Quartz:
I’ve discovered a life-saving device that allows cyclists to protect themselves and take back the road: the pool noodle. Use a bungee cord to strap this light, flexible toy to your bike rack so that it sticks out to the left side (or the right side, if you’re in a country where cars drive on the left). Start pedaling and watch as car after car moves over to the other lane.
Yeah, it may look silly and isn’t 100% effective but anything that increases the margin of safety is a good thing. Plus, it helps when you go jump in a lake. Thanks to John Gondor for the link.
Love the idea. I can’t tell you how much abuse I’ve received over the years while riding on my bike. Most people are nice but that 2-3% can ruin your day, or your life.
I’m not sure a noodle is going to prevent us from being hit and if anything it will increase the driver hostility.
It would help keep them farther than arms length.
In Quebec Canada, it is now a law for cars to keep 1.5 m lateral distance with bike on a road. In our province, bike has right to circulate in all road, except highway.
Thus, on 90 km/hr countryside road, where a lot of people go train, this noodle should be a great reminder to cars what 1.5 m really is.
I’m a cyclist, but find this obnoxious and fear it causes harm to the community in general. Part of this is because I kept having a guy who did this in our downtown which prevented people from being able to pass him, but he’d happily run through red lights and ride illegally on the sidewalks.
nonsense. it’s a direct reaction to the fact that cars don’t honor the 3’ rule. cyclists have a right to exist, and if showing the space reduces injury, i’m all for it.
if it increases visibility and mindfulness, i can’t see how it could possibly be a bad idea. please share what data you have to indicate it makes cycling more dangerous.
I’m all for increased visibility, but it is definitely not going to decrease hostility towards cyclists.
The issue is that this makes that 3′ rule more like a 6-10′ rule which is not possible in a lot of situations. Blockading a lane doesn’t seem to me the right approach if we are trying to increase sympathy and respect for cyclists.
I’m a cyclist as well but I have to admit there’s plenty of doucebaggery on both sides of these issues.