The Pedalers for Progress asked me to share an article they ran accross in an Idaho newspaper called The Idaho Statesmen. I can’t reprint it in it’s entirety so I ask you to go to the link to read the entire article. However, there are a few segments that I will share from Colleen LaMay’s article.
BY COLLEEN LAMAY – clamay@idahostatesman.com
The death of cyclist Kevin Pavlis along Hill Road last week doesn’t help, said Joe Savola, husband of Kristin Armstrong, gold medal winner at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
“What he was doing is what we do on a daily basis,” Savola said. “We ride right by where he got hit.”
With three bicyclists killed in crashes with cars in the past month, Armstrong and Savola talked Tuesday to the Idaho Statesman about safety for bicyclists and motorists. They emphasized that they were making no judgments about what happened in the deadly wrecks or who was at fault.
“There are mistakes on both sides, but let’s have a little tolerance,” Savola said.
Motorists and bike riders alike can make mistakes on the road, but it is bicyclists who pay, not motorists in the wraparound armor of their cars. “The motorists are the ones that have the loaded gun,” Savola said.
10 TIPS FOR DRIVERS
1. Different but equal: In all states, cyclists are deemed by law to be drivers of vehicles and are entitled to the same rights on the road as motorists.
2. Patience, not patients: You may need to wait until it is safe to pass a bicycle. Don’t tailgate. In conditions where there is not enough room for cyclists to ride to the right, they are allowed to ride closer to the lane of traffic, and sometimes even in the traffic lane.
3. A passing grade: Don’t pass cyclists until you can see that it is safe to do so. Allow ample space between your vehicle and the bicycle. If you pass too close, the drag from your car can cause the rider to swerve out of control.
4. The right behavior: Watch out for cyclists when you turn right. A bicyclist may be to the right of you and planning to go straight at the same intersection. Do not speed ahead of bicyclists thinking you can negotiate the turn before they reach your car. Cyclists may be going faster than you think, and as you slow to turn, they could crash into the side of your vehicle.
5. To the left, to the left: Also look for cyclists when making a left-hand turn. Cyclists who are traveling straight through the same intersection from the opposite direction may be going faster than you realize.
6. A back-up plan: When backing out of your driveway, always look to see if someone is in your path.
7. Parking: After parallel parking, make sure the coast is clear for opening the car door to exit. Make sure there are no cyclists riding alongside your car or fast approaching. By using the rear view mirrors and by turning around, a driver can spot approaching cyclists and prevent disaster.
8. Respect: Cyclists help the environment with each revolution of their wheels by opting to ride rather than drive. Do not resent them.
9. Honking: If you need to honk your horn to alert cyclists that you are about pass, do so at a distance. Otherwise, the noise can cause cyclists to lose their bearings.
10. Try it, you’ll like it: If you can’t beat them, join them. Riding is good for you and good for your environment.
Source: http://yieldtolife.org
