SHARING THE RESPONSIBILITY
Five Ways Cyclists Can Defuse Road Rage
Share the Road ethics dictate that cyclists must also share the responsibility to do what they can to stop angering and inconveniencing motorists.
By Bill Schneider, 9-02-10
Two days ago on my morning trip down to the coffee shop to get a little wisdom at the ORG (Old Retired Guys) Table, a driver blasted right through a stop sign and almost made it my last day on a bicycle. So what did I do?
Two things. First, since I ended up about five feet from the driver’s window, I did not yell or make obscene gestures, not even any dagger eyes, Instead, I waved and smiled and tried to give him my best “no worries, we all make mistakes” look. Second, I decided to write this commentary--and the “other side” for next week.
I’ve already written several columns about the prickly relationship between cyclists and motorists sharing our public roadways, but today, I’m talking directly to cyclists, not motorists.
I want to believe that road rage toward cyclists is easing and that more motorists have adopted the Share the Road philosophy, but I’m not sure the situation is getting better. Any avid cyclist knows road rage continues to be a problem--and a dangerous one. So, here are my suggestions on what cyclists can do to help defuse it.
1. Attitude Adjustment. This is Number One for a reason, because it is. I’m one cyclist who knows that too many of my brethren have a holier-than-thou attitude. This shows through to motorists and is maddening to say the least. Instead of cyclists thinking they have some special rights, I prefer that all of us consider ourselves ambassadors for everybody who rides a bicycle, now and in the future.
Basically, be constantly careful not to give motorists any reason to dislike cyclists. Don’t take over a road. Don’t inconvenience motorists. Pull over when you have traffic backed up. When waiting at a stoplight, leave room for motorists to turn right on red. Be considerate.
Reward politeness with politeness. Smile and wave when a motorist gives some courtesy and space. Be careful you wave correctly so it isn’t misinterpreted as an obscene gesture.
Here’s a good example. I, like many cyclists, just want equality, but frequently, when I’m stopped at a stop sign going into a thru street, waiting for traffic to clear, motorists will stop, even though they have no stop sign, just be nice and help me cross, like I was pushing a stroller or something. I wish they wouldn’t do this, but nonetheless, I smile and wave my gratitude as I cross the street.
Reward meanness with kindness. Even when a motorist cuts you off, yells obscenities or hazes you, don’t yell back or offer up the universal salute. Don’t ride over the driver’s side window for a little chat; this almost never has a good outcome. Again, smile and wave. Nothing will change that incident; but next time, the motorist might feel and behave differently. Suck it up; take one for the team; do it for all cyclists who will come down that road after you do. Guilt is a powerful motivator.
2. Obey Traffic Laws. Follow the rules of the road, at least to the extent the average motorists does. For example, it’s a rare motorist who doesn’t sometimes roll through a residential stop sign after making sure the way is clear, and I doubt many motorists blame cyclists for doing the same. They do, however, resent cyclists not coming to a dead stop at a stop sign going into a busy street or at all red lights.
Most state laws require cyclists to signal turns, so do it whenever possible. And do it aggressively instead of a little quick point in the direction you plan to turn. Get that arm out there and hold it until you have to go into the turn. Hopefully, most motorists understand that signaling isn’t always possible when cyclists must keep both hands on the bars for safety reasons. We can’t leave the turn signal on and keep both hands on the wheel.
Drive, not ride, your bike, so you behave like you do when driving your motor vehicle. And avoid driving on sidewalks. You wouldn’t drive your car on a sidewalk, right? Make left turns like you do with your car; don’t cut corners.
3. Hold Your Line. Riding a straight line is perhaps the best habit a cyclist can have--best for safety, best for allowing motorists to safely maneuver around you, best for defusing road rage. Avoid any sudden, erratic movements, such as weaving in and out spaces between a line of parked cars. Watch ahead for obstructions like potholes and bulb outs and make minor adjustments far in advance.
4. Be Bright. Forget fashion and be as visible as possible. Wear highly visible colors and reflective clothing. Use lights, front and back, in low light situations. If you removed reflectors from your bicycle, as many avid cyclists do, substitute by wearing reflective clothing, reflective patches on helmets, saddles and bike bags or daypacks, and reflective straps around pant legs.
