Don't Apologize for Other Bicyclists

Let's stop apologizing for other bicyclists. We've all had the experience. We're having a conversation with an acquaintance who knows we ride a bicycle or with somebody who we've just met who discovers that we ride. Suddenly we become the recipient of a long-winded story about that person's most recent negative encounter with a bicyclist. The story is breathlessly presented to us in a tone and with an attitude that suggests that we share culpability for the cyclist's actions.

Many of us then allow ourselves then to be drawn into a discussion of how cyclists need to shape up, how there should be more done to gain cyclists' compliance with traffic laws, and how education of cyclists about safe cycling is essential. (This latter "solution" is often accompanied by the observation that the roads will be much safer when all the elementary school students who are receiving bicycle safety education get behind the wheel of their motor vehicles.) Each of these would be helpful, but let's remind ourselves that there is no viable path to achieving full compliance with all traffic laws by all cyclists, just as there is no viable path to achieving full compliance by all motorists. And, even if there were, occasionally somebody would take umbrage at the behavior, legal or not, of somebody else.

While we live in a world in which most people are considerate and thoughtful, there will always be a few reckless idiots among us. Some of them will be on bicycles and some of them will be behind the wheels of motor vehicles. Couple that with the fact that each of us (regardless of mode choice) periodically makes dumb mistakes and the unfortunate reality is that not every other road user who we encounter is going to do exactly as we wish they would all the time. No amount of bicycle safety education is going to change that. No level of police presence is going to change that--though it would be nice if the police would at least make a head fake at enforcing the safe passing distance laws.

Why don't bicyclists obey traffic laws like everybody else? They do--just like everybody else and they undoubtedly will continue to do so. In a typical year, 40,000 Oregonians are convicted of driving while suspended or revoked and 25,000 for driving while impaired (generally drunk). Studies have shown that 70 percent of motorists periodically exceed the speed limit and 85 percent roll stop signs. We all know from experience (frequently from behind a steering wheel) that a violation of a traffic law rarely results in a citation. As is the case with violations committed by motorists, bicyclists are and will rarely be cited for their transgressions.

In 2011, Oregon had 331 road fatalities. Fifteen bicyclists died, five as a result of motorist error. (Given law enforcements predisposition to absolving the driver, the number of cases in which driver error caused the crash may be higher.) It has happened, but as a rule, bicyclists don't kill other road users. Bicyclists are not creating the unsafe conditions that we have on our roads.

Don't apologize. Instead, offer a deal with the individual to whom you are speaking by agreeing not to expect them to apologize for the actions of every other motorist if they will agree not to expect you to apologize for the actions of every other bicyclist. Remind them that each driver and cyclist is an individual, and it's the individual, not the mode that decides behavior. share your most recent horror story about an encounter with a motorist with the same breathless enthusiasm to which you've been subjected. Make sure that the individual to whom you are speaking understands that you view it as their fault and that they need to find that person and get them to mend their ways. There's one significant difference. It is highly unlikely that the bicyclist who they encountered jeopardized their life. The motorist who you encountered could have killed you. Thanks to Jim Coon for suggesting a better approach.

Polk County Crashes

A recent letter to the editors of the Polk County Itemizer-Observer reads as follows:

"This is in regard to the recent string of fatal accidents involving bike riders on our roadways. Considering the amount of curvy roads, tourists, trucks and just people in a big hurry and lack of shoulders, these roads are not safe for bike riders -- bright clothing or not."

"Most bike riders feel they have the right of way. Well, that doesn't stop a car or truck that can't see them on a blind corner from hitting them.

"Use your head when riding on these roads or don't ride in an area where there is no bike lane at all.

"I can't tell you how many times I've come around a blind corner in my log truck and almost had a head-on collision with a car to avoid hitting a bike rider. Which would you choose? Bike or a whole family in a car? Please think about that."

Following is the response that I have sent to the Itemizer-Observer editors:

A recent letter to the editor warning bicyclists to avoid riding on narrow, curvy roads should raise red flags among other road users. The letter writer indicates that he frequently rounds corners in his log truck and almost collides head on with other motor vehicles while swerving to miss bicycles.

Under Oregon law, bicycles are vehicles and have as much right to travel on our roads as any other vehicles. Drivers are legally required to leave a safe distance between their vehicle and any other vehicle that they are overtaking and passing, including a bicycle. Oregon further defines that safe passing distance for a motor vehicle traveling faster than 35 mph and overtaking a bicycle as “a distance that is sufficient to prevent contact with the person operating the bicycle if the person were to fall into the drivers lane of traffic.” If the immediate circumstances prevent an overtaking motorist from passing with a safe distance, then the motorist is legally obligated to slow down and follow the overtaken vehicle until it is save to pass.

Under the basic rule, regardless of the posted speed limit, the maximum speed at which a vehicle may be driven is limited to a speed that is reasonable and prudent given a variety of factors including other traffic, road surface and width, weather, and visibility. That essentially means that a motor vehicle is out of control if the driver cannot stop it within the distance the driver can see.

The driver who was responsible for one of the recent cyclist deaths has been cited for unsafe passing of a bicyclist and violation of the basic rule. The other two Polk County crashes in which cyclists died are still under investigation.

By his characterization of his own driving behavior, the letter writer admits that he regularly drives his log truck in a manner that is out of control and dangerous not only to bicyclists, but to every other person who must share the road with him. Hopefully, his admissions regarding his driving behavior will prompt a visit or monitoring by the sheriff’s office.

Thankfully, the vast majority of road users are cautious and conscientious when operating their vehicles. However, it is important for all of us to keep in mind the fact that we can never know what will be around the corner when we are using our public roads. It could be a stalled vehicle, farm equipment, livestock, somebody’s pet, a child, or a bicyclist. The few seconds we potentially save by driving too fast and failing to maintain control of our vehicles are not worth the tragic consequences that can, and unfortunately have, come as a result.