Clearly shown here that it’s not the kids putting themselves into danger as it’s the parents putting their kids into the danger. Cycling education is never a bad idea, but I think it’s time to take a step back and re-educate the parents on driving and observing the cyclists! They clearly have PTA meetings about the safety of cycling, so why can’t they devote a PTA meeting towards educating the drivers? Why is it that they all scream that the kids are in danger, but really they’re the danger towards the kids?
The town where I live just had a big day for bike safety. They held it at a school and everyone was welcome and there were classes on safety and helmet give a way’s to kids who didn’t have them or theirs were old and broken. There was also a bike giveaway and it was all free.
@urban bomber…whadda expect…drivers’ education in the US is an oxymoron. In NC it is basically 40 hours, total. Then you are turned loose on the highways never to receive any additional formal training.
Drivers’ Education needs to start in kindergarten as basic traffic safety, with an emphasis on cycling and pedestrian safety and increase as they get older. Periodic recertification of drivers wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
Just FYI driving is an privliage!If an person causes an An mortist causing another accident to an pedestrain or cyclist or even another car they are subject to losing their licenses!
I’d love to see him talking to Dave’s mom mum and Sue’s dad. I met a guy who left-hooked me (in the UK) in the gym a few minutes later. He apologised profusely and said that he didn’t realise it was me on the bike. I was fuming, so I asked if he only attempts to maim people he doesn’t know… The truth is that I immediately get recognised as human once I’m off the bike or once the drivers are out of their cars.
If you don’t believe me, check out [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCJsEjxcuq4].
Good point about using the PTA to educate the parents. I never thought of that, but I’ve been to PTA meetings, so maybe…
Re: sidewalk, I definitely agree for adults, but I’m not sure how old these kids are. There is some age at which kids really are too young to understand the rules of the road, but that’s probably also too young to ride to school without supervision. It’s subject to individual variation, of course, but there are also definite developmental stages. I guess I agree that these kids probably should be in the road, but sadly, no one seems to have taught them that. I suspect that’s part of Rick’s point too.
FWIW, my boys are 8 and 10, and are gradually learning the rules of the road. We’re also gradually letting them bike to close-by destinations alone, but not unrestricted yet, especially where bigger roads are involved.
Re: keying doors: Artists portray life as it is, not necessarily using their art to push an agenda, however noble that agenda might be. (If I may presume to speak for them; I am not one myself.)
So yesterday afternoon on my way home, I was approaching a light that had just turned red. On this section of my commute I generally move to the right so much that I am either on the road line or a little to the right of it on the shoulder. Then a driver honked at me, I raised my hands as if to say, “what?” and then she sped up and swerved around me so that she could brake hard and stop at the red light.
I came up to her window and asked her if there was something wrong. She replied with her hand on her chest and in a spanish accent, “Uh, you scare me, so I honk to let you know that I am here. You know?”
I replied that I knew she was “there” because all of the cars are “there”. She replied, “Oh yes, you know the other day. I saw another one of you guys, and I…as I passed him…I brushed him, just a liiiiitttle bit.”
I didn’t know what to say, so I replied, well, you should slow down and pass when you have room to move over to the left.
I couldn’t believe it.
The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of a one block away drop off zone. It dilutes the danger over a larger area, forces kids to walk a little and would encourage cycling. I’m sure your PTA members would be startled to learn the actual rules of the road. Most do not even know that pedestrians have the right of way in a cross walk! This one statement is enough to start a flame war in my local paper.
When my daughter was hit while riding to school, the driver WAS a parent of another student. You’d think that it would occur to them to look out for other people’s kids, but maybe not.
I’m currently involved in a “discussion” about traffic laws via the editorial page of a local paper. One guy actually told me that it’s not about who is “right” when it comes to obeying the law…apparently he feels he can break the law when it is inconvenient to follow it. As in, when he is “trapped” behind a cyclist on a blind curve, he thinks it is just common sense to knock them off the road while he passes so that he doesn’t have to endanger his life while crossing the center line. Waiting until it is safe to pass is not an option?
Oh so true, even when told the law some drivers dismiss it as it just doesn’t pertain to them. There are so many of these “Special” drivers who think that all laws, manners, and common sense don’t apply to them.