5. Safety in Numbers. The more cyclists on the roads, the safer the roads and the more motorists will get accustomed to sharing roadways with bicycles. So, get out there; don’t leave it in the garage because you had a conflict with a motorist. However, if you’re riding in a group on a roadway without a shoulder and hence sharing a lane with motorists, be sure to ride single file.
And finally, don’t forget, you’re an ambassador now. Act like it.
Footnote. Next week, Five Ways Motorists Can Defuse Road Rage for Cyclists. In the meantime, for more of my columns on this issue, click here.
[End of article]WILL YOU PEOPLE JUST DRIVE SINGLE FILE!!! Do you want to get hit by a car?!?! I honestly think you deserve to get hit by a car if you dont share the road fairly. Stay in your bike lanes too. Stop drifiting in the traffic. Bikes are dumb just go to the gym and ride one.
Comment By Sick of motorists, 9-02-10Shut up and drive.
Comment By samh, 9-02-10Bill,
A very thoughtful piece, and much appreciated by this cyclist who, although often getting perturbed by traffic knows the only way to reach equality will be through the use of controlled diplomacy like your article suggests.
And to the previous commenter, "sick of bikes". Your ignorance is laughable but I think that rather than namecall I'll take the advice of the article and simply wave hello to you and you pass by on the streets that we share.
Cheers,
Sam
i have been riding a bicycle probably close to daily for going on 19 years. as your article states and as i believe most cyclists just want equality. recently my wife and i had a daughter. since she was about 10.5 months i have riding her to daycare every morning and have experienced more rude drivers than before i had a baby in tow. it is mind blowing to me that some motorists believe it is wrong to be towing a trailer. we have been honked at, swerved at, and yelled at among other things. i obey traffic laws and do everything in my power to stay out of the way of drivers and not be a burden and am extra careful being that there is a child in tow. all i want to know is what are these drivers thinking to reacting to a cyclist like this with a baby in tow. it is one thing to be jackass to grown man or woman on a bike but with a baby, this makes no sense. how would these people feel if god forbid there was an accident and my daughter some how got hurt. i hope they would feel some kind of heartbreak.
i was thinking the other day when a driver passed as close to me as he could without hitting me, baby not in tow at this moment, and proceeded to give me finger and accelerate. these type of drivers crack me up because of the whole acceleration thing, if you are that upset pull over and confront me please, because i guarantee i am following the great state of montana's bicycling laws. anyway getting back to what i was thinking, is that we are all living breathing human beings and when drivers act like this something could very easily go wrong and you could kill another human being who is simply riding a bicycle. DRIVERS PLEASE THINK ABOUT THIS NEXT TIME YOU SWERVE AT, YELL AT, OR HONK AT A CYCLIST, THINK ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD FEEL IF YOU WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANOTHER HUMAN BEING DYING BECAUSE OF YOUR IRRESPONSIBLE ACTIONS.
The Line is not the bike lane.......! Get off the line and stay within your designated lane when applicable......and yes the idea that you need to ride two across with your bike buddy to talk is asinine and dangerous...there is absolutely no reason for any cyclists to ride two or three across unless your in a race or event......the outside idiots never pay attention and always creates a conflict with traffic, always.......
Unfortunatly for cyclist vehicles always win....those awful conflicts so put safety back in your hands and do the right thing lose the arrogance and coexists your safety is up to you...or you may lose your life over a dumb bike and bad attitude.
Smiling, and waving.
I use the American Eagle -- five times the strength of the ordinary bird.
Thank you, Bill, for a very thought-provoking and informative column. I am on day 4 of biking to campus after some 13 years of frustration with trying to find parking. I'm out of shape and practice and I feel like a major noob. So far I've mostly stuck to the river trail and campus, so my biggest problems have been pedestrians.
As a driver, I've always worked hard to be courteous and protective toward cyclists -- I truly don't understand attitudes like "sick of bikes." (smile, wave) Today I was making a hesitant left turn and did a quick hand signal before I quickly returned to my wobbly handlebars. The lady in the SUV across from me called out her window, "Thank you for signaling." I guess a little courtesy does go a long way. It feels weird to be so exposed, though.
I will read the rest of your columns.
