Advocacy sticky?

[Delmar]

Hi All,

Ive been spending a fair bit more time on the road in the last year after a long time off, and have just got a new roadie to sharpen the legs for xc. I used to commute on the bike in sydney, but I've been reminded about just how ignorant drivers can be and how dangerous it can be on the black top.

So... we had a commuting 'war stories' thread a while back in which quite a lot of good advice was dispensed- I'm wondering if this sort of thing would be good as a sticky. It seems to me that a thread to keep us reminded of the things we can do make riding safer and more popular, improve driver attitudes and just generally be safe for our own sake might be worthwhile.

Stories about what worked or didn't in disputes with drivers, good commuting routes (although I know there's a site for this), opportunities for postive activism, etc. Just an ongoing pooling of wisdom and resources I guess.

At one level there's only so much you can say on this topic, but much of it would bear repetition/reminder.

Besides, close call stories are entertaining and helps keep us on our toes!

Mods?

 

[Bodin]

Cautionary tale...

I got cleaned up by a car (while commuting in a clearly-marked bike lane) just over three months ago and just got on the bike again yesterday. After two rides in two days, the pain in my A/C joint tells me that this whole grade 2 tear thingy isn't going to heal itself and I know I'm going to need an operation.

I had to have a bit of a phone tussle with the driver over the couple of weeks after the accident to get him to take his responsibilities seriously, but he eventually helped me out with the cost of my bike repairs.

Fortunately, it was treated as a road accident - an ambulance and police attended the scene - and I'm now covered by the TAC for medical costs.

Unfortunately, however, nobody got the details of the witnesses to the accident, which makes it almost impossible for me to call the driver a liar about some of the things he told the police.

If you've got your wits about you (I sorta didn't), MAKE SURE YOU GET WITNESS DETAILS. It makes life incredibly hard if you don't have them and I can tell you from experience that you can't rely on others (including the police ) to get them for you.


***As far as the sticky goes, let's see what others contribute... it's a good idea, though.

 

[ducan]

I know some will hate this but...

Ive been hit a couple of times and unless my bike is scattered across the road I tend to apologise and ride off. I reckon its the risk you take. The road is built for cars after all.

My opinion anyway...

 

[skivi]

The road is built for cars after all.

im not having a go at you but we are rightfully entitled to our portion of the road too. i think it's really important to remember this and to know how to not only hold your ground whilst on the road but also it's equally important to know when to step down, unfortunately some drivers think we're like little fly's that wont piss off, it's not until we're under the wheels of their land cruiser that they realise we are people too.

when i'm on the road i ride within the law, i try and think ahead and i always make sure if things go pear shaped, or there's a driver that doesn't like me i can get out. and i'm guessing this approach has served me well because i've never been involved in any serious road accidents whilst on the bike.

to add some pep to this rather dull post i did have a mate who was a professional triathlete, one weekend morning (very early) he was riding on beach road as usual when he was T-bonned by a car merging onto the road. his $9,000 canonndale race bike went under the wheels of the car and he bounced off the bumper and into the gutter. from memory the injuries weren't to bad to ben (considering the crash) but the bike was an absolute write off, i saw it a few days later and it could just about fit in a shoe box the pieces were that small. the worst part was the driver did a runner and left ben seriously hurt, lying in the gutter. everything eventually sorted itself out as the driver came forward and paid for a new bike etc ben continued to race and did well.

 

[Delmar]

The road is built for cars after all.

My opinion anyway...

Just not true, historically or legally. Seems a shame to have it as your opinion, as it just adds to the 'tide of assumption' that makes it harder for bikes to be more accepted.

 

[N?A]

Well I hate thos hired "Wickd" or "Britz" vans. I almost got collected by one of them the other day when I was riding down the main street. He looked at me, then pulled out straight in front of me. I was blessed with functional brakes

 

[Ham]

I know some will hate this but...

Ive been hit a couple of times and unless my bike is scattered across the road I tend to apologise and ride off. I reckon its the risk you take. The road is built for cars after all.

My opinion anyway...

well technically the roads were paved due to cyclists lobbying the government and you wont see me apologize unless its my fault.