Ah, Chunkbait’ll talk him out of it. That’s what High School friends are for. Of course, I think Chunkbait’s also dismayed at driving standards in the area (didn’t someone back into his bike last week) so he MIGHT escalate from keys to the Dremel Tooling. That’s also what High School firiends are for….
Normally I’m not quick to get angry when I’m disrespected by motorists. (It happens so often I’d have blood pressure issues) But I have to say that I’ll shed no tears for parents’ cars if they’re acting this way around kids.
Too many kids are driven from place to place for their entire childhood, then at sixteen are suddenly placed in control of hundreds of horsepower and thousands of pounds. At least those that had to walk or bike to school learned the most basic aspects of navigation, safety and respect of others.
Here in Indiana, you go to the BMV and if you can find your way to the counter, that takes care of the vision test. Then they hand you a Specially-Marked box of Cracker Jacks, and Lo! Your shiny new Indiana Driver’s License.
In Alvord’s book, Divorce Your Car, she describes a cycling school bus where parents take it in turn to ride with the kids through town picking up kids on their bikes (everyone riding their own bike or a tag-along), and escorting them to school. It revereses the “My kid can’t ride to school because the cars of parents driving kids to school will endanger him/her.” The incentive is that most parents are rushed when they drive their kids to school (part of why they drive so badly), and so if they only take the kids once a week on the bike bus, the rest of the time their morning has one less errand in it…
There was an incident here in Portland a few months ago where a passenger shouted at a cyclist to wear a helmet. The cyclist looped back after the car was parked, and keyed the car in view of the driver and passenger. After that, it came down to who could get ahold of the U-Lock. The worst part was that the guy who yelled worked at one of our city’s largest bike stores.
Luckily, they both soon realized that they each took things a little out of hand and they apologized to each other.
FredOak said: “Oh so true, even when told the law some drivers dismiss it as it just doesn’t pertain to them. There are so many of these “Special” drivers who think that all laws, manners, and common sense don’t apply to them.”
And then they wonder where cyclists get that idea!
@Chris San Diego
> WHERE IS THIS KID’S HELMET?
Obviously a cager. Helmets are certainly good ideas; but matter little if a car runs over you. The biggest danger to cyclists is the fact that (in America anway) there are simply too many cars, driven too many miles, by too many lazy, inconsiderate (selfish) people.
@ Todd
I realize if a car runs you over,a helmet may not do a whole lot…
BUT, if a car brushes that kid and sends him into the curb, a helmet can do a LOT to prevent traumatic brain injury. BTW- I’m a medic/EMT in the military and have seen a few of these… (and yes, I do have a car but commute on my bike as well in San Diego)
> and yes, I do have a car but
exactly. American car drivers want to ensure that everyone else cover for their (arrogant) behavior. A car driver who “brushes” anyone on a bike should be in jail for a long, long time. Why should everyone else duck and cover because some choose to act in such a dangerous fashion? Personal responsibility demands that “brushing” someone should not only not happen, but not be allowed to ever happen.
I totally agree…but when it happens (and you know it will), I’d rather have my child protected so that if they do hit their head on the curb, they may only suffer a concussion and not be paralyzed! I can’t believe anyone would ride without a helmet, but we have a responsibilty to our children to provide them with the skills and protection that is available to them.
This has been civil so far. Le’ts keep it that way. I don’t like deleting comments, and won’t if they criticize the comic… but will if commenters are criticized for what they think/feel/believe/etc.
Todd: “A car driver who ‘brushes’ anyone on a bike should be in jail for a long, long time.” Not smart. It should be handled like any other auto accident. We don’t consistently put people in jail for hitting pedestrians or other cars (some cases warrant this), so cyclists don’t get special treatment. It’s a matter of proper punishment for lack of skills.
I have also seen pedestrians and cyclists display moronic behavior. I was working for a landscaper one summer, pulling a trailer with a pickup. We clearly had the right of way on a right turn (USA) and the cyclist ran right into the side of the trailer! This was in mid-day, perfectly sunny. Reason: He was in too much of a hurry! So, it goes both ways.
