by:Tim Turnquist IC3 President
Since this is a Christian program I would like to stress that each cyclist is a child of God and deserves to be treated like one. I have made an informal study of how bikes affect traffic [from my car, from on the bike and from observing high bike traffic areas in and around the Twin Cities] and, although far from scientific, over 95% of cyclists on the road have little [less than a second] to no effect on traffic flow UNLESS the driver of the car decides to “bully” and harass the cyclist. The average delay for the less than 5% mentioned above is somewhere in the 7 to 10 second range. So my question to fellow drivers becomes, “is a few seconds of your life worth the risk of taking the life someone?” If so, you have a bigger problem than the cyclist in your way.
I would like to focus on what is the reality of the world that we live in — at least here in the States — rather than dip into a philosophical discussion about who SHOULD have a right to the road [bikes don’t pay taxes, etc]. The reality is that cyclists DO have a right to be on most roads in most cities.
BUT, it goes both ways. I am also going to give my point of view from a driver to those cyclists who are just plain jerks or ride with negligent. One must remember the laws of nature OVER the laws of man. In other words, when a 4,000 pound car collides with a 200 pound rider and bike, we all know who will “win” that battle. Winning in a court of law is meaningless if you can never walk again. It is hard to sue the driver from your grave.
To everyone: Be safe. Be careful Be respectful.
Thanks,Tim Turnquist IC3 President
A Letter from one of the members of
Saw that you will be talking to the Christian Car Guy on Saturday. I sent the letter below to Road Bike Action Magazine and it was published. Thought you might find it interesting. Food for thought for Saturday! Hope it helps!
Jim Mason
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
The most godlike thing in the universe is the soul of man. - A.W. Tozer
Hi, Zap, As I'm sure you are aware, the experiences you described in your column are very common -- drivers being rude, angry, and even endangering cyclists when we delay them for a few seconds. I think there is a pretty simple explanation: most drivers don't see us as people, they see us as obstacles in their way. They don't see a 45 year old married father or mother of two children with brothers and sisters and friends and a life, they see a moving roadblock that is slowing them down. Of course, they don't give it enough thought to realize the delay is typically 30 seconds or less. It is simply a delay. A delay caused by THAT BICYCLE. And that bicycle shouldn't be on MY ROAD!! The solution is to get drivers to see us as fellow citizens of the planet Earth so they are a bit more patient. Easier said than done, of course. I've started smiling and waving to all the drivers that I can. Most people smile and some wave back, though some reply in a less-than-friendly manner. My hope is that they see a real person on a bike, someone not unlike themselves. And that they will see other cyclists not as an obstacle in their way but rather as a person on a bike. And that they will be patient and considerate as we share the road. -- Jim Mason Centennial, CO
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