SuperAwesomeBlog

Before I start what is likely to be interpreted as an anti-bicycle rant I want to make something clear.  I have three goals when I drive my car:

1. Don’t kill anyone.

2. Don’t die.

3. Get from point A to point B.

Now, as I write this I just got home after nearly running over a man on a bicycle driving at about 5pmh on one of the busiest roads in town.  He was in the middle of the right lane driving like he was a car. The bicyclist was slowing down traffic in the right lane, causing everyone to change lanes to go around him, conjesting traffic in the left lane and nearly causing some accidents there too!  I was furious.  Not only was the man seriously constipating traffic he was endangering his own life and others.

This was one of several near misses I’ve had over the last month.  Earlier last week I saw a bicyclist ride up to some cars at a red light, weave in and out around them, and run the red to take a left through a busy intersection.  Remarkably he didn’t die. There are many more examples and I’m sure you’ve seen a number yourself.

Now, in case you’re not familiar with the differences between a “car” and a “bicycle” here’s are some before and after pictures of a rear impact to both classes of vehicles to help illustrate my point:

Above is a 2010 Ford Taurus.  On the left is how the car normally looks, and on the right is how the car looks after a rear collision.

Above is a typical bicyclist riding on the road like he’s in a car.  On the right is what a bicycle looks like after getting hit in a rear collision.

You don’t want to see the bicyclist.

I love my bicycle.  I ride it whenever I can, but when I do I try to be cautious and defensive.  Bicyclist need to stay to the right on streets, and only ride on them if no sidewalk is available.  It’s for everyone’s safety.  Simple as that.