California's 3-foot passing bill finally went into action this week, which legislates higher fines for drivers passing bicyclists too closely and mandates that if passing is unsafe, drivers must slow down and wait for a clear berth to overtake the cyclist(s).
We have all had more than our fair share (which should be zero, of course) of vehicles zooming by too closely and at least this law gives us some legal recourse against unsafe drivers. I truly believe that the majority of drivers are not actually trying to be jerks as they whiz past, they just honestly have no clue about how it feels to be inches away from a speeding vehicle or they don't realize how they are supposed to behave around bikers. I often shake my head at oncoming traffic when I see a driver trying to gauge whether they can make a left turn before I reach the intersection or not. I think most drivers appreciate some sort of guidance because they have no idea how quickly we're moving, how much of the lane we actually need, or any of the other thousands of factors we have to take into account that they don't (door-zones, potholes, glass, train tracks, oil slicks, air wake from passing trucks, etc.).
I am especially thankful that this bill is increasing awareness of proper passing technique and opening the much-needed dialogue between drivers and cyclists about sharing the road. However, one glaring aspect of this dialogue is being left out. Plenty of articles have come out to warn drivers of the new legislation and they all seem to feel the need to stress how bicyclist can keep themselves safe on the road. I see this as being akin to people telling women how they can avoid being raped. Let's take a look at the real dangers on the road--the ones with four wheels instead of two. I'd like to take the time to address drivers alone and let them know how they can keep themselves and (maybe more importantly) others safe on the road.
1. Leave your entitlement at home. You do not own the road because you get in a car. Roads were not made for cars alone and specific laws address bicyclists legal right to use the entire lane as needed (as they need to, not when you want them to or not). You do not pay for the roads with gas tax--bicyclists actually subsidize vehicle use because they don't cause as much damage to the road. Honking and getting angry at cyclists for riding in the middle of the lane is not helpful and is very dangerous. Cyclists position themselves there because of road hazards or to discourage unsafe passing when the lane is too narrow to share. They have every legal right to be there. Chill.
2. Become well acquainted with your brake (the pedal on the left). A speed limit is just that--the limit, not a mere suggestion. There are many reasons someone shouldn't even drive at top speed: mechanical issues, wide loads, poor visibility/weather, unsafe infrastructure, potential pedestrian crossing, school zones, stupid planners who thought it would be appropriate to give a residential road a 40mph speed limit. Slowing down to pass a cyclist does not, in fact, hold you up more than about 30 seconds. There is no possible excuse to murder someone with your car because you couldn't wait to pass. Besides, we all catch up at the next light anyway. Slow down.
3. Treat driving as a privilege, not a right. People earn the right to drive by proving themselves capable of manipulating a deadly weapon with full attention and adherence to the rules. If you cannot do that for whatever reason (attention span, age, health issues, maturity level, addiction to Facebook and taking selfies) you have no right to get behind the wheel. Taxis, Lyft/Uber, public transportation, choosing to live in a high-density city, and bicycling are all safer options for unsafe drivers.
4. Put away your distractions. Cell phones, including hands-free sets, quadruples your chance to causing a collision and texting raises the risk to 23 times! Drunk, drugged up, and drowsy driving are just as bad. Anything that takes your attention away from the road is an issue--your children screaming in the backseat, Fluffy hopping around on your lap, that pickle that just fell out of your sandwich. Address these issues while you are not hurtling along a narrow patch of asphalt. Driving is precarious business and needs all of your focus. Multitasking doesn't work in a vehicle. If you do have to pull over, make sure to stay out of the bike lane which is very dangerous for bikers and just forces them back into the road.
5. Ride a bicycle on the road sometime. Get a sense for what it feels like to be on the other side of the car. Feel the breeze on your face and the strength in your legs. Enjoy the freedom and endorphins of cycling. See what it is like to be a vulnerable user of the roads and change your driving behavior based on your newfound knowledge.
6. Advocate for better biking infrastructure. This may seem counterintuitive but the more bicyclists who are on the road mean fewer drivers and safer streets for everyone. Good infrastructure like cycle tracks and protected bike lanes encourage riders of every ability. Bikers free up parking spaces, reduce traffic congestion, spend more money at local shops, and make public spaces safer for pedestrians. This is all win-win for everyone, even if you're not the one on the bike. If you don't like the cyclist riding in "your" lane, chances are that the cyclist doesn't want to be there either. Bad infrastructure confuses drivers and cyclists alike--confusion leads to collisions. Lack of infrastructure causes riders to use dangerous behavior like sidewalk riding or riding in the wrong direction because they are unsure of where to be to stay safe. Give mom (and all riders) a safe bike lane!
7. Yes, bicyclists break the rules. So do drivers. People are human and people do stupid things whether they're on a bicycle or in a car. The difference is that people in cars kill when they break the rules and people on bicycles don't (except in a few very rare cases). Drivers do "California Stops," speed, fail to yield to pedestrians, use their cell phones, neglect to use turn signals, and on and on. So next time you decide to bemoan that bicyclist who failed to fully stop at the stop sign, realize that it is your own predisposed prejudice that causes to notice them but not the hundreds of vehicles that do the same thing every day (by the way, did you fully stop at that last one yourself?).
My hope is that this short PSA will help save lives and remind drivers that the real responsibility for keeping bicyclists safe on the road is their own.
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