I love to cycle, it’s a lifestyle and it says to the world, “I’m not that fit to be a runner!” just kidding, my fellow goofy attire pedal-cyclists. It’s important to understand that bicyclists have the same rights to the road as motor vehicle drivers. In 2008, 716 bicyclists were killed on our roads in the U.S.
Most accidents occur for these reasons:
1. Aggressive drivers/cars not yielding. Common man, Karma is a real thing you douche bag! Now a lot of accidents do occur by non-deliberate, faulty action by the driver but by using simple defensive driving techniques, such as PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING, can eliminate most of the accidents.
2. Parked cars opening doors. Now if no one gets hurt and you just so happen to be filming this, a bicyclists going head over heels can be funny but if he breaks his coccyx, vestigial tailbone (his ass bone) then no one is laughing anymore….it’s not funny!!!! Check your mirrors and a quick head check just like if you were making a lane change before you open your door.
3. Bicyclist error. The third reason is the blame of the bicyclists. Yes, us who love to “Ride like the wind to be free again” have a responsibility to obey ALL traffic laws; otherwise you give us all a bad name. When you break the traffic laws, know that somewhere Lance is shaking his head and his one testicle with a tear running down his face and Christopher Cross is too ashamed to ride a bike and took up “sailing.”
Ride in the lane going with the flow of traffic and try to stay off busy streets. Use hand signals to communicate with other vehicles, the CORRECT/FRIENDLY hand signals.
We can all do our part to make the roads friendlier for everyone. Bicyclist, don’t act like you own the road, motorist, give us a break and share the road, you greedy bastards!
The road is wide open
You don’t need a membership or even a license
The road is for everyone
Your symbol of freedom, exploration and discovery
The road is waiting for you
Join me again next week and until then…
Take care and be safe-
Danny Keaton