Do not assume that a motorist sees you because you are there. Make eye contact with the driver of a vehicle. If you are riding a bike on a lane that does not have room for a bike and a car, ride in the middle of the lane. It is less dangerous than allowing the motorist to determine how much room YOU need as he tries to squeeze by. If there is a parking lane, driving next to the parked cars presents many dangers, one of which is mentioned above. People do not look for bikes before they open their car doors, and that can be fatal. Again, occupy the middle of the lane. You are also more visible to drivers at intersections if you are in the middle of the lane. It is more dangerous for a cyclist to move in and out of the traffic flow, e.g. move over into the empty parking spaces between parked cars, than to remain in the lane and force cars to pass safely. Studies have shown that the majority of accidents occur when cyclists are entering or leaving the flow of traffic. In most cities bikes are required to follow the same laws that motorists follow. They are not required to yield to motorists just because they are moving more slowly. There are very few accidents where the bicyclist is rear-ended by a car.

Wear a helmet at all times. Also, if you have a rear view mirror, use it. I’ve found that the type that attach to the helmet are best, and with a short turn of the head you can scan the entire background. In an urban environment use a loud police whistle and keep it in your mouth. One such whistle has saved my life many times. Loudly colored clothing, even the kind that is sold in bike stores and looks like racing gear, makes you more visible and that’s a good thing.

For you motorists, you need to lighten up. Roadways are made for people, not for cars. That bicycle rider has as much right to be on the road as you do, and he/she has the absolute right to ride in a way that enhances his/her safety rather than your convenience. I have seen stupid drivers race past a cyclist on the left so that they can immediately make a sharp right directly in front of the cyclist. For those motorists that believe in the “right of superior tonnage”, well… I weigh 260 lbs, have a second degree black belt in karate, and invite you to step out of your car and test the extent of your belief. To put it simply, the law does not give you special rights simply because you have the ability to kill someone with your vehicle.

For bicyclists, use common sense and courtesy. If you come to a stop-light it is better to hold your place in line, rather than blithely continue between cars to the front of the line, thereby forcing all of the cars that have already had to pass you to do so again. This really irritates people. You are required by law to yield to pedestrians. Remember, a certain number of pedestrians are killed by cyclists every year. You don’t want to be responsible for that. Neither do you motorists want to be responsible for killing, injuring or maiming someone. So share the road, slow down and take it easy.

Yet now, still a casual biker, but in the deep south-east where one “fends for one’s self,” even I find myself getting mad at the bikers who won’t move to the right for their own safety.

My screed will end with the words “Arrogance gets one nowhere.” And whatever the fuck that means…I ain’t know.