Re Helmets: When I was about 12, I lost contorl of my 10 speed and wiped out going down a hill at about 35 mph. I remember smacking the jewels, falling, hitting my head in the street, seeing some resident look at me like “that kid just wiped out, but he’s not mine so I’ll leave him there,” and my father yelling at me for busting open my elbow again. I have no idea how I got home, but I obviously biked the mile to get there. I had a concussion, and could have been seriously hurt. Every adult did the worng thing: the neighbor didn’t help, my dad let me sleep, etc. Fortunately, I was blessed enough to live through it. Kids should wear helmets. when they are adults, they have the priveledge to decide. I hate overreaching laws/government. However, when it comes to protecting a child, I lean toward the “at least they’ll have a better shot at being around to debate it when they’re our age” camp.
The only helmet I own wouldn’t do me any good in an accident with a vehicle (Giro Advantage 2), so I leave my head to the fate of the beer gods with my Dead Guy hat most of the time while in traffic haha. I’ve seen more damage done with a helmet than without. I don’t know if people think that they’re completely safe with them putting them into bad situations from lack of awareness? My personal choice is to without, but I can respect the rider with one, and they should do the same for me. It’s all about personal choice.
@Blue: In a lot of states it’s actually illegal to honk at a cyclist unless it’s an emergency due to the fact that we can be startled sending us down… Did you explain this to the driver?
bringing kids into the quality of life debate is high stakes but essential. You are doing it right. It is more provocative to weigh our civility through identity of the meek. The ‘evolve’ question is well taken, watchit. You got me thinking. I think contrasting an unarmored child to an armored adult is the overall point. Our automobiles are equipment for conquest but chameleon on their exterior when grilles can be turned to smiles with more convincing artistry than Heath Ledger’s lipstick in his role as The Joker in another, more obscure, comic strip.
I can really relate to this strip. So many times I have been almost hit by drivers that are driving too fast and not paying attention. Still, I wouldn’t trade my bike for anything.
I have been tempted to bang on a few cars with my U-Lock, but have held myself in check so far. For each moron who tries to run me over there are also considerate drivers who smile and wave. Not all drivers are jerks and it keeps my faith in humanity.
@Urban Bomber
No, I have found zero resonance with explaining the law to people. I just let her know that she didn’t need to honk to let me know that cars were on the road. She agreed, at the time, so who knows.
@Urban Bomber
No, I have found zero resonance with explaining the law to people. I just let her know that she didn’t need to honk to let me know that cars were on the road. She agreed and that was the end of it.
“Not smart. It should be handled like any other auto accident. We don’t consistently put people in jail for hitting pedestrians or other cars (some cases warrant this), so cyclists don’t get special treatment. It’s a matter of proper punishment for lack of skills.”
In my best effort to be civil, I still must reply with a WTF? I have to completely agree with Todd that car/bicyclists collisions are not
In the MidWest, drivers are surprised to see anyone out walking at all. There are places where I’ve never seen anyone walking. Cycling for commuters is a new idea to them, so they wonder why we aren’t on the expensive trails they made for us. The idea that cars, driving on streets made just for them, would ever have to yield to anything, but a bigger vehicle, is literally beyond the scope of their imagination. You should hear them honk and such when someone dares to enter a cross walk at an intersection they wish to clear. We need to do some serious reeducating of adult drivers around here. A PTA meeting might be a great place to start too!
I hear what you’re saying. Let me ask this: Are you advocating for stricter laws because 1) you were wronged; 2) you didn’t escalated the non-ticket issue with the local authorities; or 3) you really believe we should lock up drivers for life should they get too close to a cyclist?
If 3, then let me say “Ok. I disagree with you, but Ok.” If 1 or 2, then I think we’ve got to devise away to bring more eductaion to people. That darn PTA meeting might be the start. But things is the good ‘ole USA take time. carp – how long have they been talking about recycling, and we’re just starting to get it?
Keep in mind that municipalities didn’t pave roads so cyclists could get from point A to B. If they did, we’d be a much healthier country,a nd our roads would be much smaller with less upkeep costs. Rather, they were made for (yikes – I;m about to say it…) Motorists! Can other – should others use it YES!! BUt let’s understand that the egg came before the chicken. Or did it???
