Bicyclists need to stay on the road
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Scott Myers
White 2009 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno.
That’s the bike I ride — and if you’re a motorist on the road and plan on running me over, I hope you have a good lawyer, because I might sue you.
Intentionally.
Because you see, with all these dangerously inattentive motorists on the road nowadays, doing things like changing songs on their iPods, sending text messages while driving or falling asleep because they can’t get enough sleep to function on the same schedule as 90 percent of the rest of the world, I’m tired of getting run over.
And, considering I’m exactly where I should be, I’ll win the case.
The fact of the matter is, state senators have so kindly written laws that give cyclists the right to use the road, and MSU’s ordinance states that cyclists are not allowed to use the sidewalks.
In fact, riding on the sidewalk is considerably more dangerous than riding on the road, both for cyclists and pedestrians.
The average difference in speed between a cyclist and a pedestrian is much greater than that between a motor vehicle and a cyclist. To make matters worse, pedestrians aren’t required to stay in a painted lane or signal to indicate changes in direction.
And unlike bicycle-vehicle collisions, bicycle-pedestrian collisions are much more likely to result in injuries for both parties.
Riding on the sidewalk, believe it or not, also is more likely to result in collisions between cyclists and motorists.
Most drivers are not in the habit of looking for something moving as fast as a bicycle on the sidewalk, thereby increasing the likelihood of cyclists being cut off or hit at intersections and driveways.
To attest to this, I myself have been hit crossing a street while riding on the sidewalk.
I was riding in the opposite direction of the one-way traffic flow on West Circle Drive (which desperately needs bike lanes going in each direction) when a driver turning onto West Circle Drive was too busy looking for oncoming traffic in the opposite direction to notice me coming, much less come to a full stop before the crosswalk.
I cannot ride my bike on the sidewalk, so why must you behave dangerously where I ride?
I also am particularly confused by the implication that a bike on the roadway poses some sort of threat or hazard to drivers.
Am I to understand that a person riding a 20-pound bike is somehow threatening to a driver caged up in thousands of pounds of steel?
In 99 of 100 collisions between a bicycle and a motor vehicle, the cyclist is the only one who is likely going to be injured.
I can possibly understand being worried about a cyclist riding unsafely damaging your vehicle, but given the “same road, same rules, same rights” mantra cycling advocates live by, this means they also are required to follow the rules of the road as motor vehicles, and are subject to the same consequences.
As for the assertion that the average cyclist is imitating Lance Armstrong, this is every bit as absurd as saying every motorist is imitating Mario Andretti.
Even so, Armstrong’s average 24.9 mph in the 2001 Tour de France is a speed any cyclist in good condition would scoff at in the context of a ride across MSU’s flat campus.
Even considering most of us choose to cruise along at a comfortable pace somewhere closer to 15 mph, I am constantly amazed at the hostility I face on a daily basis over an encounter that can amount to no more than one or two minutes of a motorist’s day.
I am honked at, yelled at, flipped off, intentionally cut off and even the target of objects thrown out the passenger side window. Is everybody really in such a hurry?
But, hey, snap out of it. You’re not Mario Andretti.
Those are the blinking lights on my white 2009 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno in front of you, and I’d appreciate it if you’d do your best to avoid them.
Scott Myers is a State News copy editor. Reach him at myerssc5@msu.edu.
Commentary
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Matt Flint
(04/13/09 8:03pm)Report
GIVE THIS GUY A RAISE!!
Matt Flint
(04/13/09 8:06pm)Report
Clarification: AYHSMB!
Gord
(04/13/09 8:07pm)Report
Before all these letters and op-eds started getting published last week, I used to have a non-attitude about bicyclists. Now, however, their pushy, in-your-face approach has really turned me off. It seems they want it both ways (to be in the road and on the sidewalk, whichever is most convenient at the time). Just being on campus for ten minutes this morning, I counted 15 students riding their bicycles on the sidewalk. Since cyclists are apparently as law-abiding as possible, should I start calling the cops each time I see someone riding their bike on the sidewalk?
Joe Sak
(04/13/09 8:21pm)Report
I love you Scott Myers
Laura Godek
(04/13/09 8:30pm)Report
check and mate. What a well-thought out counterpoint to that ig’nant column! Great job, Scott :]
FIXEEEEZZZ
(04/13/09 8:40pm)Report
BRAKEZ R 4 FAKEZ!!!
anika fassia
(04/13/09 8:59pm)Report
thank you for writing this.
gord: yes, some bicyclists cycle on the sidewalk, most claim because they are afraid to ride on the road, i don’t blame them. but this isn’t a perfect world, and even though bicyclists are supposed to ride on the road, that doesn’t mean they always do, hence, not all motorists know that bicyclists know that they must share the road and react with hostility, profanity, and unfortunately dangerous tactics.
Michael Babcock
(04/13/09 9:05pm)Report
Bravo!
wooo!
(04/13/09 9:22pm)Report
Excellent piece, Scott!
