Liveleak:
It’s amazing how these motorists don’t even notice the cyclist. There were a number of near misses but in the end they got him.
Car drivers, please keep a eye out for those of us who ride on two wheels and give us a break. Thanks to Dan Frakes on Twitter for the link.
As a bike rider myself, though I normally go on bike trails and avoid the bike/car interface as much as possible, I have to say there are some really stupid bike riders out there as well.
Here in San Diego County, there’s quite a few bike lanes that are plenty wide and well marked. And yet these stupid biker riders – mostly when riding in groups – will ride side-by-side with one rider right on the line, or even in the car’s lane. They think since there are three lanes, they ought to get the right lane in addition to their bike lane. That does not work here in California or anywhere else.
I sympathize with the sentiment here, but I seethe when I see bike riders do stupid things and make other bike riders look clue-impaired.
I ride daily (often multiple times to train, commute and for fun with our son). That compilation is quite accurate in my experience. In fact, I all too often call it a “vehicle-eat-bike” world out there.
While I’ve been on the losing end of a collision like the one we saw in the video (don’t ask), and one would assume I’d put the blame entirely on drivers, but that’s not the case. I’ve come to the conclusion that bikes and drivers, both, need to do better.
Ultimately, however, vehicles weigh in at 2,000lbs-plus and many of us on bikes are around 150lbs, bike and all. One would think that differential would make drivers much more aware of the havoc they create when they collide with a pedestrian or cyclist, but it’s not the case.
I think that differential makes drivers less aware.
Alas, I agree. That and talking on the phone, eating, putting on makeup, watching the latest episode of Arrow, and other distracted driver-related stuff And those are just the drivers that don’t hate bicyclists.
Ride safe.
Do yourself a favour and don’t read the comments.
I don’t read the comments on any web site except for this one. 🙂
In that case I’d guess the fault was found with the bicyclist. Yes the car could/should have waited, but the bike ran in to the SIDE of the car because the cyclist wasn’t watching the road ahead at the intersection.
Bike lane or not, the cyclist did NOT have a clear line of site of traffic at the yield sign but ignored that fact and didn’t slow down at all at the yield sign. Yield means you have to pay attention to avoid the main flow of traffic, stopping if needed, it is never a “green light”.
So the guy can bitch all he wants, he’s not a safe rider and he’s riding amongst unsafe drivers.
“but at 40kph I couldn’t.”
Which is a problem.
Too often, cyclists cross intersections seemingly out of nowhere. At such speeds, and with the small profile of a bike, they simply aren’t there at one moment, and crashing into your side the next moment.
Yes, car drivers need to pay much more attention (and the video shows multiple situations where they clearly didn’t), but cyclists also need to be aware of their low visibility and adapt their speeds when in situations like intersection crossings.
Every time I cross a bike lane while turning, I look multiple times in each directions to watch for cyclists. I am still afraid that one day one of them will come barging into my side at high speed.
The lack of understanding between car drivers and cyclists goes both ways. As a car driver, who hopefully always pays enough attention, I urge cyclists to slow down every once in a while in difficult situations like intersections (just as I slow down, e.g. when driving through a narrow residential street).
I get so angry when I see cyclists put themselves in harms way. Running stop signs is rampant in my city but if I dare to honk, I’m the jerk. Right. And we have an issue with people not bothering to signal prior to a turn, I’m a conscientious driver and I want to give space when necessary but all the biking folks in town have huge chips on their shoulders and an entitlement mentality. It isn’t safe and I fear it will take high profile accidents or death(s) before people take notice. Our local police like to whine over budget shortfalls but the reality is they could make a killing just stopping cars and bikes for moving offenses.
“Car drivers, please keep a eye out for those of us who ride on two wheels and give us a break. ” Ditto to the cyclists who often come off as crying wolf here- pay attention to all the traffic laws ALL THE TIME and you’ll be much safer.
“you’ll be much safer.” Agreed but sometimes you can obey all the rules and still get in an accident. And when two wheels meets four, two always loses. 🙁