From: tom@clipper.ingr.com (Tom Granvold)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.misc
Subject: Re: Ignorant Cyclists (was: Hints on commuting by bike?)
Summary: Stick to the right.
Date: 15 Sep 92 01:02:02 GMT
Organization: Intergraph Advanced Processor Division - Palo Alto, CA

In article <v1vnkdd.tomk@netcom.com>,
tomk@netcom.com (Thomas H. Kunich) writes:

> In article <casseres-100992135455@missmolly.apple.com>
> casseres@apple.com (David Casseres) writes:

> >Driving on the wrong side (against traffic) is extremely dangerous and one
> >of the main causes of car/bike accidents.  It has nothing to do with the
> >energy difference due to greater closing speed; it has to do with being
> >seen by drivers.

> Do you also propose that drivers are completely unaware of pedestrians?
> By this reckoning we should never walk -- only ride bikes on the
> 'correct' side of the street.D

    David may or may not content that, but I do.  Yes, I think drivers are
just as unaware of pedestrians as they are of bicycles.

> >A bike doesn't have the evasive maneuverability of a pedestrian.  The most
> >important elements in safe cycling are being clearly visible, being where
> >you are expected to be, and being predictable.

> It would be interesting to know what you think of as evasive
> manuveurability. This is blatant opinion on your part.

    Well, as a pedestrian I'm able to stop much more quickly than when I'm
on a bicycle.  Also, I'm much more likely to walk around the rear of a car
in a driveway who is waiting to turn onto a street.  On a bicycle I never
go behind such a car.  A pedestrian is able to move to either side
immediatly, whereas on a bicycle one either gets off first and move to the
side or goes forward and to the side.  All in all the pedestrian is much
more manuverurable, evasive and otherwise.

    I suggest a thought exercise here.  Consider the situation of a car
coming out of a driveway wanting to turn right onto a street with traffic
coming from the car's left.  Where would you be looking as a driver of
that car?  I look to the left waiting for the traffic to past.  If there
is a bicycle coming from my right going against the traffic, I'm not
likely to see him when I pull out.  If there is a bicycle coming from
my left with the traffic, at least I have a chance of seeing him since
I'll looking in that direction.

    Actually, I try to remember to look to my right just before starting
out into the street.  Since I am also ride a bicycle, I try to look out
for them when I drive.  BUT, I don't always do that.  Many years of
driving without thinking about bicycles have given me bad habits.  I have
no doubt that I'm much more careful than most drivers on the road.

    So don't be where drivers don't expect you or anyone else to be.
They won't be looking for anybody there and simply won't see you.
And drivers by and large don't expect bicycles to be there at all.
So, at least be in the same general area as they expect cars to be,
i.e. ride with the traffic.

Tom Granvold
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Name:    Tom Granvold
Mail:    2400 Geng Rd., Palo Alto, Calif. 94303
email:   tom@clipper.ingr.com
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