Erik
(04/13/09 9:29pm)Report
Scott is a strong writer, used to mess in the 90’s.
Thomas
(04/13/09 9:30pm)Report
Just being on campus for five minutes this morning I counted four cars not yielding to pedestrians in the cross walk, two not using turn signals, five speeding, one dropping somebody off blocking a cross walk and a bike lane at the same time, and one driving a really ugly car. Since car drivers are usually the most law-abiding road users, should I call the cops? Or am I too pushy now? It seems like all car drivers want it their way.
Ah, thanks for that rebuttal, Scott! Ride safely.
Jerrod
(04/13/09 9:38pm)Report
“I was riding in the opposite direction of the one-way traffic flow on West Circle Drive…” So let me get this straight… you were breaking the law? For me, this statement just speaks volumes about cyclists.
a. Rolex
(04/13/09 9:40pm)Report
LOL @ that stache!!!!! AND THE SOULPAAATCH!!
U R 2 CY00000T!
Hells Yeah
(04/13/09 9:45pm)Report
I think as an act of solidarity, all of my fellow cyclists should grow ‘staches just like Myers. And then when a car driver makes us mad, we can retaliate by each tying a damsel to the campus railroad tracks.
ehh...
(04/13/09 9:51pm)Report
“I also am particularly confused by the implication that a bike on the roadway poses some sort of threat or hazard to drivers.”
Cyclists don’t always follow the rules of the road. Some think they can do whatever they want – that is the threat. When I see someone on a bicycle riding down the road, not only do I have to go 10 mph under what I would usually be doing, I have to worry about whether or not they will decide to obey traffic laws. I’m sorry but many of your fellow bikers aren’t as law-abiding as you might be. Motorists are constantly looking out for the safety of cyclists because they don’t always look out for themselves.
a. Rolex
(04/13/09 9:52pm)Report
EYE
a. Rolex
(04/13/09 9:52pm)Report
LOVE YOU SCOTT
trigger
(04/13/09 10:03pm)Report
originally posted by ehh…
“Motorists don’t always follow the rules of the road. Some think they can do whatever they want – that is the threat. When I see someone in a car driving down the road, not only do I have to go 10 mph under what I would usually be doing, I have to worry about whether or not they will decide to obey traffic laws. I’m sorry but many of your fellow motorists aren’t as law-abiding as you might be. Cyclists are constantly looking out for the idiotic motorists because they don’t look out for anyone else.”
fixed it for you
a. Rolex
(04/13/09 10:07pm)Report
@Jerrod:
i actually prefer to drive my hummer h3 WASTEDDDD allll over the sidewalks.. roads.. lawns.. ANYTHING i can get my oversized wheels on.
and as far as your despise for bikes.. bikers.. etc >>>> assuming youre somewhere in the range of the ages 20-30.. youve had anywhere from 15 to 25 years to recover from the mental damages associated with the inability to ride a bicycle without training wheels.
I THINK ITS TIME FOR A NAPPY JER-ROD!
hmm.
(04/13/09 10:10pm)Report
@Trigger
Cute. Sorry, but I can’t remember the last time I saw someone on a bike signal their turn, or bother to stop at a stop sign. And as Mr. Myers said when it comes to the 20lb bike vs. the car, who will win? It’s for everyone’s own good to obey traffic laws.
Jerrod
(04/13/09 10:14pm)Report
so close Rolex, so close. Actually, I walk everywhere and drive a small car. Bicycles are a great form of transportation when used correctly — on the right hand side of the road (unless turning left) and not weaving in and out of pedestrians on the sidewalk, then cutting to the street, through the crosswalk on a red light, then weaving through more peds. have you gotten your latest issue of internet tough guy, the trolling special? you are one special creature.
GM
(04/13/09 10:28pm)Report
Where are these mythical cyclists who follow the letter of the law? With the exception of one or two times, I’ve never seen a cyclist use hand signals. The exceptions were older riders. And I’ve never seen a cyclist riding in the road stop at a stop sign. They’ll simply get on the sidewalk for a moment to avoid doing so and then get back on the road.
Cory
(04/13/09 10:32pm)Report
Wonderful column! I too wasn’t almost hit today riding my bike on the sidewalk. I try to ride on the street as much as possible but sometimes I can’t always. Thank you for spreading this message!
Griff
(04/13/09 10:40pm)Report
@Gord
Cyclists do not want it both ways. We obey the traffic laws, signal turns and intentions, and generally travel as vehicles. The only places that you will see us riding on a “sidewalk” is when there is a Multi Use Pathway that is designated for cyclists, pedestrians and others.
I will admit, there are some people out there who ride bicycles (I will not call them cyclists), who do not obey the rules of the road, ride on the sidewalks, and generally act as a nuisance. whenever I or another cyclist see these people, we attempt to educate them to the laws and rules that must be obeyed.
And, there are also many motorists who do not follow the rules of the road. They mess with their iPods, send text messages, and otherwise create a nuisance of themselves.
meh
(04/13/09 10:50pm)Report
Clearly satire.