It always seems to me that there's some sort of strange culture war that goes on between a certain segment of motorists and people who choose to use a bicycle for transportation. It seems like some people view cycling as un-American, or a tacit endorsement of European socialism (the dirtiest word out there these days). Add in a few holier-than-thou cyclists who ignore traffic laws and animosity is created and negative feelings reinforced. Repeat, over and over again.
Bill's right- Mutual respect is the only way to go, though as a vulnerable cyclist it can be hard not to get upset when people put your life at risk when you're following the rules of the road. I love my bike, but only wish transportation systems in the West were more accomodating for those who choose to ride a bicycle.
Bikes do not belong on any road designed for car travel. Bikes belong on bike trails, period. Driving is risky enough, without having to pass a bike traffic. Whenever I'm in the mountains and come across bikers, I pray we all make it through alive and another vehicle or truck isn't going to come out of a blind spot and kill us all. Shame on you bikers for thinking the highway is your path. Please do us all a favor and stick to paths designed for your mode of transportation. Imagine if a group of cars suddenly decided they'd travel at top speed of 10 mph on 55 mph highways, there would be outrage, correct? And accidents, correct? I'm all for healthy green, lifestyles, but you don't need to risk me, my family, my friends, and others lives. The courtesy part of this article is nice.
Comment By donaleen, 9-03-10I live in Portland. Lots of bikes. I don't ride a bike but I walk a lot. Although in principle, I like the idea of bikes, in reality I don't. Many bicyclists here have a sense of entitlement. They don't obey traffic laws and that includes riding on the side walk. They seldom yield the right of way to a pedestrian, even on the sidewalk. They are also silent but deadly, whizzing by my shoulder from the rear. I've nearly been run over many a time. I don't have a lot of sympathy for their complaints about motorists. As a pedestrian, I feel more threat from bicyclists than cars.
Comment By Joe, 9-03-10I am an avid biker and believe that the more bikes we have out there the fewer the cars which will make the city a better place for all of us. A quieter, cleaner city with less traffic. I follow the traffic laws while biking whenever possible and for the most part drivers are very courtesy to me. There are alway a few exceptions but you will have problems with those people while driving as well. However when I am out driving nothing pisses me off more than bikers not extending that same courtesy to me. Riding 2 deep on a road that has no shoulder, riding on the left side of the white line while there are 3 feet of shoulder on the right side, or if there is a shoulder and riding 2 deep one person on the shoulder and the other in the traffic lane. You are just asking to get run over. I'm really surprised bikers aren't killed on Hyalite road because apparently bikes don't need to follow traffic laws there. When I see bikers doing these things it make feel like I don't need to give them any space either and stay put in my lane while passing instead of weaving over a bit to give them space. Please help make my time on my bike safer by following the traffic laws and make drivers appreciate having bikers out there. Stay as far right of the road or shoulder as possible and ride single file.
Comment By dan, 9-03-10shame on all you drivers who commented and think roads are only for you. your attitudes toward bikes reveal your selfish attitudes toward other people in general. be kind, be generous, be friendly whether you're walking, crawling, biking, driving, hiking, running, motorbiking, hunting, or anything else.
Comment By Dave Skinner, 9-03-10This is a pretty good column.
Boils down to two things:
Be professional out there, and
Lead, follow, or stay the freak out of the way.
One thing, tho. The simple fact remains that bikes don't pay fuel taxes that pay for roads. There needs to be a funding mechanism, perhaps licensure and taxation in order to fund bike infrastructure. Not a full ride, the economics are not there, but some skin.
The other issue I have is when bicyclists use roads clearly unsafe for combined use. If there's no shoulder, and a safer alternate route, go the heck over there. I don't know how many times I've gotten a nasty surprise from Mister Velo Shouldn't Be Wearing Spandex, or simply been forced to throw away all of MY momentum. I still try to give a wide, wide berth, slow down, et cetera, but dang it is hard sometimes.
Doesn't anyone make turn signals for bikes? If somebody started making them do you think cyclists would install them on thier bikes?
Comment By graciela., 9-03-10Riding two abreast is not illegal in most states. Look up your VC laws before you start jumping to conclusions.
Secondly, in my state (CA) the presence of a bike lane does not mean that a cyclist MUST use it or ONLY ride in it. Nope. You can use a car lane and take the entire lane if you need to, regardless of whether there is a bike lane. There are many reasons why you need to do this from time to time: cars parked in the bike lane that don't leave enough room, making a left turn, obstructions in the road, passing cars or cyclists, etc. You aren't required by law to ride in the shoulder, either. If there is a road that is unsafe for combined use it's because cars bully cyclists when a cyclist is doing the safe thing and taking the whole lane.