I hear what you’re saying. Let me ask this: Are you advocating for stricter laws because 1) you were wronged; 2) you didn’t escalated your experience when a ticket wasn’t issued with the local authorities; or 3) you really believe we should lock up drivers for life should they get too close to a cyclist?
If 3, then let me say “Ok. I disagree with you, but Ok.” If 1 or 2, then I think it’s important to engage in a movement to bring more eductaion to people. That darn PTA meeting might be the start. Things in the good ‘ole USA take time and dedication to change. Crap – look how long it took us to start recycling in earnest – and we still have a way to go.
Keep in mind that municipalities didn’t pave roads so cyclists could get from point A to B. If they did, we’d be a much healthier country, and our roads would be much smaller with less upkeep costs. Rather, they were made for (yikes – I’m about to say it…) Motorists! Can others – should others use it? YES!! But let’s understand that the egg came before the chicken. Or did it???
Jesbee, the first sealed roads were sealed because bikes don’t have the same resistance to the bumps from a cobbled road that a horse and carriage does.
Streets, before the advent of bitumen, were places for horses and people not vehicles that were capable of 60 miles/hour that only had to stop for you to put more petrol in them.
First came people, then roads, then bicycles, then sealed roads, then cars.
If you were to actually look at the history of hard surfaced roads in the USA you would find that the main driving force for getting them paved was the bicycling community. To say that roads were made for cars as the “egg” function is a bit of a stretch (roads existed long before cars did).
An improperly controlled automobile is just as dangerous (or even more so) than an improperly controlled firearm, the regulations for misuse should also be equal. Shooting someone (or even close to someone) is looked at rather poorly by the law (and most people), shouldn’t letting 3,000 lbs of metal move around irresponsibly be looked at the same way?
I am not advocating because I was specifically wronged (and rest assured that I only relayed one of many such stories in my personal history), but because cyclists are consistently wronged over and over, and it’s going to take more than good intentions for things to change. I think it’s pretty well accepted that when people drive cars they put on the vision filter that filters out all objects smaller than a car, which of course includes bicycles. I don’t like that fact that my wife, my brother and his family, my friends and co-workers are out there cycling with absolutely no care by drivers or protection under the law (as it is typically enforced). I suggest you read the last several articles by Bob Mionske at velonews.com (http://velonews.com/bob-mionske). He has done a series of articles on how cyclists have been treated at the hands of auto drivers and the law. It is not a fair or equitable situation.
I agree that there is no equity under the law when comparing motorists and cyclists. I have spent a long time chewing on this and feeling…well, discriminated.
However, I think there will never be equity for cyclist as long as only 1% of America’s trips are by bike. No one can relate to us, just like Mark Hendricks said.
i’ll proffer a counter position to mark, with all due respect. living and riding in the midwest provides some of the finest that america has to offer: smaller towns, less-densely populated areas, fresher air, beautiful and varied countryside, a higher proportion of very friendly people and motorists [jerks live everywhere, take note, as you travel the country], and a much more child-friendly environment to raise a family.
and it puts you just that much closer to ragbrai, the BEST thing anyone can do on a bike, hands down. the last full week of july. do NOT miss it.
Clearly shown here that it’s not the kids putting themselves into danger as it’s the parents putting their kids into the danger. Cycling education is never a bad idea, but I think it’s time to take a step back and re-educate the parents on driving and observing the cyclists! They clearly have PTA meetings about the safety of cycling, so why can’t they devote a PTA meeting towards educating the drivers? Why is it that they all scream that the kids are in danger, but really they’re the danger towards the kids?
It looks to me like he needs to take the lane for a safer travel position. Maybe he will find a copy of Effective Cycling in the library.
@snyder
yehuda’ll give him one copy for sure
He was on the sidewalk even! jeesh.
I’m down for keying doors if they put you in fear for your life. ha.
Yehuda for President!
What does ‘keying doors’ mean?
Stooping to vandalism, not cool. Come on Rick, don’t have these kids doing stuff like that. Have them take the high road.
Custom racing stripes, provided by the pointy edge of keys or other metallic objects.
The town where I live just had a big day for bike safety. They held it at a school and everyone was welcome and there were classes on safety and helmet give a way’s to kids who didn’t have them or theirs were old and broken. There was also a bike giveaway and it was all free.
