HELP!
My name is Lindsay. The last time I rode a bike was in a spin class. What am I doing on this site? Trying to gather some information for an article I’m writing about YOU, Sir/Madam Bicyclist.
Someone gave me a bike about a year ago. I rode it down Beacon Street, once. And then gave it away… because these Boston drivers are assnuts. And because I tend to break and bruise easily. To quote a comment that was left a few days ago—”If so many cyclist[s] are so nervous or worried about cycling on the roads, then get off the road, because you’re a danger to the rest of us”—Well, I’m that cyclist, or I was, and my apologies… but in this Green Collar world, more people are ditching the gas guzzlers and returning to the childhood glory days of spokes and handlebars. If you want cars to share the road, don’t you also need to share the road with neophyte cyclists? Cause, really, how does anyone get better at biking?
So really… Are these hipsters driving you nuts? Is their irresponsible riding making it harder for drivers to take the seasoned rider seriously? And what needs to change? What kind of middle ground needs to be reached? And are these bike lanes making any difference?
And if riding is so dangerous, and if those polls are accurate, and most of you have done grave injury to your body… and if riding isn’t a necessity in your life… what’s the point? Why ride?
Feel free to rant… I would love hear what you have to say
Thanks guys. G’day.
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October 7th, 2010 @ 1:15 PM
I ride because it is by far the most enjoyable way to get around. 95% of my riding is for commuting/transportation purposes. It’s faster than walking or taking the T and often even than driving. Parking is rarely an issue. But most of all I enjoy the fresh air and the sights of the city.
I think the dangers of bicycling are often overblown. Bicycling is not inherently dangerous, even on roads without bicycle facilities. But it’s important that we be safe and smart and pay attention when bicycling.
It’s important to obey traffic laws as much as we possibly can. Even when it may not be dangerous to run a red light (for example if the light is just for a crosswalk, or if there is clearly no cross-traffic), it’s in all of our best interest to wait for the green. It’s legally the right thing to do but also is an important way to gain the respect of motorists and pedestrians.
I see people all the time do risky/dangerous/stupid things while bicycling. It makes me cringe. Not only are people risking their own safety, but they are also reinforcing the perception by many that bicyclists are scofflaws. Whether or not pedestrians or motorists behave is another issue. I think it’s important that bicyclists take the high road and do the right thing, even if others do not.
I have been harassed and honked at by motorists. I have had motorists pass way to closely or cut in front of me when turning. There is indeed a lot more education that needs to happen about how to operate safely around bicyclists. In the meantime, many of these situations can be anticipated so that a crash is avoided.
Overall, I would say don’t be discouraged. Get out there and bike. Be confident and predictable. Always show respect to others on the road. But more than anything, have fun. Spread the word about how great bicycling is, and help others to get bicycling themselves if they are interested.
October 7th, 2010 @ 1:31 PM
To be extremely brief: The benefits of biking, for me, significantly outweigh the costs.
To be less brief:
The benefits I enjoy include about 45 minutes less time commuting each way (that’s 1.5 hours/day, 6 hours/week (I commute only 4 days)), better health, feeling more awake when I arrive at the office, fresh air, satisfaction that I am helping to minimize emissions, significantly reduced monthly commuting costs (T pass or parking, car maintenance, fuel, plus my work offers a subsidy for bike commuters), and many more.
The costs are physical fatigue, getting wet/cold/hot, and the dangers of commuting alongside people who are inside heavy, powerful things, some of whom are in rush, not paying attention, angry at the world, etc.
The truth is I’ve commuted in Boston by bike since 2001 and have been in 2 accidents and have been doored once. But, not since 2003. I think conditions have improved somewhat, but mostly I’ve become a stronger and smarter rider.
If you need help getting started as a commuter in Boston, I suggest asking an experienced bike commuter to help you out. Ask if they will ride with you on your route, or part of it. You could also attend classes on commuting by bike.
