Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site utastro.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!hao!kpno!ut-sally!utastro!bill From: bill@utastro.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: bikes and cars Message-ID: <666@utastro.UUCP> Date: Sat, 24-Sep-83 10:16:39 EDT Article-I.D.: utastro.666 Posted: Sat Sep 24 10:16:39 1983 Date-Received: Tue, 27-Sep-83 00:43:10 EDT References: <219@FLAIRMAX.UUCP> Organization: UTexas Astronomy Dept., Austin, Texas Lines: 157 I, too, sympathise with Michael Ellis, whose brother was killed riding a bike. However, I am concerned because his way of coping with this tragedy has led him to adopt some very dangerous practices. He says: 3. Use the sidewalk (f**k the law!) when you see or hear a car, or else find a safer route. On the left side you get an even better view of the enemy (a car), but right-turning vehicles (entering from the left) may get you this way. Many cyclists of Michael's limited level of experience ("almost 2 years") think that by riding on the left side of the street, or on the sidewalk, they can avoid dangerous situations that are faced by cyclists who ride like vehicles. The cold, hard statistics do not support this opinion. In fact, this kind of riding actually *creates* the kinds of situations that cause the vast majority of bike-auto collisions. Let me quote some expert opinion in support of this: "In Palo Alto, the car/bike collision rate per bike/mile increased 88% with mandatory sidewalk cycling, so much so that the city traffic engineer said, 'Sidewalk bicycling is a disaster,' and the city repealed the law. The reasons for this are obvious. More than 95% of car/bike collisions are caused by turning or crossing conflicts, and the cyclist on the sidewalk has the same number of turning and crossing conflicts as cars, but is unable to maneuver in them as a driver, but must avoid every one of them (even when he would have the right of way on the roadway) solely by his own actions while he is in a position from which he cannot see motor traffic properly (nor motorists see him) and from which he cannot maneuver to avoid them even if he does see them. Because this danger is caused by a defective relationship with motor traffic, the heavier the motor traffic, the greater the danger ratio between cycling on the sidewalk and cycling on the roadway." - John Forester, quoted in *The League of American Wheelmen Bulletin*, April 1977, p. 26 "[Dr. Kenneth D.] Cross, author of one of the world's most thorough studies [Ref. 1] found wrong-way cycling a factor in 17 percent of the 919 accidents studied. And another excellent study [Ref. 2], authored by Allan F. Williams, found wrong-way cycling in 15 percent of 861 accidents studied. Moreover, Williams found wrong-way cycling a cause of 25 percent of the accidents among cyclists over age 14 -- old enough to know better." - John Schubert, quoted in *Bicycling* magazine, June, 1979 Ref. 1: *A Study of Bicycle/Motor Vehicle Accidents: Identification of Problem Types and Countermeasure Approaches -- Volume I, Kenneth D. Cross and Gary Fisher, Anacapa Sciences, Inc., Santa Barbara CA 93102, 1977. Available through National Technical Information Service, Springfield VA 22161 Ref. 2: Study done for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in December, 1974 When you realize that only a small proportion of bicyclists ride wrong-way, a few percent at most, you can see that these cyclists are having a disproportionately large percentage of the accidents. My own estimate based on these numbers is that riding wrong-way increases your chances of an accident by two to three times. Michael says: I feel that Anne Paulson's comments, idealistic though they may be, are suicidal. and Maybe if there were more bicycle martyrs, people would be shocked into being more observant for bicyclists. We all appreciate your sacrifice, Anne! and I admire the courage of any bicyclist who actually rides in automobile-infested traffic. Through your blood, you make the world safer for bicyclists of all faiths. The experience of many thousands of bicyclists over many years, and all of the studies and accident statistics say otherwise. The one who is experimenting with his life is Michael, not Anne. The reason that I am so concerned with the dangers of sidewalk riding is that I once had a friend killed riding on the sidewalk (a car coming out of a driveway ran over him and killed him instantly). I also would like to mention that one of the two bike fatalities last year in Austin was a person killed by a car while riding on the sidewalk over a bridge. (The city has since posted this sidewalk against bike riding). As for riding on the left side, Michael Ellis thinks he can see the cars coming towards him. That's not the point. The cars that are the greatest danger to the wrong-way cyclist are *not* the ones coming towards him, but the ones entering from a side street. They are normally looking in the *opposite* direction for traffic (since that's where the traffic is supposed to be coming from). They usually don't see the cyclist until it is too late. I saw a very close call like this only last week and have personally witnessed accidents like this. Michael says: As a left-side bike rider, I cannot understand the abuse constantly received from the more daring right-siders -- I guess they feel honor bound to punish cowardice. Left-siders can at least see the enemy. Michael is afraid of cars hitting him from behind. The accident statistics (again from the Cross study mentioned above) show that fewer than 5% of bike/car collisions are due to being hit from behind. To avoid this (relatively unlikely) type of accident, he has adopted cycling habits that are much more likely to involve him and others in an accident than if he were to cycle legally and properly. Michael: The people who make these comments ought not to heap abuse on your head, but the fact is, you are making it dangerous for both you *and them* when you ride "wrong way". Where do you think they are supposed to go when you so blithely come at them? Into the line of traffic? You should be grateful that some of them care enough to say something to you about this dangerous practice of yours. Michael: You are very lucky to live in Palo Alto. You are fortunate to have John Forester, one of the most knowledgeable bicycling traffic engineers there is, living in your city. He is the author of several books on the subject, a past president of the League of American Wheelmen and the initiator of the LAW's Effective Cycling courses. If you really value your life, you ought to contact him and in an open-minded way, learn from him. I only have an old phone number for him, but it may still be valid: 415-494-1218; address Custom Cycle Fitments, 782 Allen Court, Palo Alto CA 94303. Others who would like to find out more about safer cycling are urged to contact the League of American Wheelmen, PO Box 988, Baltimore MD 21203 (301-727-2022) and inquire about the nearest Effective Cycling course. If you take this course, you will learn the real facts about bicycling safely, and unlearn the myths. You will also find valuable, life-saving information in *The Complete Book of Bicycle Commuting*, by John S. Allen, Rodale Press 1981 (available in most good bike shops). Good cyclists obey the law. They do not unnecessarily impede traffic flow, but they properly expect other vehicles to respect their rights. When the lane is too narrow for cars to pass, they will temporarily take the traffic lane, waving the traffic on and moving to the right when it is safe to pass again. They drive defensively (that is, with knowledge of the real hazards and knowing how to cope with them). The statistics show that cyclists like these have a much lower accident rate than average. Bill Jefferys 8-% Astronomy Dept, University of Texas, Austin TX 78712 (Snail) ihnp4!kpno!utastro!bill (uucp) utastro!bill@utexas-11 (ARPA)