A couple weeks ago a soldier on Post was taking pictures of riders leaving work. He asked me to stop for a moment and said he was doing a story on bicycle commuters and if I would like to be interviewed. I was all for it and the link below is the result.
This is the information I gave him during the interview and via a Word doc. I'm sure there's plenty of more information to talk about but I was a little pressed for time. The bold print happened to me twice last week. Most people would probably say the drivers are uneducated about bicycle riders, but I'll stick with calling them STUPID.
I asked my brother hank (another commuter) for info from his
point of view and combined it with mine. I’m sure most commuters would agree
with the statements and have additional stories or ideas to add as well.
I commute year round and I ride for fitness, money and to
prep myself for other types of riding. Mountain bike, Cyclocross or road rides.
There are times when driving is required. November, December and January bring
the snow/ice and sometimes I have to run a few errands after work, so I’ll
bring the truck in, but barring any injuries I’ll get on the bike and start
cranking out the rpms. I don’t mind the rain so much, but the wind is a killer.
If you spend the money on some good equipment it makes battling the environment
a little easier.
Bicycle commuting is just like any other sport or hobby
you’re interested in. It takes a pretty penny to get yourself set up but after
that, it’s all about maintaining what you have and upgrading when you can. The
most important step before buying a bike is to get fitted and then determine
what kind of riding you plan on doing. Do some research and ask questions. I
have a Cyclocross bike that I converted to a commuter. It’s lightweight,
strong, very versatile and I highly recommend it if you plan on getting into
the commuting world.
Our main concern during commutes is expecting drivers to not
see us--most of them do--and being prepared to react accordingly. Bright and
contrasting clothing and lights help but don't guarantee it.
As a bicyclist you have to be aware of your surroundings at
all times and predict what drivers may do.
If drivers would try to put themselves in our position and
anticipate what we might do, it would make sharing the road easier for
them. Better yet, get a bike, start
riding and see firsthand the hazards we face. It’ll change your driving habits after you’ve
been on the road a while.
We follow the rules of the road so drivers know what to expect of us when they do see us. Use of hand signals is very beneficial, but I’ve seen drivers completely ignore my signals and cut me off. We’re always playing defense because we don’t have a metal shell around us for protection.
I don’t like it when cars pull into the shoulder area at an intersection when they’re 3 cars back and expect the move to speed up their progress. It stops my forward motion and puts me at risk. Lack of blinkers can be a killer too. I may be on a bike but I’m also following the same rules as everyone else, so if I don’t see a blinker I’m expecting you to continue straight ahead. Not make a snap turn in front of me. Be patient, watch out for us and please don’t throw things at us. We’re trying to get from point A to B just like you are.
When you pass a bike and then run into traffic a few miles
down the road, please start glancing in your side view mirrors. An average
rider can travel at 17 mph and cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.
Not giving me enough space when they decide to pass or
hanging back and creeping by me at a speed slightly faster than mine is very
frustrating. Make a good pass when you
have the room to keep everyone safe. At times, I take the lane instead of
hugging the curb because it helps to make me seen and it gives me more room.
Some drivers get upset with it, but I’m willing to bet they’ve never been
forced off the road and into a ditch either.
Scary situations will make you change your habits.
Note: Team Double Check is sponsoring the Labor Day
Cyclocross race this year with MWR’s support. It’ll be held on September 3rd
on the ROTC training ground over on North Fort. More info to follow via MWR
website.