October 7th, 2010 @ 1:50 PM
As long as you don’t think how fast you go is important and it’s how little you go zero while riding, it can be a safe and satisfying experience. I’ve ridden in Boston at varying frequencies since 1981. Since 2007 my riding frequency increased to the point where I always think about riding before I think about driving or taking the T…My rough math has me avoiding 4,000 miles on my 1991 Saab with 212,000 miles on it this year thus saving about 200 gallons of gas and one oil change and no doubt some other repair…in 2010. Since June, 2007 I’ve lost nearly 30 pounds and my doctor isn’t worried about my prostate like before… I’ve had one accident in that time and it was both our fault… Since I’ve stopped going the wrong way down the one way to turn up the wrong way of the one way in order to avoid a nasty intersection…Owning the light at the nasty intersection is safer. Watching out for doors and quick turners is vital to long term survival. Taking your lane when necessary is similarly important. You have to get out there and do it more and more and the scary feelings subside as you feel more confident and in control. Go for it!
October 7th, 2010 @ 3:03 PM
Everybody and their dog knows that the road network was designed without one though for biking. Creating rules of the road designed for this network of motor vehicles, which now have been shoved in the face of cyclists. Lump it or leave it. The multi-billion dollar BigDig fiasco didn’t even drop a dime into bicycling as a means to control traffic congestion??? I’m all for more ‘good’cyclists on the roads. I can honestly say i’ve never had a fear of riding on the streets whether in Boston. New York. London, or Amsterdam among many other places. Chose your route and time of ride accordingly. From my experience it’s un-confident, nervous slow cyclists who upset traffic flow and ill tempered drivers/bicyclists. I refuse to be treated 2nd class because i’m on a bicycle. There’s a place and time for handling situations like red lights etc. If its clear and free pedal on. If it’s B.U Bridge Juction rush hour wait at the light. As I said previously there is 48 sets of lights from my front door to Harvard Sq (8 miles) controling ‘motor vehicle’ traffic. The network has no effective rotary system( note – yield as you apporach roatary give way to traffic on rotary enter safely on inside lane, unless you are taking the first exit off take right lane). No No-Stopping boxes at juctions. Which means if a car goes through a juction it must be clear to go unempedded without stopping in painted box(or an instant fine), not block the junction. Which we see daily. But instead what we have is 48 traffic lights with cars and trucks breaking amber lights. Blocking intersections on green. Creating a very dangerous situation for cycling. But as you said which need to establish a middle ground to get things up and running, or should that be cycling hahahaha!! 🙂
October 13th, 2010 @ 11:58 PM
wow… I’m SO psyched to see this discussion here… you guys all rock! keep it coming!
P.S. Lindsey: I’ve been in more accidents on my bike than I can possibly recall (especially since I lost memory of part of the worst one… when I was right hooked by a plumbing truck on Comm. Ave. in front of the CVS right before Landry’s)… but I was MUCH more seriously injured when some idiot (likely fighting with her boyfriend on her cell phone, but it was years ago before the recent law that was passed so we’ll never know) made an illegal left turn into me while I was driving my Honda civic in the suburbs. THAT accident resulted in bruised bone marrow inside my kneecap, and a torn knee and hip (along with a flesh injury and powder burns from the airbag). The worst accident I’ve had on my bike so far (knock wood) did sublux my shoulder and do some serious damage to my privates when my handlebar stem hit my pelvis, but at least I could walk after that accident. (I couldn’t bike, drive or walk without crutches for many months after I was hit in my car by some airhead who made a left turn into oncoming traffic.) And the longer I cycle Comm. Ave., the more adept I become at avoiding accidents/collisions altogether when I see them coming (or at least going over my handlebars and landing on my FEET if I have to brake hard to avoid getting hit or hitting something that illegally blocks my path of travel). Bottom line is cycling is actually much more convenient and likely safer for me than commuting in my car. And (some days, usually NOT on Comm. Ave.) it can actually be fun! I commute about six miles back and forth to work, and depending on the week also bike instead of driving or T’ing to many other places. When I’m cycling regularly, I actually have to EAT MORE so that I don’t lose too much weight (which is pretty awesome for a chick in her 40’s who used to be overweight in college). Why do I bike? Because I LOVE Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia and I don’t want to get diabetes!