@urban bomber…whadda expect…drivers’ education in the US is an oxymoron. In NC it is basically 40 hours, total. Then you are turned loose on the highways never to receive any additional formal training.
Drivers’ Education needs to start in kindergarten as basic traffic safety, with an emphasis on cycling and pedestrian safety and increase as they get older. Periodic recertification of drivers wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
Aaron
Just FYI driving is an privliage!If an person causes an An mortist causing another accident to an pedestrain or cyclist or even another car they are subject to losing their licenses!
I’d love to see him talking to Dave’s mom mum and Sue’s dad. I met a guy who left-hooked me (in the UK) in the gym a few minutes later. He apologised profusely and said that he didn’t realise it was me on the bike. I was fuming, so I asked if he only attempts to maim people he doesn’t know… The truth is that I immediately get recognised as human once I’m off the bike or once the drivers are out of their cars.
If you don’t believe me, check out [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCJsEjxcuq4].
Good point about using the PTA to educate the parents. I never thought of that, but I’ve been to PTA meetings, so maybe…
Re: sidewalk, I definitely agree for adults, but I’m not sure how old these kids are. There is some age at which kids really are too young to understand the rules of the road, but that’s probably also too young to ride to school without supervision. It’s subject to individual variation, of course, but there are also definite developmental stages. I guess I agree that these kids probably should be in the road, but sadly, no one seems to have taught them that. I suspect that’s part of Rick’s point too.
FWIW, my boys are 8 and 10, and are gradually learning the rules of the road. We’re also gradually letting them bike to close-by destinations alone, but not unrestricted yet, especially where bigger roads are involved.
Re: keying doors: Artists portray life as it is, not necessarily using their art to push an agenda, however noble that agenda might be. (If I may presume to speak for them; I am not one myself.)
Its all so true!
So yesterday afternoon on my way home, I was approaching a light that had just turned red. On this section of my commute I generally move to the right so much that I am either on the road line or a little to the right of it on the shoulder. Then a driver honked at me, I raised my hands as if to say, “what?” and then she sped up and swerved around me so that she could brake hard and stop at the red light.
I came up to her window and asked her if there was something wrong. She replied with her hand on her chest and in a spanish accent, “Uh, you scare me, so I honk to let you know that I am here. You know?”
I replied that I knew she was “there” because all of the cars are “there”. She replied, “Oh yes, you know the other day. I saw another one of you guys, and I…as I passed him…I brushed him, just a liiiiitttle bit.”
I didn’t know what to say, so I replied, well, you should slow down and pass when you have room to move over to the left.
I couldn’t believe it.
The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of a one block away drop off zone. It dilutes the danger over a larger area, forces kids to walk a little and would encourage cycling. I’m sure your PTA members would be startled to learn the actual rules of the road. Most do not even know that pedestrians have the right of way in a cross walk! This one statement is enough to start a flame war in my local paper.
When my daughter was hit while riding to school, the driver WAS a parent of another student. You’d think that it would occur to them to look out for other people’s kids, but maybe not.
I’m currently involved in a “discussion” about traffic laws via the editorial page of a local paper. One guy actually told me that it’s not about who is “right” when it comes to obeying the law…apparently he feels he can break the law when it is inconvenient to follow it. As in, when he is “trapped” behind a cyclist on a blind curve, he thinks it is just common sense to knock them off the road while he passes so that he doesn’t have to endanger his life while crossing the center line. Waiting until it is safe to pass is not an option?
Oh so true, even when told the law some drivers dismiss it as it just doesn’t pertain to them. There are so many of these “Special” drivers who think that all laws, manners, and common sense don’t apply to them.
Ah, Chunkbait’ll talk him out of it. That’s what High School friends are for. Of course, I think Chunkbait’s also dismayed at driving standards in the area (didn’t someone back into his bike last week) so he MIGHT escalate from keys to the Dremel Tooling. That’s also what High School firiends are for….
“keying doors”
Some example Yehuda sets?
http://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=20080712
key em all….
Normally I’m not quick to get angry when I’m disrespected by motorists. (It happens so often I’d have blood pressure issues) But I have to say that I’ll shed no tears for parents’ cars if they’re acting this way around kids.
