Bike Safety – Jan 2010
Posted by South Mountain Villager on January 23, 2010
Kudos to the City of Phoenix for beautifying the Highline Canal and Bike Path, I have often ridden a bicycle on the path for about 25 years and noted the previous conditions on internet photo and video sites. I am very glad the pavement is being improved and rain runoff has its own path. The artistic additions wonderfully highlight the area’s history.
There will probably be more cyclists using the path now and motorists will notice that. I am a League Cycling Instructor (certified by the League of American Bicyclists <www.bikeleague.org>) and practice and preach safe, legal and effective cycling. For example, there are STOP signs for cyclists on the Highline Path at each street intersection. Respecting these signs improves the interaction between the various types of traffic, just as it does at all intersections.
Several times, motorists have noticed me waiting for traffic to clear at one of those STOP signs, and have offered to let me cross in front of them. Each time I have declined the offer, offering the explanation “Please do not encourage bicyclists to break the law”. There are several reasons for that. 1. Inexperienced cyclists will get a false sense of security and will, someday, encounter less benevolent motorists. 2. Trying to be “courteous” winds up delaying everybody. Rules of the road not only protect all of us, they eliminate time waste when “who should go first” is re-invented over and over again. 3. I’ve seen three or four following cars delayed when one was “courteous to a fault”.
These aspects of cycling as well as knowledge of laws and skills to keep cycling safe are given in our Traffic Skills 101 classes. We teach driving a bicycle. “Riding” is a passive act, such as riding in the back of a car. Driving is a full-time, proactive process that requires constant attention to surroundings and being predictable.
Gene Holmerud
Educational VP – Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists
