Letter to the Editor
Cycling safety
Published Tuesday, May 27, 2008
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To the Editor:
I have been reading all the letters about the “crazy drivers” who endanger bicyclists on the roadway. While I can see how this is true, I would like to express that bicyclists present a danger to us as well. Case in point: While returning home from Fairbanks on May 10, I came around a corner to encounter two bicyclists riding abreast in the lane in which I was traveling. I slammed on my brakes and swerved around them, grateful there was not oncoming traffic. However, I was livid. Those two cyclists didn’t have a care in the world for their safety or that of my children and I. This I believe because they did not move to the shoulder of the road.
I am a safe, attentive driver and I always yield to pedestrians and cyclists alike. But when you deliberately endanger my children and I by acting in a negligent manner, I take it personally. It is just as much your responsibility to obey the rules and travel in a safe manner as it is ours. I am thankful to have avoided a possible tragedy; however, if given the choice between your safety and that of my children, my children always come first.
Community Discussion
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I've said it before and I will keep saying it: we all of us have stories about crazy or irresponsible drivers of all kinds of vehicles. Complaining about each other is normal, but isn't as functional as actually figuring how we should best interact for everyone's safety and ease of transport.
That said, I'm not really sure what the bicyclists did wrong in this case. Two bikes riding abreast in a lane is alright (more than two is not). From your letter, I don't know if there was a shoulder they could or should have been using. Did they run a stop sign or something? If you just rounded the corner, it is entirely likely they had no clue you were coming. Or were they riding against traffic? That would definitely be unsafe and illegal. But, again, I really can't tell based on your letter.
When bicyclists are REQUIRED to carry full-coverage insurance, obtain a bike rider's license, wear seatbelts, and OBEY traffic laws, then and only THEN will I consider them "roadworthy", until then, they can stay on the bike trails, thats what they're there for!
Question...if Ms. Ulery had rounded the corner and suddenly saw a car in the lane, how would she have reacted. What about a moose in the road? The cyclists did not endanger your children, you did, by rounding a blind curve at a speed that did not allow you to avoid a collision except by "slamming" on your brakes, and "swerving" out of the lane.
KingFisher907: "... until then, they can stay on the bike trails, thats what they're there for!"
And these bike trails, the ones that you claim exist -- they exist everywhere that a person has a legal right to travel? They are built and maintained in every single place that a street or road is, so that bicyclists may travel with the convenience and safety that motorists have come to take for granted?
No, no, no.
Your comment, KingFisher907, only highlights the fact that car ownership is currently a prerequisite to first-class citizenship, and it demonstrates that you like it that way. Perhaps you are an otherwise lovely person, but the auto-centric arrogance of your words is offensive.
--Paul Adasiak
"The Fairbanks Pedestrian" (http://fairbankspedestrian.wordpress.com...)
I'm with you KingFisher907...I've spoke about this before and pissed a lot of people off but the truth of the matter is BIKES DO NOT BELONG ON THE ROAD! I live close to a beautiful bike path...but DAILY I have to slow down to an almost stop to allow some biker use of the road; I can't go around, b/c of oncoming traffic, so traffic piles up until someone can pass these bikers.
I think it should be TICKET WORTHY of a biker to ride the road in plan site of a bike trail.
You old cranky people exaggerate a lot. I've never seen bikes out in the middle of the road. They're on the paths or on the shoulder. I don't believe that you're stopping DAILY for bikes that are in the road.
Heck, I stop more often for stupid drivers than bikes.
I did have an interesting occurrence Saturday. While on College (not at a light, just in the random middle of the road) a family was in the process of crossing the street on their bikes (again, NOT at a crosswalk). The Dad had made it across well before I was in range, but the Mom & little girl appeared to be (rightly so) waiting, as I wasn't the only car & they weren't at an intersection. What happened next could have ended tragically. The little girl decided to wait until I was quite close & then darted out in front of me. I of course slammed on my brakes. I think what bothered me the most was the mom's behavior. She didn't try to stop the child & literally just shrugged her shoulders & waved it off. This was a young child! If she had been mine I would've cared enough to get on her case, explain the consequences of playing in traffic & make her understand safety! Perhaps as they arrived to their destination they did, however my Mom sure wouldn't have waited that long. Discussion would've been best while it was fresh in her mind, as it was a very dangerous thing she did. It scared the bejiminy out of my passenger & I. I really hope they discussed it with her.
I am all for families outside & spending time together, that is a wonderful thing. Honestly it isn't done enough Just PLEASE, do it safely & teach your kids common sense & safety. It is for their own good.
cjg.. lol.. that was a good chuckle. But, unfortunately, the bike horror stories are true. I tend to notice more things when I pay attention. Something that us cranky old people tend to do. I now consider myself old.. i've finally found three lines near my eyes.
