Cycling etiquette

Elizabeth_C34

When we are coming up to a 4 way stop intersection, and watching all the cars up their blow through with rolling stops if even that much, it's hard to picture why the cyclist doing the exact same thing would be seen as worse.

The sad fact is that in a situation where a cyclist does it, drivers are not expecting it and often don't see it since cyclists are much smaller than cars, and when that happens, there's a very real possibility of an accident. Any accident involving a <50 lb bike and a person vs. a vehicle is going to end very badly for the cyclist. I deal with a lot of cyclists on the way to work every day, and I know to look for them, but not everyone does. In the end, the cyclist needs to be more careful than the driver simply because of physics and that whole "playing chicken with something bigger than you" problem.

I am an excellent driver, but there have been times that I've almost run over people on the road on bikes because they either pulled out in front of me without looking or did something stupid (failed to stop at a red light when I was turning, etc.). I have no interest in killing someone, and I just wish that both drivers and cyclists would be more careful.

Very true, and those that are riding like they own the road, usually don't look around and confirm things.

I always get eye contact all the time for like the intersection scenario, and I don't blow through, I'll do rolling stop just as much as everyone else is doing, and during my turn. I figure they are all used to this and want it, I'll play along.
I also make my intentions very obvious, if I'm at the beginning of a line of cars because I was there first, I'm still to the side, and as I cross the intersection, I go slow and to the side, usually obvious to that line of cars I'm letting them go first. I figure it does no good me in front riding waiting for them all to try to get around me. Get it over with in 15-20 seconds, then I can hammer it with no traffic waiting on me.

Sounds good. Hopefully you won't have any problems or accidents. Sounds like you are doing everything right.

Don't get me wrong though. I don't think it's all a "cyclists need to pay more attention and be more careful" issue. I see a lot of drivers doing stupid things too. It's just that when something happens between a cyclist and a car, the car usually comes out unscathed or only lightly damaged while the cyclist can end up dead fairly easily. The consequences are different. I don't think anyone wants to actually harm someone else on the road either. It's just that drivers don't always think to look for cyclists especially on roads where cycling is uncommon.

klmnumbers

As a commute cyclist I always get so furious when I see bikes on the sidewalk or going against traffic. So many cyclists want to be cars with pedestrian privileges.

This has been my experience as well. Bikes in my city are supposed to drive on the road as they are a vehicle, but they can go on sidewalks in areas with less heavy traffic, except they are to yield to pedestrians on the sidewalk. It's difficult to cycle in my city because there are ZERO bike lines. It's an old town, and the roads are simply not wide enough to accommodate it.

In my experience, bicyclists on the road, will bob and weave through cars are red lights to get to the front of the line, blow through reds, and cross through an intersection when pedestrians have walk signs. In that same vein though, I also see lots of cyclists who DO care, signal, observe traffic rules, and more power to them because cycling is really hard in my city. But when they don't, It's both terrifying and infuriating to be driving, put on your turn signal and start to turn right, and then realize that there is a bike directly next to your car, attempting to blow by you on the right. This is how people get hurt.

I can't tell you how many times I've also almost been hit walking to school.

heybales

Don't get me wrong though. I don't think it's all a "cyclists need to pay more attention and be more careful" issue. I see a lot of drivers doing stupid things too. It's just that when something happens between a cyclist and a car, the car usually comes out unscathed or only lightly damaged while the cyclist can end up dead fairly easily. The consequences are different. I don't think anyone wants to actually harm someone else on the road either. It's just that drivers don't always think to look for cyclists especially on roads where cycling is uncommon.

I think the current distracted driving makes it so much worse too, texting, updating social sites, ect. I watch people while I'm driving all the time swerving around, in full traffic. I'm sure there are more willing to attempt it when the road seems more clear. And my concern is, there I am on bike now. Add to that a slight swerve for some road hazard I'm avoiding (I usually see it coming up and don't "swerve") and very bad combo.

It'll also interesting to watch drivers coming up on cyclist. Or cones, or any thing different on the side of the road. I almost always see the car drift that direction first before they pull farther out.
The ole dad driving looking at the scenery syndrome and swerving all over when you were a kid.

Elizabeth_C34

Don't get me wrong though. I don't think it's all a "cyclists need to pay more attention and be more careful" issue. I see a lot of drivers doing stupid things too. It's just that when something happens between a cyclist and a car, the car usually comes out unscathed or only lightly damaged while the cyclist can end up dead fairly easily. The consequences are different. I don't think anyone wants to actually harm someone else on the road either. It's just that drivers don't always think to look for cyclists especially on roads where cycling is uncommon.

I think the current distracted driving makes it so much worse too, texting, updating social sites, ect. I watch people while I'm driving all the time swerving around, in full traffic. I'm sure there are more willing to attempt it when the road seems more clear. And my concern is, there I am on bike now. Add to that a slight swerve for some road hazard I'm avoiding (I usually see it coming up and don't "swerve") and very bad combo.

It'll also interesting to watch drivers coming up on cyclist. Or cones, or any thing different on the side of the road. I almost always see the car drift that direction first before they pull farther out.
The ole dad driving looking at the scenery syndrome and swerving all over when you were a kid.

Distracted driving is a problem for everyone, not just cyclists. It's scary how many people get killed by cell phone usage during driving every year. It's now exceeded the deaths from drunk drivers.

CoderGal

Next time, bring a rock.