Dear Group, Our "list of hazards" has been mentioned on this site, both seriously and with humor. The bicycle culture of Madison seems to have developed as an example to the rest of the State and country in bike paths, bike lanes and general information. No doubt that both the "number of bikers" per thousand and the BFW contributed to those accomplishments.
But those of us outside the metro Madison area in Wisconsin and who mostly ride bicycles on town and country roads and around small town, might have a different priority listing for the hazards. That is probably why I talked about the "leeway law" in previous posts and the question of inclusion in driving exams for both cars and for commercial trucks. Of course nothing much can be done through the exam route for old drivers although the suggested idea of insurance sponsored driver refresher courses was novel. The "left turn hazard" is probably peculiar to urban riding. I know that once I was hit by a cross-lane driver---but it was a bicycle. And defensive riding helps bicyclists I have found. When I began "adult" riding twenty years ago I rode as close to the edge of the pavement as I could manage. But I found the cars then sped past never crossing the center line and with oncoming traffic, brushed me several times. I now ride a distance from the edge--an edge leeway which forces traffic to my back to cross the center line. When they cross that center line as a mental barrier, they usually give a bicycle a very wide berth. Those who have brushed me are usually either teens or the elderly. The elderly are so cautious, they don't want to cross the center or even change their "tracking course." And the teens have no judgment and don't care. Hopefully questions on the driver's exam would make progress with the teens. But also there has developed a mind set since I was in public school that bicycle riding for children and youth is just too dangerous. That is the feeling among parents of children and youth in my town of Brandon. A neighbor's four children have been active in all sorts of sports, but their parents have discouraged the bicycle completely. Also, it does not help that we had school consolidations perpetrated on much of the State forty years ago so that schools are often too far for bicycles. Round trip to the high school serving Brandon is over twenty-five miles since we were forced into consolidation by the State and lost our Brandon High School. I guess I must conclude that these "hazard" questions are double edged. At which point do we benefit ourselves as "conditioned riders" through education or intimidation of motorists and at the same time don't scare more parents of children from even allowing youth cycling? Eric Westhagen _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