 

[ducan]

Well obviously didnt do google or yr 12...

I guess what i ment is the speed difference between a car and a cyclist are generally pretty high and I tend to let try not to muscle cars or get in there way because of that... Kind of do my thing and they do theres. ( Does anyone get me ) ?

Question though: In any case does the car have right of way ? Or are cyclist just like vehicles ?

 

[Ham]

Well obviously didnt do google or yr 12...

I guess what i ment is the speed difference between a car and a cyclist are generally pretty high and I tend to let try not to muscle cars or get in there way because of that... Kind of do my thing and they do theres. ( Does anyone get me ) ?

Question though: In any case does the car have right of way ? Or are cyclist just like vehicles ?

cyclists are classed as a vehicle and the road rules apply to them and i generally try to give cars space where practical.

 

[Delmar]

Rephrase

Just not true, historically or legally. Seems a shame to have it as your opinion, as it just adds to the 'tide of assumption' that makes it harder for bikes to be more accepted.

That was hasty, I'll rephrase: Historically and legally thats not true, although where the rubber hits the road (in peoples attitudes and how roads are currently configured), what you say is to some extent true: the roads are only for cars. Not that thats the way it should be!

Anyone here ever had any success with bikes being considered in the building of infrastructure? Any good resources you can point us to? I know there's other sites for this but the Farkin community is pretty big, so it would be good to have this sort of thing being promoted!

 

[maxwolfie]

Are cyclists legally obligated to obey speed limits and red lights etc? Anything that doesn't apply?

 

[Delmar]

Are cyclists legally obligated to obey speed limits and red lights etc? Anything that doesn't apply?

With respect, this is maybe why we need this to be a sticky!!!!!

Speed limits: Yes! (although i did 85 in a 60 the other day...)
Lights: YES!
etc: YES!

 

[ducan]

WTF speeding shit..

Watch the roads this christmas guys its double demerits. You could loose your licsense in one hit. Just make sure your computers are set and reading proberly and keep under the speed limit. If you feel the need to speed, do it responsibly at the velodrome.

If i was to ever get a fine for speeding on my roadie i will ... laugh and frame the paper.

 

[Nerf Herder]

... You could loose your licsense in one hit. Just make sure your computers are set and reading proberly and keep under the speed limit. If you feel the need to speed, do it responsibly at the velodrome.

I'm likely misreading your post ... but how do you lose your license on a pushie ?

Policeman: "License and registration please"
Cyclist: "Uhmmm ... [brain thinking]
option 1 ... I don't have a license
option 2 ... I don't carry a wallet in my nicks
option 3 ... I don't need a license to ride a bicycle
option 4 ... I'm sorry for speeding ... here you go. [hands over license and gets whacked on head by all his mates]

Notwithstanding, bicycles must follow the road rules when on the road.

... Seems a shame to have it as your opinion, as it just adds to the 'tide of assumption' that makes it harder for bikes to be more accepted.

Thats a little harsh ... Although I don't agree with the apologise for being hit bit [unless you were doing something stupid] ... I agree that in the end the person most likely to die in a collision has it in their best interest to be more cautious, and do not presume that the other knob behind the wheel will consider your rights and safety. This goes for Pedestrians, Cyclists and Barina drivers.

I ride a moto and commute to work most days with the occassional pushie commute ... I was taught to take responsibility for my own safety and not to assume others will see me, not cut me off or even obey the road rules ... so if you ride on the road you take the risks and need to make you own judgements.

So although broad educational aims help, I think the way motorcyclists are taught (nowdays) is the best way. Enjoy, but beware ... know when to ride aggressively and when to be defensive (usually around Taxis, Volvos and Subarus) ... and know when not to ride.

 

[craign]

MAKE SURE YOU GET WITNESS DETAILS.

This is the most useful bit of information in this thread! Make sure you get the details, like Bodin the first time I was hit I didn't. The driver made stuff up and had 'witnesses' (i.e. passengers) in his car. If only I'd gotten the details of the off-duty ambo that helped me off the road...