I know that many cyclists do not follow the rules of the road. In fact, some are notorious flouters of these rules. I certainly don't think that the problems cyclists and drivers have sharing the roads are all, or even mostly, caused by drivers, and I do plan on writing about cyclist misbehaviour. That being said, I thought I should write about an incident that happened recently, while it is fresh in my mind.
The other day, I was cycling south on Mount Pleasant Road, in Toronto. I wanted to turn left onto Lawrence Avenue, so I rode into the left-hand turn lane. This left-hand turn lane is rather long, and even as I got into it, I saw that I was unlikely to get to the intersection before the lights changed (in Toronto, traffic lights have visible timers). As I slowed to a stop, a car entered the turn lane behind me. Realizing I wasn't going to make the light, the driver suddenly accelerated, passed me on the left by swerving into the lane for oncoming traffic, and roared through the intersection after the lights had turned red. This was, of course, illegal and dangerous.
I can't help but suspect that had I been driving a car, the person behind might not have driven in such a reckless manner. Some drivers see cyclists as slow-moving obstacles; these drivers will engage in all sorts of dangerous manoeuvres to get past cyclists. Luckily, incidents like the one I describe don't occur very often, but I have experienced several similar incidents.
Was I not moving fast enough as I approached the intersection? I feel that even if I had been in a car, I would not have made the light. Not, that is, unless I floored the accelerator. Anyway, whether or not I made the light is beside the point; bicycles are vehicles, and cars are not allowed to swerve wildly around them.
I always ride defensively. But cycling defensively is unlikely to protect me from road rage events like this. Unfortunately, this is one of the unavoidable risks of cycling on the streets.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Taking Your Child Biking
Cycling is a wonderful way to get around. You're out in the open and getting exercise. Parents are understandably eager to get their children out biking. But biking at any age is dangerous, and parents should be cautious about taking their children onto the city streets.
The best place for a child to learn to ride a two-wheeler is on a playing field. A field with short grass and lots of bald patches is ideal. Falling on grass or packed earth is a lot easier on a child than falling on asphalt or concrete!
Once your child becomes a competent rider, try going on a bike trail. These trails often go through scenic areas and can be a great way to explore parts of your city that you don't normally see. Most importantly, there are no cars to contend with. But just because bike trails have no cars doesn't mean they are danger free. Bike trails can be very crowded, especially on weekends. A fledgling cyclist will usually not be moving very fast, and other cyclists whizzing by will sometimes treat you and your child as pylons. Be sure to instruct your child to always stay on the right side of the trail! An ill-timed turn into the left lane could cause a serious collision with another cyclist.
When you feel ready to have your child ride on the road, ride on side streets only! I ride all the time in the city, and I almost never see children cycling on main streets. Pick a time and day when few cars will be about. Tell your child the traffic rules. Explain how to give hand signals (adults should be using these signals, as well). Your child should ride slowly and steadily, and should be vigilant when passing parked cars for the possibility of a suddenly opened door.
If you do have to travel on a main street, it is best to dismount and walk your bikes on the sidewalk. I don't recommend riding on sidewalks; pedestrians are justly miffed at cyclists passing them with centimetres to spare. Bikes are moving vehicles and should stay on the roads.
Have fun biking with your child. But stay safe!
The best place for a child to learn to ride a two-wheeler is on a playing field. A field with short grass and lots of bald patches is ideal. Falling on grass or packed earth is a lot easier on a child than falling on asphalt or concrete!
Once your child becomes a competent rider, try going on a bike trail. These trails often go through scenic areas and can be a great way to explore parts of your city that you don't normally see. Most importantly, there are no cars to contend with. But just because bike trails have no cars doesn't mean they are danger free. Bike trails can be very crowded, especially on weekends. A fledgling cyclist will usually not be moving very fast, and other cyclists whizzing by will sometimes treat you and your child as pylons. Be sure to instruct your child to always stay on the right side of the trail! An ill-timed turn into the left lane could cause a serious collision with another cyclist.
When you feel ready to have your child ride on the road, ride on side streets only! I ride all the time in the city, and I almost never see children cycling on main streets. Pick a time and day when few cars will be about. Tell your child the traffic rules. Explain how to give hand signals (adults should be using these signals, as well). Your child should ride slowly and steadily, and should be vigilant when passing parked cars for the possibility of a suddenly opened door.
