Share the Road: Cyclists rights and wrongs
It seems that not a day goes by on one of my commutes or group rides where a motorist takes umbrage for me riding my bike on the road. It seems that these drivers believe the road was built solely for their use and that anyone else who dares use the same piece of tarmac they chose to drive on are the devil’s spawn! To be honest I don’t think they only pick on cyclists; this class of driver hates ANYONE who dares to hinder their ability to cause havoc.
Based on my experience and talking with other non-cycling motorist, I think there is a general lack of understanding as to what cyclists rights are. In fact I’d say that most cyclists aren’t aware of the rules they are expected and/or required to follow. Both sides are guilty of not following the rules and executing some truly bone-headed moves.
So why is it so hard for motorists and cyclists to just get along and play nice?
Hospitals, Helmets, and Backpacks
Well it has been a week since my accident, but I’m healing well. All things considered I got extremely lucky.
Lucky? You got hit be a friggin’ car!
Well, yes I did, but the damage is mainly superficial. It could have been much worse. The reason I’m not still in Hospital is due to the equipment I was wearing. Specifically my helmet and backpack. These two (2) items saved me from more serious injuries. Also my choice of clothing reduced even further injuries.
So how did these items help? I mean riding a bike leaves you very exposed, so the risk of injury is quite high. From an outsiders perspective, most cyclists appear almost naked. Compared to a motorcyclist this assessment is fairly apt. So what protection do cyclists actually have?
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