Share The Road, The Rules, And The Responsibility

I will start off by saying that I am a cyclist. There. I said it. Go ahead, Texas motorists, get pissed off with me riding on the wide shoulders of the highways and bi-ways of the great state of Texas.

There are some crazy things that take place between motorists and cyclists on the roads of Texas. Yes, there are times when it seems like it is the Wild West out there.  I can say that I have had clients report to me that they have been shot with BB guns by passing motorists (among other craziness) – all while minding their own business. And there are far too many cyclists injured by motorists who are simply not paying attention.

But there are also far too many cyclists that simply don’t use their heads, and don’t follow the rules of the road. Regardless of who has the right to be on the road, cyclists don’t win any friends when they choose to ignore the rules of the road.

Who’s problem is it anyways? The cyclists, or the motorists?

I’ve been witness to my fair share of idiocy on bicycles. A few examples deserve note.

1. There are some great places to climb in Austin, one of which is Westlake Drive. That is, of course, if it had more than two narrow lanes of traffic and no shoulder whatsoever. So if you’re planning on riding like Lance – only 5 - 10 mph slower on the ascents – please, please, Westlake Drive isn’t the place to do so. This is but one example. Use some common sense.

2. Why do cyclists ride against the regular flow of traffic? Better (or worse) yet, why do they ride on the sidewalk? Motorists aren’t paying primary attention to that type of behavior. There is nothing more disconcerting than looking to your right at an intersection and seeing a bicycle barreling towards you – on the sidewalk, and with no desire to stop.

3. Then there is my number one pet peeve about cyclists - failing to stop at stop signs or at red lights. I have seen far too many that simply ride right through a red light, without a care in the world until they are a part of someone’s grill. Of course, this is then followed by the hue and cry from cycling groups about motorists not watching out for cyclists …

Yes, we can all get along. It will certainly require effort by both motorists AND cyclists. Cyclists need to start enforcing themselves and realize that with rights (to a shared road) come responsibilities (in terms of the rules of that same road). I, for one, have had many moments when I wanted to stop my car and simply say, “Dude, I am a cyclist that actually obeys the rules, and your beahviors are making me look bad and putting me at risk”! That sentiment is not because I am a motorist that doesn’t want to share the road – that sentiment is just a mindful cyclist that realizes that he has a responsibility for his place on the roads of Texas. A shared responsibility, but a responsibility nonetheless.

Photo credits: PDXdj