Apr
10
Here’s a first-time (first of many, I hope) post from Robert Roman, Interbike’s Senior Account Manager:
The Interbike team, myself included, were in San Francisco back on Friday March 30th to attend the IHRSA 2007 trade show. For those who may not be aware, the Interbike team that you know and love also produce a trade show for the fitness industry called Health and Fitness Business. Anyway, after we’d done our business at the convention center Brian, myself, and a couple of friends decided to seek libations and nourishment at some of the city’s finer establishments. One of our stops took us to One Market. En route I had noticed a good number of cyclists on Market Street. This in itself was not unusual as I’d known that there was a robust cycling scene in the city. Once we arrived at One Market I stepped outside to make a call. As I was talking it dawned on me that the area was swarming with cyclists and after I ended my call I realized it was the staging area for Critical Mass. I’m an avid cyclist and I’d heard of Critical Mass but never seen or participated in one. The atmosphere seemed very festive with cyclists running the gamut from lycra clad roadies to costumed jesters on custom rides. As I watched the police escorted procession depart I was filled with envy that I didn’t have my own bike available to participate. I snapped a few pictures on my phone and rejoined my friends at the bar. I geeked out for a few minutes, spouting on about how inspirational it was to see so many cyclists together, then moved on to other topics.
Fast forward to Saturday, April 7th. I’m sitting in a courthouse in Santa Ana attending traffic school for the day as penance to the citizens of Orange County for my speeding infraction. My phone vibrates in my pocket. My friend Brenda has called but hasn’t left a message. After class I call her back and she tells me she’d come upon a car vs. bike scene on Antonio Parkway and it looked really bad. Bloody rider motionless in the street, shoe in the road, police and rescue personnel all over. That evening I’m watching the news and they have a brief report on the accident. According to the news the driver inexplicably swerved into the bike lane hitting the rider. The impact sends the rider over the hood, into the windshield then over the car. The driver then apparently stops the car, grabs his 4 year old son and flees the scene on foot. Police track him down about an hour later a mile or so from the scene and arrest him for felony hit and run. A subsequent news story I read in the newspaper on Sunday says the 31 year old driver’s license was suspended. The 58 year old victim is clinging to life at Mission Hospital.
On Sunday I go to my girlfriend’s house to have Easter brunch. When I arrive she’s on the phone and looks unhappy. She’s scrambling to find coverage for some cases she has scheduled the next day. She’s a neurological tech and Mission Hospital is calling her to cover an emergency case on Monday. It’s probably the rider.
Today Rich comes by my cube to ask if I’d done my blog entry about the Critical Mass ride in San Francisco yet. He said that he’d read that there’d been some trouble that night between some of the participants and some drivers. He sends me a couple of links to the stories. Apparently a limo driver was involved in a rather heated exchange with one group that resulted in damage to the car and an assault. Separately a Redwood City family has their windows broken and are terrorized by another group until San Francisco police swoop in and rescue them. According to the reports, both incidents were the result of cars hitting, nearly hitting, or threatening to hit cyclists. I have no idea whether the Critical Mass participant’s version or the driver’s version of the events is most accurate. My sneaking suspicion is that the truth lies somewhere in between.
As I read the reader’s comments on both stories I was shocked by the polarization. Whenever I attend cycling related events like the Bicycle Leadership Conference, The Bike Summit, Sea Otter, or my own show I’m always filled with optimism about the ability of cycling to help. Help alleviate congestion, help people become healthier, help the environment. When I read the comments from those opposed to cyclists sharing the road I realized the gulf is still huge. Although I love cycling I’m also an auto enthusiast, as anyone in this office can attest. Despite that I can’t help but think that any motorist complaining about a 20 minute delay caused by a Critical Mass ride is missing a major point. They’re not going to be injured or killed because of a cyclist’s impatience or inattention. Just ask that rider clinging to his life at Mission Hospital.
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4 Responses to “Sharing The Road”
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Good post. I think it’s important to remember that almost all cyclists are also motorists, while most motorists are not cyclists. Most cyclists — even the “radical fringe” who participate in CM — think like motorists, while motorists for the most part haven’t walked in our moccasins, so to speak.
Whatever that means I have no idea — it’s nearly midnight, I just spent a whole day at Disneyland and I’m exhausted and I have another full day tomorrow. Happy biking and stay safe!
The comment that all cyclists are motorists but not all motorists are cyclists strikes a chord.
The few/several times I’ve helped Junior riders get on their wheels (so to speak) I always have to remind them of some of the basic rules of the road. Not the laws. The etiquette and unwritten rules. Because these 12 or 13 or 14 year olds don’t know what it’s like to drive - and seeing a somewhat squirrelly young cyclist in the middle of a narrow road is not a comforting thing for a driver.
And the juniors don’t know how tricky it can be to control a large vehicle with any kind of precision. Even the drivers don’t - just check out rear quarters of all the big SUV’s in a parking lot near you.
I guess education is the biggest thing - but we in the US have such lax driving requirements (and the accompanying driver attitudes) that it might be a while before anything will truly take place.
Make driving a serious thing and people will take it seriously. Perhaps all drivers should have to ride a bike on the shoulder of a road (perhaps put sand and glass there to make it realistic - and they have to pay to fix any flats), drive a big rig and try and stop or turn it quickly, and even drive a heavily loaded van. Getting scared in a safe environment teaches respect which will translate to better awareness in the chaotic real world.
Good post Aki.
I couldn’t agree more with your observation that we need to educate drivers to complete the loop with all of the other efforts that are advocates are tirelessly working on. Here in Southern California we have wide, clean and well marked bike lanes for the most part, yet nearly once a week I endure a close call commuting to work. I believe 9 times out of 10 a near miss can be contributed to lack of driver education.
You are also correct that younger cyclists are particularly bad at understanding how cars should interact with cyclists….yet another issue to compound the problem.
I personally have been very vocal about driver’s education including more details of sharing the road with cyclists. My understanding is that “Safe Routes to School” will address some of this. I will be anxious to hear whether or not this program has been successful in keeping the number of road incidents down in the pilot markets working Safe Routes to School.
Like you, I would love to be a part of a bike critical mass. Relating to Fritz’s comment:
I suppose I am currently part of the “radical fringe” who participates in the combustible engine critical mass daily, on the southeast expressway of Boston.