This past year, I've also noticed a few bikers, who are wearing expensive head gear, expensive biker clothes, riding expensive bikes pedalling along the Johanson Expy. Rich entitlements I suppose. Or, the paths along the expy are only for pedestrians. I've heard tell there are restrictions for bikers to be on those paths.
*sigh*
Like tom54, I don't understand this letter at all. What did they do, other than exist? Sounds like there's been a bit of literary exaggeration.
I might suggest to the author that if she has to slam on her brakes and swerve to avoid law-abiding cyclists, the issue is not the cyclists, but her unwillingness to drive within her ability.
What about the non law-abiding ones? Are we supposed to read their minds to know they will jump out? I am okay with mature bikers who are following the rules, the rest (& there are some) are much more of a worry.
Question:
If a car were going 2 mph and the speed limit is 45 mph, would that be a ticket worthy offense? (I honestly don't know)
Some of you are pretending that you cannot see why this was a dangerous situation..........a car going the speed limit rounds a corner and there is something moving slowly in the lane. That is dangerous.
Someone pointed out that a moose would be just as dangerous.....of course! A moose in the lane is something that will occasionally occur, and a danger that we live with in order to enjoy having moose in our town. Bikers blocking the whole lane and travelling far under the speed limit are there by choice, so they are willingly creating a situation where a collision may occur harming themselves or the people in the cars.
I have to agree with the author of the letter to the editor. If anyone in my family were biking on a road I would insist that they stay close to the shoulder and that they definitely do not block the lane, especially if the road has curves in it!!!!!
Darwinism will eventually weed out the people who endanger themselves.
Darwinism will eventually weed out the people who endanger themselves...No truer words spoke. Problem is, the bikers are there because the law allows it. Start getting used to them, prepare to drive accordingly or please leave your Auto's at home. Thanks so much, YouMustBConfused
love the bike paths but those too are a hazard as the moterized vehicles seem to be ok to NOT follow the rules and do not worry about continuing to be on the paths as they do not seem to be charged.
workin_mom: "Bikers blocking the whole lane and travelling far under the speed limit are there by choice...."
I won't take a position on whether it's legal or not to ride two or more abreast on streets and roads -- though it seems unsafe to me, and I'd never do it. Will any of my fellow cyclists speak up to explain why this it's a good idea to do so?
Riding under the speed limit is a choice only in those places where the speed limit is under 15-20 MPH. I'm sure you don't think that there are any cyclists capable of pedaling Fairbanks-area roads at 40 MPH, and that they are only going 15 to spite you.
Also, when you say that cyclists are there by choice, please keep in mind the choices we (collectively, as a community) have given them. In the absence of safe, convenient bike paths, their choices may be: (a) bike on the side of the road, (b) drive a car, or (c) go somewhere else. Every citizen has a right to travel to every public place, and car ownership (besides being socially and ecologically harmful) is an unfair burden for exercising that right. That leaves option (a) -- or walking.
While there may be something to be said against those who bike abreast on shared roadways, please be sure not to condemn cyclists for traveling in what may be the only way we have allowed.
YouMustBeConfused,
I agree that bikes are legally allowed to be on the roads. I ride my bike on the roads all of the time!!
What I am saying is that legal or not, those bikers made a bad choice and endangered other drives..........not cool!!
If it is legal to drive 2 mph in a 45 mph area, and a car was doing that on a windy road and got rear-ended I would say that they asked for it. If circumstnaces are such that you have to drive that slowly (car troubles, flat tire, driving a tractor etc) most drivers choose to drive on the shoulder giving traffic that is going the speed limit room to flow, and decreasing the liklihood of being rear-ended.
So, even though it is legal, forcing a dangerous situation is not smart, especially when there is an easy and safe alternative of riding single file and close to the shoulder.
workin_mom, that is a lot of "if"? I don’t know what kind of bike you ride but I fall over if I ride 2 miles an hour on my bike? Point being is that you and I were not on that road during that incident, and so we do not know the "circumstances"?
Again, a little common sense on both sides of the fence are needed. Both modes of transportation are allowed, the law allows for this. Both modes have Darwin award winners, when it comes to specific incidents please slow down, save some gas and realize that it is the law.
YouMustBConfused
If cyclists want their bicycles to be considered vehicles, then they should have to be registered with the DMV. I'll let you decide which part of the bike is the "motor", but the V still stands for vehicles. Said cyclist should then have to pass a test proving they are able to handle the responsiblity of driving a bike on the road.
If a cyclist's "vehicle" is not registered, their bike should be impounded until it becomes registered and pay a fine. If a cyclist is not obeying the rules of the road such as signaling when turning, driving within resonable range (above or below) of the speed limit, and not having inspections made by a trained professional every two years to make sure your bicycle is in proper working condition, the cyclist should be fined.
Bike manufacturers should also submit all their bikes to crash tests to ensure their bikes provide enough safety for the cyclist. Tests involving bike on bike, bike on brick wall, and bike on telephone poll collisions should be sufficient. New crash test dummies will have to be designed to ensure accuracy of the results of the experiment.