Too many kids are driven from place to place for their entire childhood, then at sixteen are suddenly placed in control of hundreds of horsepower and thousands of pounds. At least those that had to walk or bike to school learned the most basic aspects of navigation, safety and respect of others.
Here in Indiana, you go to the BMV and if you can find your way to the counter, that takes care of the vision test. Then they hand you a Specially-Marked box of Cracker Jacks, and Lo! Your shiny new Indiana Driver’s License.
In Alvord’s book, Divorce Your Car, she describes a cycling school bus where parents take it in turn to ride with the kids through town picking up kids on their bikes (everyone riding their own bike or a tag-along), and escorting them to school. It revereses the “My kid can’t ride to school because the cars of parents driving kids to school will endanger him/her.” The incentive is that most parents are rushed when they drive their kids to school (part of why they drive so badly), and so if they only take the kids once a week on the bike bus, the rest of the time their morning has one less errand in it…
Is the kid on the sidewalk? or in the street?
Nice… and I like the referral back to the cigarette strip, aditthegreat!
I don’t know how I feel about vandalism though.
There was an incident here in Portland a few months ago where a passenger shouted at a cyclist to wear a helmet. The cyclist looped back after the car was parked, and keyed the car in view of the driver and passenger. After that, it came down to who could get ahold of the U-Lock. The worst part was that the guy who yelled worked at one of our city’s largest bike stores.
Luckily, they both soon realized that they each took things a little out of hand and they apologized to each other.
when those motorist made me angry, I just slap my helmet…
Keying door? Nah!
Just met some kid cycling on the busy road this day, full of smile, they greeted me.
@Clayton…maybe. But even without a license they well continue to drive.
Aaron
i would HELP him key those car doors
FredOak said: “Oh so true, even when told the law some drivers dismiss it as it just doesn’t pertain to them. There are so many of these “Special” drivers who think that all laws, manners, and common sense don’t apply to them.”
And then they wonder where cyclists get that idea!
I’m sorry, but I have to say…WHERE IS THIS KID’S HELMET?????? I thought every state had a helmet law for those under 18?
@Chris San Diego
> WHERE IS THIS KID’S HELMET?
Obviously a cager. Helmets are certainly good ideas; but matter little if a car runs over you. The biggest danger to cyclists is the fact that (in America anway) there are simply too many cars, driven too many miles, by too many lazy, inconsiderate (selfish) people.
@ Todd
I realize if a car runs you over,a helmet may not do a whole lot…
BUT, if a car brushes that kid and sends him into the curb, a helmet can do a LOT to prevent traumatic brain injury. BTW- I’m a medic/EMT in the military and have seen a few of these… (and yes, I do have a car but commute on my bike as well in San Diego)
> and yes, I do have a car but
exactly. American car drivers want to ensure that everyone else cover for their (arrogant) behavior. A car driver who “brushes” anyone on a bike should be in jail for a long, long time. Why should everyone else duck and cover because some choose to act in such a dangerous fashion? Personal responsibility demands that “brushing” someone should not only not happen, but not be allowed to ever happen.
I totally agree…but when it happens (and you know it will), I’d rather have my child protected so that if they do hit their head on the curb, they may only suffer a concussion and not be paralyzed! I can’t believe anyone would ride without a helmet, but we have a responsibilty to our children to provide them with the skills and protection that is available to them.
@BeeDee
‘Keying Doors’ means pulling your keys out of your pocket and using the sharp edges on them to scratch car doors as you walk through the parking lot.
This has been civil so far. Le’ts keep it that way. I don’t like deleting comments, and won’t if they criticize the comic… but will if commenters are criticized for what they think/feel/believe/etc.
thanks Rick, sorry I got a little out of line…
on “honkin” – I think I’ll get me an aerosol horn, sounds like a truck (single pitch) … that might give them something to think about …
I couldn’t agree more with this one.
Todd: “A car driver who ‘brushes’ anyone on a bike should be in jail for a long, long time.” Not smart. It should be handled like any other auto accident. We don’t consistently put people in jail for hitting pedestrians or other cars (some cases warrant this), so cyclists don’t get special treatment. It’s a matter of proper punishment for lack of skills.
