Month: June 2009

1. Different but equal: In all states, cyclists are deemed by law to be drivers of vehicles and are entitled to the same rights on the road as motorists.

2. Patience, not patients: You may need to wait until it is safe to pass a bicycle. Don’t tailgate. In conditions where there is not enough room for cyclists to ride to the right, they are allowed to ride closer to the lane of traffic, and sometimes even in the traffic lane.

3. A passing grade: Don’t pass cyclists until you can see that it is safe to do so. Allow ample space between your vehicle and the bicycle. If you pass too close, the drag from your car can cause the rider to swerve out of control.

4. The right behavior: Watch out for cyclists when you turn right. A bicyclist may be to the right of you and planning to go straight at the same intersection. Do not speed ahead of bicyclists thinking you can negotiate the turn before they reach your car. Cyclists may be going faster than you think, and as you slow to turn, they could crash into the side of your vehicle.

5. To the left, to the left: Also look for cyclists when making a left-hand turn. Cyclists who are traveling straight through the same intersection from the opposite direction may be going faster than you realize.

6. A back-up plan: When backing out of your driveway, always look to see if someone is in your path.

7. Parking: After parallel parking, make sure the coast is clear for opening the car door to exit. Make sure there are no cyclists riding alongside your car or fast approaching. By using the rear view mirrors and by turning around, a driver can spot approaching cyclists and prevent disaster.

8. Respect: Cyclists help the environment with each revolution of their wheels by opting to ride rather than drive. Do not resent them.

9. Honking: If you need to honk your horn to alert cyclists that you are about pass, do so at a distance. Otherwise, the noise can cause cyclists to lose their bearings.

10. Try it, you’ll like it: If you can’t beat them, join them. Riding is good for you and good for your environment.

Continue reading “10 TIPS FOR DRIVERS”

Apparently a motorist has had it with cyclists forcing him over the double yellow line in to on coming traffic and apparently they have never heard of the brake pedal and waiting for a safe opportunity to pass or requesting the road be improved to comfortably handle all users. So a flier is being circulated to encourage civil disobedience for motorist to block riders on the "Sunrise Century" in "celebration" of "Driver’s Rights" … to be a55 holes.
Continue reading “Block Dangerous Cyclist Day – Bolder Colorado”

This is the poll on DC Examiner:
Would you support a crackdown on rule-breaking cyclists in the D.C. area?
* Absolutely. Cyclists are completely reckless.
* I’d go further. They should be banned from roads entirely.
* No way. Misbehaving motorists are the real danger.
* Other (explain in comments)
Continue reading “Support cracking down on cyclists… heck no!”

One day, Philadelphia may live up to its reputation as a pedestrian-friendly city – a place where crossing signals no longer flash "Don’t Walk" before you reach the other side, where construction crews aren’t permitted to cordon off entire sidewalks, and where drivers don’t get away with blocking intersections while waiting to turn on red.
In fact, several recent moves by Mayor Nutter’s administration may hasten the arrival of that day. The latest came last week, with an executive order from the mayor directing that city officials look out more for cyclists, pedestrians, and transit users in city planning and projects.
That followed the crackdown begun last month on Center City motorists who block crosswalks and loading zones, or double-park. At the same time, parking-meter rates were boosted to free up space and cut down on congestion from drivers circling the block in search of street parking.
Continue reading “Making life easier for bikers, walkers”