If you don't know the VC of your state and what rights bikes have, just look up "bicycle laws in (your state)" in Wikipedia. That should clear it up for you and you don't have to go around feeling like the big bad cyclist is doing something illegal and wrong towards your poor little car (unless you find in the VC that they are). I maintain that drivers are just plain ignorant of the very laws that give them the right to drive their cars and so their anger towards cyclists usually comes from a place of ignorance. Educate yourself.
To Tom's point, I think using your arm is a lot cheaper and easier to deal with than installing a turn signal mechanism on your bike.
One of the problems may be that bicycles aren't really built to easily follow the law. It is too hard to stop and start. Bicycles that are meant to go on roads and streets should be designed to stop and start easily. Otherwise it is just too tempting to break the law.
Comment By Tom von Alten, 9-03-10Bicycles that are meant to go on roads and streets should be designed to stop and start easily.
Yes, bicycles should all be required to have at least three wheels.
Smiling.
Waving.
Oh yes, much better for cars and people to get out of the way of bicycles. Now I am realizing why I don't like bicycles on the road. Good article!
Comment By gooddogs, 9-04-10What ever happened to neighborliness and civility? Montana used to be a place where you never even knew your neighbor's politics, but would show up at his place with a wheelbarrow and a shovel unasked when they needed help. If some guy is on the road hauling hay at 15 mph, we slow down and don't bitch about it. So what if it is a bunch of bicycles doing the same? Any one of them may stop and help your elderly neighbor fix a flat on the side of the road. Loosen up.
Comment By Walt Weaver, 9-04-10In 14 years of bicycling around the Bozeman area I have had very few problems with motorists. Likewise, when driving my car I have had very few problems with bicyclists. In fact I have had more problems with moose when riding my mountain bike than I've had with humans. Those darn moose just don't want to share the road/trail with anybody.
Comment By Bryan Dotson, 9-04-10I find #1 "Basically, be constantly careful not to give motorists any reason to dislike cyclists" to be an extreme and unsafe position.
The rule I follow as a commuter/utility cyclist on Houston suburbun streets is "When consistent with my travel objective and safe, make choices which minimize interactions with motor vehicles."
Examples:
a) I have a route with a 5' shoulder, 50 mph speed limit, which has a couple of bottlenecks where the shoulder disappears. Even though there is a slightly increased risk of tire damage, I run on the shoulder but when I get to the narrows I take control of the right hand lane. At times, this may give a motorist a "reason to dislike cyclists" but allowing a buzz pass would be too dangerous.
b) At stoplights on the same road where the shoulder narrows to 2 feet, I cross to the far side and wait for the platoon of cars to pass before I continue. In that way I can follow in the red-light eclipse and I can get a half mile up the road before the next platoon reaches me. I use the 2' shoulder to avoid impeding traffic (some cyclists would consider it too narrow). OK, so I have to wait a couple of minutes at the light but I avoid having 20 tailgaters pass me when I'm on the 2' shoulder.
c) When I'm using a designated bike lane, I move over into the right hand lane and control it at intersections since I'm worried that crossing drivers won't see me in the bike lane. This has given some drivers "a reason to dislike cyclists" but it reduces my risk of a crossing accident.
d) In my route choice, I'll use bike paths and residential streets when they are reasonable for my destination, but very frequently there is no choice but to use major arterials. This may give drivers a "reason to dislike cyclists" but I need to get where I'm going; otherwise, a bicycle can't serve as transportation.
On my last trip during rush hour, I had a stopped car blocking the bike lane and I had a driver try to pass me on the right as I made a left turn at a traffic light. In both cases I looked at and motioned to the drivers that they were out of line. Drivers who don't follow the rules of the road need constructive feedback, though some may find that a "reason to dislike cyclists".
I find this balance safe; generally, car avoidance improves my safety (less exposure = less risk) but not at the cost of making utility cycling impractical. What that means is at times I do things that may give some drivers a "reason to dislike cyclists".
Balance; that's what cycling is all about.
