spokesNspin

Here is a story about a young woman cyclist who was killed in an accident with a garbage truck this week. Here is a link to the WABA page with several links to news stories about the accident.

I am having a hard time to not cry as I write this.  She was so young.

The stories lead me to believe that she was not all the experienced in bicycle commuting.

Many people I talk with are nervous about riding on streets. Their biggest concern seems to be cars that are traveling in the same direction coming from behind them. The biggest concern for me is intersections. I am always very cautious at intersections and especially in the type of situation like the one where Alice was killed.

Unfortunately, the United States is a car obsessed culture where the automobile reigns supreme. I get the impression that many places in Europe are not like this.  Bicycling is more common there and the laws and culture actually favor cyclists.

Let me make a few comments to all of you cyclists who may be new to cycling.

Ride defensively. It doesn’t matter who has the right of way. A commercial I remember from my childhood used to say about defensive driving “You may be right. Dead right”. A bicyclist will always lose in a squabble over rights with a car.

Be especially vigilant at intersections.

Always watch for the cars traveling in the same direction as you who may turn right.

Watch for cars turning left in front of you.

Watch for cars entering the street from driveways, parking lots and cross streets.

Be especially careful when riding on an off road bike path if it is adjacent to a road and you are traveling against the flow of automobile traffic.  Yes you are separated from traffic.  But invariably cars will come from a side street and drivers will not even look to their right if they are turning right onto the roadway.

Watch! Watch! Watch!

Be predictable in your riding and use hand signals to let others know your intentions.

And for hell sakes pull the damn iPod out of your ears while riding and be aware!

My heart goes out to Alice’s parents.