I have also seen pedestrians and cyclists display moronic behavior. I was working for a landscaper one summer, pulling a trailer with a pickup. We clearly had the right of way on a right turn (USA) and the cyclist ran right into the side of the trailer! This was in mid-day, perfectly sunny. Reason: He was in too much of a hurry! So, it goes both ways.
Re Helmets: When I was about 12, I lost contorl of my 10 speed and wiped out going down a hill at about 35 mph. I remember smacking the jewels, falling, hitting my head in the street, seeing some resident look at me like “that kid just wiped out, but he’s not mine so I’ll leave him there,” and my father yelling at me for busting open my elbow again. I have no idea how I got home, but I obviously biked the mile to get there. I had a concussion, and could have been seriously hurt. Every adult did the worng thing: the neighbor didn’t help, my dad let me sleep, etc. Fortunately, I was blessed enough to live through it. Kids should wear helmets. when they are adults, they have the priveledge to decide. I hate overreaching laws/government. However, when it comes to protecting a child, I lean toward the “at least they’ll have a better shot at being around to debate it when they’re our age” camp.
Word to your mutha!
The only helmet I own wouldn’t do me any good in an accident with a vehicle (Giro Advantage 2), so I leave my head to the fate of the beer gods with my Dead Guy hat most of the time while in traffic haha. I’ve seen more damage done with a helmet than without. I don’t know if people think that they’re completely safe with them putting them into bad situations from lack of awareness? My personal choice is to without, but I can respect the rider with one, and they should do the same for me. It’s all about personal choice.
@Blue: In a lot of states it’s actually illegal to honk at a cyclist unless it’s an emergency due to the fact that we can be startled sending us down… Did you explain this to the driver?
bringing kids into the quality of life debate is high stakes but essential. You are doing it right. It is more provocative to weigh our civility through identity of the meek. The ‘evolve’ question is well taken, watchit. You got me thinking. I think contrasting an unarmored child to an armored adult is the overall point. Our automobiles are equipment for conquest but chameleon on their exterior when grilles can be turned to smiles with more convincing artistry than Heath Ledger’s lipstick in his role as The Joker in another, more obscure, comic strip.
I can really relate to this strip. So many times I have been almost hit by drivers that are driving too fast and not paying attention. Still, I wouldn’t trade my bike for anything.
I have been tempted to bang on a few cars with my U-Lock, but have held myself in check so far. For each moron who tries to run me over there are also considerate drivers who smile and wave. Not all drivers are jerks and it keeps my faith in humanity.
@Urban Bomber
No, I have found zero resonance with explaining the law to people. I just let her know that she didn’t need to honk to let me know that cars were on the road. She agreed, at the time, so who knows.
@Urban Bomber
No, I have found zero resonance with explaining the law to people. I just let her know that she didn’t need to honk to let me know that cars were on the road. She agreed and that was the end of it.
@Jesbee
“Not smart. It should be handled like any other auto accident. We don’t consistently put people in jail for hitting pedestrians or other cars (some cases warrant this), so cyclists don’t get special treatment. It’s a matter of proper punishment for lack of skills.”
In my best effort to be civil, I still must reply with a WTF? I have to completely agree with Todd that car/bicyclists collisions are not
In the MidWest, drivers are surprised to see anyone out walking at all. There are places where I’ve never seen anyone walking. Cycling for commuters is a new idea to them, so they wonder why we aren’t on the expensive trails they made for us. The idea that cars, driving on streets made just for them, would ever have to yield to anything, but a bigger vehicle, is literally beyond the scope of their imagination. You should hear them honk and such when someone dares to enter a cross walk at an intersection they wish to clear. We need to do some serious reeducating of adult drivers around here. A PTA meeting might be a great place to start too!
@ Mark Hendricks
You have me afraid of my soon coming move to the Midwest…
@phdbike
I hear what you’re saying. Let me ask this: Are you advocating for stricter laws because 1) you were wronged; 2) you didn’t escalated the non-ticket issue with the local authorities; or 3) you really believe we should lock up drivers for life should they get too close to a cyclist?
If 3, then let me say “Ok. I disagree with you, but Ok.” If 1 or 2, then I think we’ve got to devise away to bring more eductaion to people. That darn PTA meeting might be the start. But things is the good ‘ole USA take time. carp – how long have they been talking about recycling, and we’re just starting to get it?
