| << Back 7/24/02 Mutual respect on the road vital for cycling enjoyment By Darel Christiansen In an accident involving a bicycle and a car, the car is not always at fault. In most cases, fault is determined much in the same way that it is for two cars. Most motorists and cyclists are not only not aware of this but also quite surprised. Such misconceptions are common regarding bicycle law. The issues surrounding the “share the road” concept are many. It is important for both cyclists and motorists to understand both the law and common safety practices. The most consequential fact both bicyclist and motorist should remember is this — in an incident involving a bicycle and motorist, the bicyclist is the person most likely to be hurt seriously. Fortunately, accidents are rare. The good news is, cyclists and motorists can avoid most aggravation and incidents with increased awareness, alert driving practices and a little mutual respect. On these mountain roads there’s not much evidence of such, but it is commonly understood that vehicles may not cross the double yellow line. It’s a fundamental principle of driving. However, around here automobiles pass bicycles (and other cars) regularly regardless of the road conditions. Moving too slow for motorized traffic, bicyclists are regularly put in harms way when a nervous or angry motorist passes too closely or recklessly. Cyclists are often dangerously startled and even sometimes injured by horns, jeers, unsolicited invitations, or even worse, thrown objects or spit. Dave Molin, owner of Motion Makers Bicycle Shop and a 25-year cyclist, experienced the most feared of encounters. He and an angry motorist in a pickup truck exchanged words and went their separate ways. A few minutes later Molin heard the familiar rumble of the pickup. Alarmed, he stopped and picked up a rock, ready for confrontation. “Three thousand pounds of lethal force and a 25-pound bicycle ... (I’m) in Lycra shorts with a rock in my hand and I had to consider who’s crazy here,” said Molin. Sadly enough, most cyclists can tell similar hair-raising tales of confrontation. In a vulnerable position on a bicycle, it’s chilling to experience the venom behind the words, “Loser! Get off the road!” It’s not clear why cyclists are not accepted on the roadways. The writer Paul Theroux once asked the question, “Why do we find runners and cyclists such tempting targets?” Theroux postulates that people engaging in healthy activities are often ridiculed by a nation of unhealthy people. Perhaps a cyclist is a seen as a threat to those who know they should exercise but do not. Theroux also notes that such disdain is primarily an American phenomenon. In a country where everyone who is anyone drives a car, the cyclist is branded an eccentric worthy of ridicule. One must consider as well that we are a nation on the go. Every waking hour is possessed of forward motion, going somewhere, getting ready to go somewhere or coming back. We measure time in minutes and sometimes, even seconds. Many other societies find this perplexing, even dizzying. Perhaps the cyclists’ turtle-like speeds upset this rhythm, agitating those “I’ve got to be there now” folks. Bicycles are legally considered vehicles in North Carolina. Regardless of their dilatory pace, they are granted the same rights and bound by the same laws as the motorized vehicles they share the road with. Even some cyclists feel that this principle is flawed. Opponents to the bicycles-as-vehicles rule point out that if cars were allowed to pass bicycles legally, in certain situations, tensions might be relieved. Scott Nelson, a Highlands’ bicycle officer, agrees but points out that a separate bicycle lane would also benefit both cyclists and motorists. In addition, he adds that a little public education would go a long way. However, until such changes are made, both motorists and bicyclists should make the effort to know and honor traffic laws and be considerate of each other’s presence on the roadways. The North Carolina Coalition for Bicycle Driving (NCCBD) is self-defined as a “grass-roots organization of citizens who are dedicated to advancing public understanding of the principles of vehicular-style bicycle driving.” The NCCBD recognizes the hazards to and responsibilities of bicyclists. They contend, in accordance with North Carolina law, that cyclists are safest when they operate under the same rules and regulations as motorized vehicles. This means that bicyclists have lawful access to most of the same roads as motorized vehicles and are bound by the same traffic laws as motorized vehicles. This is also addressed in the NC Department of Motor Vehicle’s Driver’s Handbook: “Bicyclists are legally entitled to use most roads in NC. Even though their slower speeds can pose problems for motorists, it is important to respect the bicyclist’s right to be on the roadway. Yield the right of way to the bicyclist in the same way that you would for a car.” Motorists, cyclists, local police, the DOT and the N.C. Coalition for Bicycle Driving all voice common safety and awareness recommendations. The following list is a compilation of those recommendations:
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