logic is if your riding on the shoulder or sidewalk you should go against, if your in the lane you should ride with. but I have to counter ya'lls wreck stories. So it was the summer of my 7th grade year and my frineds and I had gotten hooked on videotaping all the stupid things we could do on bikes, skates, sakteboards, you name it. So I decided to jump off of 6 stairs with a running start of about 20 feet. So I get my running start and jump off, everythings good, BAM! Either my fork wasnt tight and moved, or it wasnt straight in the first place, cause i made sure to get the handlebars straight. needless to say, the bike flipped up, I was thrown off, and the first thing to make contact with the pavement was the bridge of my nose... followed by my elbow which had basically all the skin ripped off, then my knee that was shredded to bits and scabbed and dried up so I couldn't bend it. To top it all off, the video camera went into energy saving mode right before I jumped.
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Having logged 1000s of miles on a bicycle, I can assure you it is much much safer to be riding WITH traffic. Riding against traffic is against the law for good reason. Think about it, riding into traffic, a moments inattention or an ill placed pothole and you are a hood ornament. It would be a horrifying game of chicken everytime a car passed. Riding with traffic, you are just another slow vehicle to go around.
Car-car head ons are far more likely on a two lane road then they are on a divided highway right? Same principle applies here.
Not to mention pedestrians, who are obligated to walk facing traffic are kept separate from bicycles hence avioding the always unpleasant 3-way pass scenario..
Car-car head ons are far more likely on a two lane road then they are on a divided highway right? Same principle applies here.
Not to mention pedestrians, who are obligated to walk facing traffic are kept separate from bicycles hence avioding the always unpleasant 3-way pass scenario..
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Indiana
On our roads here ya have to always face traffic unless you want to die.A young girl got killed on our road by fallowing the rules of rideing a bicycle.And with all the curves,hills,and trees it just makes more sense to face opposite of traffic.
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From: San Francisco, Ca.
We're almost always hearing about some bicycle/car accident hear in the Bay Area. With deadly results. Mostly hit and runs. Alot of drunk drivers. Cell phone users.
We have alot of bicycle lanes here, but you always have to keep your eye out for the other car.
I remember my Sting Ray with the banana seat and that tall sissy bar in the back, holding up the seat.
I ride my bike (no, not the Sting Ray) on either side of the road; never had a cop pull me over, except when I accidently ran a stop sign.
We have alot of bicycle lanes here, but you always have to keep your eye out for the other car.
I remember my Sting Ray with the banana seat and that tall sissy bar in the back, holding up the seat.
I ride my bike (no, not the Sting Ray) on either side of the road; never had a cop pull me over, except when I accidently ran a stop sign.
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From: Southern Louisiana
I tend to trust myself with my own life rather than someone else. If I am riding with traffic, the same scenario can take place as far as hitting a pothole. I am not going to trust the driver to go around me. If I am against traffic and I hit a pothole at least I can see whats coming and try to roll away or something, especially if there is no shoulder to speak of.
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Fleet Owner
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From: Drummonds, TN USA
Well, I can say this much: I've been riding for longer than most of the people at www.bicycling.com have been alive, and I'm not dead yet. It's just not practical to face away from traffic at significantly lower speeds. If I could ride at thirty or forty all day long it would be different.
(ON EDIT)
RE: www.bicycling.com
It used to be another favorite site of mine, they have a cycling community just like FTE. But I think they have an image going where they all seem to be national champions, and don't seem to be interested in a grass roots guy like myself. Being a day tripper and therefore slow compared to the hard core riders at the above site, after less than a day posting there again I don't think I've felt less welcome anywhere in a very long time.
(ON EDIT)
RE: www.bicycling.com
It used to be another favorite site of mine, they have a cycling community just like FTE. But I think they have an image going where they all seem to be national champions, and don't seem to be interested in a grass roots guy like myself. Being a day tripper and therefore slow compared to the hard core riders at the above site, after less than a day posting there again I don't think I've felt less welcome anywhere in a very long time.
Last edited by Greywolf; Jun 1, 2005 at 02:05 AM.
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Look, anyone riding on a road is assuming certain risks, just as you are when driving. Cycling with traffic allows you to concentrate on driving your bike in a straight line and avoiding debris, potholes, etc. It also give the car behind you adeqaute time to size up the situation and to time his pass based on traffic, your line holding ability, etc.
Riding into traffic requires you to be head up and not paying attention to the potholes, debris, puddles, sticks, trash, dead armadillos, whatever, that are the main hazard to your bike remaining upright and holding a straight line.
If you are dealing witha drunk or a untimely ball joint failure, look that is part of the risk, just like when you are in a car, but to think that you would have time to size up a situation and take action is laughable. Facing cars eliminates the precious seconds that the driver has to decide how to proceed when he comes up behind you.
On a bike, you are at the total mercy of cars, you may as well give them the opportunity not to hit you.
Riding into traffic requires you to be head up and not paying attention to the potholes, debris, puddles, sticks, trash, dead armadillos, whatever, that are the main hazard to your bike remaining upright and holding a straight line.
If you are dealing witha drunk or a untimely ball joint failure, look that is part of the risk, just like when you are in a car, but to think that you would have time to size up a situation and take action is laughable. Facing cars eliminates the precious seconds that the driver has to decide how to proceed when he comes up behind you.
On a bike, you are at the total mercy of cars, you may as well give them the opportunity not to hit you.
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Originally Posted by bcjim
It also give the car behind you adeqaute time to size up the situation and to time his pass based on traffic, your line holding ability, etc.
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From: Charlotte
In North Carolina, the bicycle has the legal status of a vehicle. This means that bicyclists have full rights and responsibilities on the roadway and are subject to the regulations governing the operation of a motor vehicle. North Carolina traffic laws require bicyclists to:
- Ride on the right in the same direction as other traffic
- Obey all traffic signs and signals
- Use hand signals to communicate intended movements
- Equip their bicycles with a front lamp visible from 300 feet and a rear reflector that is visible from a distance of 200 feet when riding at night.
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Originally Posted by sigma
Think about it. On a 300 foot straightaway on a two-lane highway the driver has 6.2 seconds to make any decisions and corrections if the bike is riding with traffic or 5.5 seconds if the bike is opposing traffic. The difference is insignificant. Both time frames require the same decision be made correctly the first time. The real difference is the cyclist is unaware or marginally aware of the car when it is approaching from behind or completely aware of the car approaching from the front. At least in the latter case the cyclist has some marginal control of the situation. .
Look, do what you want, but if the law says keep right (and it does), dont expect the driver to be blamed for running you down while you are on the wrong side.
And please, wear a helmet.