If you do have to travel on a main street, it is best to dismount and walk your bikes on the sidewalk. I don't recommend riding on sidewalks; pedestrians are justly miffed at cyclists passing them with centimetres to spare. Bikes are moving vehicles and should stay on the roads.
Have fun biking with your child. But stay safe!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Door Prize
When biking on a busy street that has parking, you have two options: ride in the middle of the lane or ride to the side, near to the parked cars. Some cyclists advocate riding in the middle of the lane, and I can understand their point of view. A bike is a vehicle just as a car is; shouldn't cyclists be allowed to ride in the stream of traffic? While riding in the centre of a lane might be allowed, in practise it is hazardous. Some drivers will feel you should not be there; others may get impatient if they feel you aren't moving fast enough. In both instances, this can lead drivers to try to pass you. And occasionally they will try to pass in a dangerous manner.
Riding to the side, however, exposes you to the possibility of someone opening a door in your path. This is the so-called "door prize" (also called getting "doored"). You can't predict your reaction to a suddenly opened door in your path; your reaction will be automatic. The best advice I can give is to ride slowly when going past parked cars. This will give you more reaction time in the event of a suddenly opened door, and more reaction time will reduce the likelihood that you will swerve into traffic or smash into a door.
I also suggest scanning the interiors of parked cars as you bike toward them. Seeing that there is a person in a car will allow you to prepare. You can ring your bell to alert that person that you are approaching, and you can further reduce your speed. Of course you won't see everyone; some cars have tinted windows, and shorter drivers might be hidden by their car seats.
You should also check the signal lights of cars you are approaching. If a driver is signalling to pull into traffic, I recommend slowing right down. You have the right-of-way, but, as always, never assume a driver sees you. Proceed only if you are sure the driver sees you and is waiting for you to pass. Again, I recommend ringing your bell. If you are not sure the driver either sees you or is prepared to wait for you, then stop. The driver may have jumped cue, but at least you avoided being struck by the car.
Despite trying to be vigilant around parked cars, I recently received a door prize. Luckily, I only had some slight scrapes and bruises as a result of the collision, and my bike came through unscathed. I only had to put the chain back on the front sprocket and ride off.
A few years ago, I narrowly avoided another door prize, riding on Bloor Street (in Toronto) during a business day. A delivery truck was stopped at the side of the road, and as I came next to it, the driver opened the door. This time, instead of crashing into the door, I managed to swerve and avoid a collision. However, I swerved into the lane. Luckily, no cars were near me when I swerved! Had a car been coming along, the results could have been dire.
Riding to the side, however, exposes you to the possibility of someone opening a door in your path. This is the so-called "door prize" (also called getting "doored"). You can't predict your reaction to a suddenly opened door in your path; your reaction will be automatic. The best advice I can give is to ride slowly when going past parked cars. This will give you more reaction time in the event of a suddenly opened door, and more reaction time will reduce the likelihood that you will swerve into traffic or smash into a door.
I also suggest scanning the interiors of parked cars as you bike toward them. Seeing that there is a person in a car will allow you to prepare. You can ring your bell to alert that person that you are approaching, and you can further reduce your speed. Of course you won't see everyone; some cars have tinted windows, and shorter drivers might be hidden by their car seats.
You should also check the signal lights of cars you are approaching. If a driver is signalling to pull into traffic, I recommend slowing right down. You have the right-of-way, but, as always, never assume a driver sees you. Proceed only if you are sure the driver sees you and is waiting for you to pass. Again, I recommend ringing your bell. If you are not sure the driver either sees you or is prepared to wait for you, then stop. The driver may have jumped cue, but at least you avoided being struck by the car.
Despite trying to be vigilant around parked cars, I recently received a door prize. Luckily, I only had some slight scrapes and bruises as a result of the collision, and my bike came through unscathed. I only had to put the chain back on the front sprocket and ride off.
A few years ago, I narrowly avoided another door prize, riding on Bloor Street (in Toronto) during a business day. A delivery truck was stopped at the side of the road, and as I came next to it, the driver opened the door. This time, instead of crashing into the door, I managed to swerve and avoid a collision. However, I swerved into the lane. Luckily, no cars were near me when I swerved! Had a car been coming along, the results could have been dire.
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