Look Both Ways When You Cross the Street

Probably one of the biggest reasons people do not want to bike is for the fear of their safety. I completely see where they are coming from. It is scary to be this little exposed vehicle next to tons of steel and bone-crushing metal on the road. I have already had a couple close calls...

Times I Could Have Died on My Bike But Didn't
While riding home one day on 14th Street there was a car behind me eager to get around me. I was well aware that it was back there. I could hear it (one of the main reasons one should not wear headphones when you ride) and stayed as far to the right as I could without hitting the cars parked along side the road. As the road sloped up, the car decided to speed around me, all the while not able to see an oncoming car (obviously there should have been a no passing line in the road). Needless to say there was a lot of honking, swerving, and angry looks from the oncoming driver. All was fine, but seriously that could have ended terribly.

Another time I was about to make a left on to Indiana Ave. from 4th Street. I put my arm out to signal that I was turning left, but this car sped up to the stop sign on my left just as I was about to turn. I almost rode straight into this car because they did not see or decided to ignore my turning signal.

The overall take away from this is that cars do not know how to share the road with bikes. It would probably be a smart idea to include a "share the road" section in the drivers education curriculum if it  does not exist already. I surely do not remember learning that in drivers ed.

Biggest Pet Peeves
One thing I have definitely noticed while riding occurs at four way stop signs. I stop at the stop sign just like I should, but either cars or pedestrians walking across the cross walk basically pretending I do not exist. Cars also like to think that I never need to turn left. The reality is that once bikes are on the road, they are to be treated like cars, and this just does not happen, and I believe it is because people just do not know what to do. Educating drivers would be key to helping cyclists feel safer on the roads.

Below is a Drivers Education video put together by the League of Illinois Bicyclists. 

While riding around campus, and while walking there I have noticed numerous things about the other bikers and biking in general in Bloomington:

• YOU CAN'T RIDE YOUR BIKE ON THE SIDEWALK! IT IS ILLEGAL!! AND ANNOYING!
• Don't text and ride your bike
• You probably should not smoke and ride your bike either (I have seen this so many times its ridiculous)
• Keep your line while riding. Do not swerve around when on the street. If you can't keep your line, you don't have the core muscles to control your own bike and that is sad
• I spend a lot of time avoiding trash and debris in the bike lanes and on the side of the road

Safety Measures: Lights and Helmets

My new lights

Around the end of September I realized I would need to purchase some lights for my bike. I get off work at 8 o'clock and at that point it is not exactly bright out anymore on my way home. I picked up a set of lights at BikeSmith for $23. They attach and remove easily and don't look too obnoxious. Now I do feel a bit safer getting home because I know that cars can see me.

An appropriate location for wearing a helmet

Now I know it is important to wear a helmet. I know, I know. You are stupid to ride without one. But most of the time, if I am just riding to work down Grant St. (which is not very busy), I do not wear my helmet. I tried it once and honestly I felt really really weird  The concept of wearing street clothes and a helmet just messes with my mind. But wearing my kit and a helmet just makes sense. You do not go out on a ride without a helmet. I do not know what it is, but commuting just does not make me want to wear a helmet. I asked around to my cycling friends and some people suggested that it is because I might feel more confident with my biking abilities, and thus do not need a helmet.

I would agree that I do feel pretty confident about my bike handling skills. I am used to riding with 32 other people riding so close to me that I can touch them. That is what Little 5 is about: pack riding. And it can be very messy if something goes wrong. I guess when I am out in the street I am not surrounded by anything that will immediately make me hit the pavement, so I do not feel as concerned as I would be riding on the track.

You think you are afraid of riding on the road? Then check this out and you might be happy to be riding on the street....

I tried to think of a good example of what its like to not want to wear your helmet and this was the best I could come up with. It is like a soccer player and their shin guards. Shin guards protect your shins while playing, just like a helmet would protect your head. A soccer player would never be allowed to play without shin guards, just like a cyclist would never be able to race without a helmet. But a soccer player would feel silly walking around with shin guards on when they aren't playing in a game. Just like a cyclist might feel silly wearing a helmet while riding 6 mph in a bike line.




One more safety video!