Comments on: Blogging Cyclist Calls for Truce in Car v Bike Culture Wars

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:58:28 +0000

Great article, and I love your art. As you noted Seattle has it's fare share of motorists/cyclists animosity. We're doing our part to try and moderate that at http://www.ridecivil.com. It'd be great to get riders up from LA, but i'm not expecting many -- regardless, our next ride is Sept 12. Visit the site for details on meeting up, expectations, etc.

By: Paul Dorn

Paul Dorn — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 03:00:16 +0000

Great post. Timid riding invites abuse. Take the lane, define your space. Much of the purported bike-car conflict seems to me to be just a lot of media puff. Conflict sells papers. For the most part, motorists are capable of adapting to increased numbers of cyclists and are generally not troublesome.

By: bikinginla

bikinginla — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:49:09 +0000

Thanks for mentioning Gary's series of articles. This is something every beginning cyclist -- and a lot of more experienced riders -- should read. And the more drivers we can get to read it, the better they'll understand why we do what we do, and hopefully, drive a little more safely around us. As for a mirror, I've found that experience gives you a 6th sense in traffic; I usually know when there's a car coming up behind me long before I look. And I wouldn't be typing this now if I hadn't been wearing my helmet during a freak accident last fall. Grownups are free to make their own choice, but I will never again get on two wheels without one.

By: Bike Girl

Bike Girl — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:26:58 +0000

Bravo Mr. Kavanagh.

Both drivers and cyclists need to be considerate in order to share the road.

The only problem is, when one cyclist is inconsiderate or reckless, all cyclists are labeled as such. Whereas, while many drivers speed, turn without signaling, etc, the same labels do not seem to apply to them.

By: Umberto Brayj

Umberto Brayj — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:14:07 +0000

I think a fun counter-point to the "wear a helmet" canard is an insistence that drivers do the same. Race car drivers wear helmets, gloves, and a flame retardent suit, therefore all car drivers and passengers ought to as well. It is "safer" that way, right?

By: Gary Kavanagh

Gary Kavanagh — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:43:04 +0000

Thanks for helping expand readership for this. It's only two posts right now, but I want to keep adding to it in the coming weeks.

For these posts I want to talk about safe cycling and encourage safety and understanding amongst motorists, and not get into the often heated debate about what equipment is necessary for cyclists. Not every cyclists is going to have a mirror, so I'm not going to assume they do or that they will rush out and buy one. I personally do not have a mirror and bike in heavy traffic, doing quite fine with over the shoulder glances and other senses.

I always wear a helmet, but I don't want to harp on that excessively because studies have shown mandatory helmet use always corresponds with drops in ridership. For bikes there is safety in numbers, and I don't want to sacrifice ridership for equipment requirements that should be personal choice.

By: Umberto Brayj

Umberto Brayj — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:23:39 +0000

I can understand a rear view mirror being helpful - but it isn't neccessary (unless you're on a recumbent).

I ride almost exclusively on city streets - and it is a convenience I have been able to saely do without.

What is next - a recommendation to "WEAR A HELMET. OR BETTER YET WHY RIDE A BIKE AT ALL IT IS DANGEROUS"?

By: Alek F

Alek F — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:33:52 +0000

What I suggest for cyclists -
use REAR-VIEW MIRRORS!
This helps to avoid major accidents, and even save lives.
I've used a rear-rive mirror for my entire 20 years of biking, mirror is a necessity for bikes as it is for cars, and other vehicles.
Don't be stubborn, folks: if you ride on city streets, you must get a rear=view mirror. You'll feel much-much safer.