If all this sounds a bit rediculous to you, then riding a bike down the middle of the fricken road sounds rediculous to me!! "Driving" a vehicle that you can only sustain at 15 mph while vehicles pass you at 60 mph in the middle of the lane sounds like the actions of a drunk person! This is like someone being upset because Eielson won't let them use their runway to land hang gliders.
Gosh, that 2 MPH comment cracked me up! I would fall over just like YouMustBeConfused. I walk all over FBKS and very rarely see cyclists on a road, they usually stick to the sidewalk. When I'm driving out of town or something I'll see one here or there on the shoulder of the road if there aren't sidewalks or bike trails. It's summertime now and there will be ALOT more people out walking and riding and enjoying the warm weather. People should only cross at intersections tho, it IS scary when people Jay-Walk(or ride)because there are inexperienced drivers(or just plain ol' stupid drivers) and accidents happen.
its hilarious how this topic pushes peoples buttons on both sides of the arguement. Drivers, bikers...both use caution and learn to get along!
I see the princess is critiquing others' parenting again. I hope that when she assumes the throne and is AKqueen, she remembers that there is a heck of a lot more that goes into raising kids than the glimpses she catches while tooling around town in her horse-drawn carriage. That way her subjects won't be subjected to her parenting mandates.
Oh, for the love of Pete...
I merely hoped (in writing) that this child's parents explained the error of being six & playing chicken by randomly not crossing at a crosswalk in fairly busy traffic.
Apparently you think that is acceptable or reward-able behavior?
I am so sorry I was concerned about the welfare of the darting child. Silly me, parents must have the freedom to endanger their children at will I guess. You forgot to send me that memo.
If bikes operated as they do and are required to do all over Europe: ride single file in the traffic lane as close to the shoulder as possible so that traffic can pass them,leaving 16 inches of clearance between the traffic,car or truck and the bike all would be fine. When I lived in Fairbanks, many times I encountered on Goldstream Road bikers riding three abreast and in the road. Their response when I honked was the finger, not obeying the law. I guess they were more concerned about spandex then safety.
Bikers pay attention and learn !!!
Silly you, indeed. Often times, parents choose to discipline their kids privately... out of disapproving gaze of people who think they know everything there is to know about raising children. Perhaps the child’s mother knew how her girl learned best and addressed the situation at a different time… when it was quiet and there were no distractions like screeching brakes or royal motorcades. Why, princess, do you assume that every time you see a child make a mistake that they must have bad parents... unless you followed this family for the rest of the evening and did not note a discussion about bike safety and the obvious teaching/learning moment that occurred crossing the street?
It seems like no one can make a parenting move in this town without your approval. You are the one who makes a point of interjecting yourself to parents when you consent of their childrens’ behavior, are you not?
#$%^#$! Another bicycle thread?!
KingFisher & BoomBam take your blathering arguments to the legislature...bicycles are legal and for good reason, in Alaska and all the other 49 states.
What I find most amazing (after reading these online forums) is that when I drive my car or ride my bike nearly all, if not all, the interactions I have with the other form of transportation are legal, harmonious, safe, and friendly. Thanks to all the drivers & riders that signal and/or yield where appropriate, thanks to all those bicycles that ride as far right as is safe, and thanks to all those drivers that pass only when there is enough room to safely pass.
One Voice,
Show me a beautiful bike trail in this town and I'll show you a road without any potholes!
I thought Alaska required a driver's test before being licensed? If so, why are so many fools posting above? Maybe they are unlicensed?
Some of you people need the following engraved on the inside of your F350 windshields (in all fairness, some bike enthusiasts need a review too):
13 AAC 02.400. Riding bicycles on roadways and bicycle paths
(a) A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, and shall give way to the right as far as practicable to a motor vehicle proceeding in the same direction when the driver of the motor vehicle gives audible signal.
(b) Persons riding bicycles on a roadway may not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Persons riding bicycles two abreast may not impede traffic and, in a laned roadway, shall ride within the farthest right lane.
(c) When a shoulder of the highway is maintained in good condition, an operator of a bicycle shall use the shoulder of the roadway.
(d) A person operating a bicycle on a trail, path, sidewalk, or sidewalk area shall
(1) exercise care to avoid colliding with other persons or vehicles;
(2) give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian; and
(3) yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian.
(e) Repealed 6/28/79.
(f) A person riding a bicycle intending to turn left shall, unless he dismounts and crosses as a pedestrian, comply with the provisions of sec. 200 of this chapter. The operator of a bicycle must give a signal by hand and arm continuously during the last 100 feet traveled unless the hand is needed in the control or operation of the bicycle. When stopped to await an opportunity to turn, a hand and arm signal must be given continuously by the operator.
(g) No person may ride a bicycle upon a