Keep in mind that municipalities didn’t pave roads so cyclists could get from point A to B. If they did, we’d be a much healthier country,a nd our roads would be much smaller with less upkeep costs. Rather, they were made for (yikes – I;m about to say it…) Motorists! Can other – should others use it YES!! BUt let’s understand that the egg came before the chicken. Or did it???
@phdbike
I hear what you’re saying. Let me ask this: Are you advocating for stricter laws because 1) you were wronged; 2) you didn’t escalated your experience when a ticket wasn’t issued with the local authorities; or 3) you really believe we should lock up drivers for life should they get too close to a cyclist?
If 3, then let me say “Ok. I disagree with you, but Ok.” If 1 or 2, then I think it’s important to engage in a movement to bring more eductaion to people. That darn PTA meeting might be the start. Things in the good ‘ole USA take time and dedication to change. Crap – look how long it took us to start recycling in earnest – and we still have a way to go.
Keep in mind that municipalities didn’t pave roads so cyclists could get from point A to B. If they did, we’d be a much healthier country, and our roads would be much smaller with less upkeep costs. Rather, they were made for (yikes – I’m about to say it…) Motorists! Can others – should others use it? YES!! But let’s understand that the egg came before the chicken. Or did it???
Urban Bomber: Be afraid; be very afraid
There’s a lot to love, but this is one area where we really are as backwards as the media like to portray us.
Jesbee, the first sealed roads were sealed because bikes don’t have the same resistance to the bumps from a cobbled road that a horse and carriage does.
Streets, before the advent of bitumen, were places for horses and people not vehicles that were capable of 60 miles/hour that only had to stop for you to put more petrol in them.
First came people, then roads, then bicycles, then sealed roads, then cars.
@jesbee
If you were to actually look at the history of hard surfaced roads in the USA you would find that the main driving force for getting them paved was the bicycling community. To say that roads were made for cars as the “egg” function is a bit of a stretch (roads existed long before cars did).
An improperly controlled automobile is just as dangerous (or even more so) than an improperly controlled firearm, the regulations for misuse should also be equal. Shooting someone (or even close to someone) is looked at rather poorly by the law (and most people), shouldn’t letting 3,000 lbs of metal move around irresponsibly be looked at the same way?
@Jesbee
I am not advocating because I was specifically wronged (and rest assured that I only relayed one of many such stories in my personal history), but because cyclists are consistently wronged over and over, and it’s going to take more than good intentions for things to change. I think it’s pretty well accepted that when people drive cars they put on the vision filter that filters out all objects smaller than a car, which of course includes bicycles. I don’t like that fact that my wife, my brother and his family, my friends and co-workers are out there cycling with absolutely no care by drivers or protection under the law (as it is typically enforced). I suggest you read the last several articles by Bob Mionske at velonews.com (http://velonews.com/bob-mionske). He has done a series of articles on how cyclists have been treated at the hands of auto drivers and the law. It is not a fair or equitable situation.
OR has a vulnerable road user statute, anyone hear of it ever being enforced?
I have never keyed a car nor would I, but I think it sure makes for a funny last frame. Thanks, Rick.
@Phdbike
I agree that there is no equity under the law when comparing motorists and cyclists. I have spent a long time chewing on this and feeling…well, discriminated.
However, I think there will never be equity for cyclist as long as only 1% of America’s trips are by bike. No one can relate to us, just like Mark Hendricks said.
I think this is the nexus of thought behind: http://onemillionbicycles.org/
I imagine that many of you would consider this type of campaign a good idea.
If you do, I hope you will go one step further and participate. Or improve on the idea and participate.
The topic has wandered off…lets get back to the important point…
key em all….
urban bomber–
i’ll proffer a counter position to mark, with all due respect. living and riding in the midwest provides some of the finest that america has to offer: smaller towns, less-densely populated areas, fresher air, beautiful and varied countryside, a higher proportion of very friendly people and motorists [jerks live everywhere, take note, as you travel the country], and a much more child-friendly environment to raise a family.
and it puts you just that much closer to ragbrai, the BEST thing anyone can do on a bike, hands down. the last full week of july. do NOT miss it.