From: schinder@leprss.gsfc.nasa.gov (Paul J. Schinder)
Subject: Re: traffic rules (was: Hints on commuting by bike?)
Followup-To: rec.bicycles.soc
Reply-To: schinder@leprss.gsfc.nasa.gov
Organization: Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 18:22:35 GMT

In <16854BD38.M23231@mwvm.mitre.org> M23231@mwvm.mitre.org writes:

>In article <schinder.715015744@leprss.gsfc.nasa.gov>
>schinder@leprss.gsfc.nasa.gov (Paul J. Schinder) writes:
> 
>>
>>The law is the same everywhere in the US and Canada.  Ride a bike on
>>the right side (with traffic), obeying all traffic laws.  Riding
>>against traffic is not only illegal, it increases your risk of being
>>injured enormously.
>>
>>--
>**********
>Let's say you're pedaling at 15 mph on a highway where the cars are *supposed*
>to obey a 55 mph speed limit. You're riding with the traffic, and someone
>rear ends you at 55 mph (more likely 65). The relative speed is *only* 40 mph.
>What are your chances of surviving such a crash? Riding against the traffic,
>the relative speed at collision would be 70 mph, of course, but what is the
>improvement in your chances of *avoiding* the collision by virtue of being
>better able to survey what is coming at you? You realize, of course, that *all*
>cars are going to pass you no matter where you ride, don't you?

And in <16854B8A5.M23231@mwvm.mitre.org> M23231@mwvm.mitre.org writes:

>But it does *seem* like a more defensive rule. Regardless of which side
>of the road a bicyclist travels on, he is virtually guaranteed that every
>motor vehicle will pass him. He will likely be killed if a collision occurs
>on either side of the road. At least when he's on the left (US) he can see
>what is coming at him. Riding on the right he must rely on poor rear view
>sight and the skill, good will, and alertness of every driver going his
>way.

Do you actually ride a bicycle on the roads, or are you just
expressing an opinion out of ignorance?  In either case (especially
the former, since your risk is much higher riding on the wrong side),
I'd strongly urge you to read a copy of John Forester's book
"Effective Cycling".

First of all, I doubt you can survey "what's coming at you" when
riding illegally on the wrong side (you can't see cars overtaking in
the proper lane which may turn across your path, for example).  It's
quite possible when you're riding legally to see what's behind you by
using a rear view mirror.  (In any event, the law puts the burden for
passing safely on the overtaking vehicle.)  Second, *no* motorist is
going to be looking for you if you're riding on the wrong side, since
they're not expecting *any* traffic moving in the wrong direction.
What do you do if you're on the wrong side as you're trying to
negotiate an intersection, for example?  In fact, wrong way cycling is
one of the leading (if not *the* leading, I can't remember for sure)
cause of car-bicycle collisions.  Being rear-ended is far down the
list (about 2% of all car-bike collisions if I remember correctly).

As for yor other point, we rely on the skill, good will, and alertness
of every driver on the road *any* time we go on the road, no matter
what vehicle we use.  Cars are no protection against idiot motorists,
either.
--
--------
Paul J. Schinder
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
schinder@leprss.gsfc.nasa.gov