John in CR
100 TW
If what we read and see online is true relations between motorists and cyclists have definitely gone down hill in some parts of the world. Judging by the attitudes I've seen on both sides they're likely to get worse without some change, and good opportunities are being passed up. Take for example Critical Mass group rides. While I'm sure they're fun for participants, since there's no message, the result is more friction from drivers. CM is a missed opportunity that does more harm than good.
Complaining does nothing except to reinforce negative attitudes of those in the same group. I believe prevention is the best cure for any ill, and while I personally use speed and acceleration to achieve safety through distance, avoidance has little impact on fixing relations. A courteous rider has limited impact, because one bad apple or one crazy youtube video can spoil the bunch the same as one crazed bus driver intentionally ramming a cyclist can.
So what can we do? How about bringing it up in the conversation of any mixed group? It's an interesting topic of conversation that many will have strong feelings about, and the beauty of it is that unlike politics or religion you can actually change minds. Coming across like Chalo won't be productive, and I've seen plenty of pent up anger from cyclists toward motorists, so care to avoid anger is warranted, including the too common almost militant cyclist attitude. It makes for interesting conversation, because their perceptions of cyclists are as wacky as some of ours about them. No sane person wants to run over someone, so we can use it as an opportunity to plant 3 ideas:
1. Cyclists have a right to be on the road just as much as any car. Go into the law and history if necessary.
2. Each cyclist means 1 less car and therefore less traffic.
3. Cyclists are completely unprotected. Those silly helmets are almost meaningless, especially when the majority of serious heat injuries in cycling are injuries to the face. That means what would be a small fender bender with another car can easily kill a cyclists. They need to treat a cyclist as a fast moving pedestrian.
1 and 2 are just foundation to get them to agree that it's okay for cyclists to be on the road, and they should welcome them. #3 is where you can hit them with techniques that they're so effective that it's not fair. Who cares about fair? This is fixing a problem. Now you've already agreed with them regarding their complaints about cyclist blowing stop lights and stop signs, but it's motorist who are the real danger quoting Zoot Katz's stat that motorists are found at fault in 80% of car/bike crashes. Then you get them to see the cyclist as a pedestrian with wheels, and remind them how much better cyclists are than peds because they clear out of the way much quicker.
Now you pull out the big guns, because no sane person wants to kill someone. You've already had them accept how exposed a cyclist is, and now you have everyone close their eyes and imagine the slight bump of hitting a cyclist followed by the crunch of rolling over them. End it with "It's just like running over a person and something none of us ever want to experience." Now you've branded their brain with the image and sound and equated cyclists to completely unprotected pedestrians and have forever changed how they drive near cyclists whether it's a conscious effort or not.
John
Complaining does nothing except to reinforce negative attitudes of those in the same group. I believe prevention is the best cure for any ill, and while I personally use speed and acceleration to achieve safety through distance, avoidance has little impact on fixing relations. A courteous rider has limited impact, because one bad apple or one crazy youtube video can spoil the bunch the same as one crazed bus driver intentionally ramming a cyclist can.
So what can we do? How about bringing it up in the conversation of any mixed group? It's an interesting topic of conversation that many will have strong feelings about, and the beauty of it is that unlike politics or religion you can actually change minds. Coming across like Chalo won't be productive, and I've seen plenty of pent up anger from cyclists toward motorists, so care to avoid anger is warranted, including the too common almost militant cyclist attitude. It makes for interesting conversation, because their perceptions of cyclists are as wacky as some of ours about them. No sane person wants to run over someone, so we can use it as an opportunity to plant 3 ideas:
1. Cyclists have a right to be on the road just as much as any car. Go into the law and history if necessary.
2. Each cyclist means 1 less car and therefore less traffic.
3. Cyclists are completely unprotected. Those silly helmets are almost meaningless, especially when the majority of serious heat injuries in cycling are injuries to the face. That means what would be a small fender bender with another car can easily kill a cyclists. They need to treat a cyclist as a fast moving pedestrian.
1 and 2 are just foundation to get them to agree that it's okay for cyclists to be on the road, and they should welcome them. #3 is where you can hit them with techniques that they're so effective that it's not fair. Who cares about fair? This is fixing a problem. Now you've already agreed with them regarding their complaints about cyclist blowing stop lights and stop signs, but it's motorist who are the real danger quoting Zoot Katz's stat that motorists are found at fault in 80% of car/bike crashes. Then you get them to see the cyclist as a pedestrian with wheels, and remind them how much better cyclists are than peds because they clear out of the way much quicker.
Now you pull out the big guns, because no sane person wants to kill someone. You've already had them accept how exposed a cyclist is, and now you have everyone close their eyes and imagine the slight bump of hitting a cyclist followed by the crunch of rolling over them. End it with "It's just like running over a person and something none of us ever want to experience." Now you've branded their brain with the image and sound and equated cyclists to completely unprotected pedestrians and have forever changed how they drive near cyclists whether it's a conscious effort or not.
John