Take this test...Don't stand in the bike lane...
Thanks to Slockwoo for the link...
http://www.dothetest.co.uk/
Now, here's the thing. In Philadelphia, especially West Philadelphia, there are bike lanes that are clearly marked. While not everyone does this, a significant amount of riders wear lights, in addition to having reflectors on their bikes, to improve visibility. I don't understand why people and cars can't seem to stay out of the bike lane. I don't understand why drivers don't take two seconds to look before opening their car doors.
People - drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists - we need to work together on this or else people will continue to be killed and hurt in ways that are completely preventable.
Cyclists - wear your freaking helmet, all the time. Obey traffic laws, stop blowing the light and weaving through the cars. It freaks out drivers and makes the rest of us cyclists look bad. When cars try to run me off the road, I have no doubt it's because a cyclist probably cut them off and nearly caused an accident previously.
Pedestrians - if you are going to jaywalk, then make sure that you pay attention to what's going on in the bike lane too, not just the main road. Do NOT stand in the middle of the bike lane (or the street for that matter). If someone tells you to move out of the way, pick a direction and move; we'll do the rest, thanks. Oh and don't push someone on a bike - we're balancing on 2 inches of rubber, if you push, we're going down. Oh and if you cause an accident, do the stand up thing and deal with the consequences.
Drivers - you have to share the road, it's the law. Just deal with it. I know that there are a lot of asshole cyclists (and pedestrians), but please don't take your anger out on every cyclist you see. You are surrounded by a ton a steel; the little bit of steel that I have, I can pick up with one hand. Drivers, we are LEGALLY allowed to take the lane and ride as a vehicle, especially if we need to make left turns (we can't make a left from the far right bike lane). Being a driver it is your duty and responsibility to know traffic law, including all the bike stuff you skimmed over in the back of the driver license manual. Just because you didn't think that it was important doesn't make it true. Learn it, know it, live it. You are saving lives by knowing what's what.
Everyone, be safe out there. Look out for one another. No more of us against them. We can do this.
http://www.dothetest.co.uk/
Now, here's the thing. In Philadelphia, especially West Philadelphia, there are bike lanes that are clearly marked. While not everyone does this, a significant amount of riders wear lights, in addition to having reflectors on their bikes, to improve visibility. I don't understand why people and cars can't seem to stay out of the bike lane. I don't understand why drivers don't take two seconds to look before opening their car doors.
People - drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists - we need to work together on this or else people will continue to be killed and hurt in ways that are completely preventable.
Cyclists - wear your freaking helmet, all the time. Obey traffic laws, stop blowing the light and weaving through the cars. It freaks out drivers and makes the rest of us cyclists look bad. When cars try to run me off the road, I have no doubt it's because a cyclist probably cut them off and nearly caused an accident previously.
Pedestrians - if you are going to jaywalk, then make sure that you pay attention to what's going on in the bike lane too, not just the main road. Do NOT stand in the middle of the bike lane (or the street for that matter). If someone tells you to move out of the way, pick a direction and move; we'll do the rest, thanks. Oh and don't push someone on a bike - we're balancing on 2 inches of rubber, if you push, we're going down. Oh and if you cause an accident, do the stand up thing and deal with the consequences.
Drivers - you have to share the road, it's the law. Just deal with it. I know that there are a lot of asshole cyclists (and pedestrians), but please don't take your anger out on every cyclist you see. You are surrounded by a ton a steel; the little bit of steel that I have, I can pick up with one hand. Drivers, we are LEGALLY allowed to take the lane and ride as a vehicle, especially if we need to make left turns (we can't make a left from the far right bike lane). Being a driver it is your duty and responsibility to know traffic law, including all the bike stuff you skimmed over in the back of the driver license manual. Just because you didn't think that it was important doesn't make it true. Learn it, know it, live it. You are saving lives by knowing what's what.
Everyone, be safe out there. Look out for one another. No more of us against them. We can do this.