As a year round bicycle commuter x 25 years here in Helena,Montana I have found that motorists really,really want to know what I am going to do. They seem to appreciate the arm signal for turns. I also have been known to point straight ahead if I am stopped at an intersection and not planning to turn.
I have to say that the worst bicycle riders are the "Egg Timers" out on a bike for the 1st or 2nd time in their adult lives. They always insist on riding on the wrong side of the road facing traffic. What a death wish. "Egg Timer" as in the line from the Chevy Chase Movie "Vacation" "Get around these Egg Timers"
Tom Kilmer: Yes, that is my experience also. Many motorists don't like bicyclists simply because they appear to be unpredictable. I am a bicyclist but when I'm driving my car there are some bicyclists that, when you come up behind them, you're just flat not sure what their plans are. That can be frustrating from a motorist's point of view.
One more point: I wear a rear-view mirror on my helmet when I'm riding. I like to know what is happening behind me at all times. Sitsuasional awareness is your friend, whether driving a car or riding a bike.
Excellent advice, Bill. You understand - that's for sure!
There will always be a few motorists, unfortunately, who don't think bikes belong on "their" roadway, or feel that cyclists aren't paying their fair share. And no amount of trying to convince them otherwise, will.
I can TESTIFY that diplomacy works. I've been a dedicated transportation cyclist since 1986 in Boise; I try to be legal, visible, defensive, and totally predictable. And I rarely have problems with motorists. (On the rare occasions when I get honked at or hollered at, it's almost always 1) teenage punks, 2) sweet little blue-haired ladies, or 3) rednecks who think the bigger the vehicle, the more right you have to the road. Sigh.)
I will reserve the right to have a "holier-than-thou attitude," because I earn it. (Grin) But I try not to wear it on my shoulder... I am so superior I can condescend to being diplomatic toward the common rabble in their "cages." (That's what the other kind of "bikers" call 'em.)
Peace and love!
(-;
http://bikenazi.blogspot.com
Great article. About ten years ago I was an avid bicycle commuter and think I broke a fair amount of those rules on a regular basis. Honestly though, if someone would have taken the time to educate me I would have been a far more courteous rider. To those rules I would add this.
If you are riding at night, but on the obnoxious blinky red light on the back, and the obnoxious blinky white light on the front, reflective clothing only works when you are in front of me, not so much when I am pulling off a side street.
And DO. NOT. EVER. ride against the flow of traffic, especially in the dark. I have had to many situations where I was making a right hand turn at night, looking for traffic to my left, and almost hitting some idiot riding on the sidewalk against traffic without a light. I have almost hit those assholes a few times, it would have been entirely their fault, and I would still be left knowing that I contributed to the injury or death of another human being.
Excellent article, Bill. I like your style.
I ride my daily commute up here in Alaska, where roads and motorists are rarely forgiving. As we have very few bike lanes, and snow often fills the shoulder, I find myself torn between "controlling the lane" to keep road-raging drivers from buzzing me, or "riding small" to help cars get around me. My reasoning for riding in the middle of lane is that I force drivers to make a legitimate pass, and change lanes to get safely around me. I find that when I'm as nice, and as far to the right as possible, many drivers will try to squeak by me without giving enough room to make a safe pass. Their impatience puts my life at risk.
But you're right, if I make a noticeable effort to help let them pass me, they're much less likely to have a reason to hate cyclists, and might be more forgiving to the next cyclist they see on the road.
I'll do my best to smile and wave to the next hot-head that bullies me on the road.
Excellent articles Bill, European (UK specifically) but your articles have been added to Stumbleupon. Shame some of the drivers that chose to post here are illiterate having obviously never read whatever nation's laws of the road (Highway Code over here) as all as far as I'm aware state that cyclists should be on the road where possible and that as a driver, it's their responsibility to ensure they do their part to keep it safe for us all (themselves included).
To explain to those that choose to post after this, road taxes etc that you pay are purely down to your increased strain on the road surface with heavy vehicles which cyclists can rarely claim to have the same impact and we are meant to be here, end of story.
But anyway (smile, wave).
As a Wyoming bike rider, I have had my fair share of near-misses, but when I tow a trailer, people are overly careful of me because they think there are children in tow (even when I'm just towing groceries). They have been nothing but civil and nice. It may be because I am a woman, but I am here to say, neighborliness/civility/chivalry are not dead.
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