Monday, December 7, 2009
Bikes and Cars Coexisting
People need to get it through their heads that bicycles and Austin go hand in hand! And with our public awareness of global warming and dependency on foreign oil, the ratio of bikes vs cars is only going to get higher. I find it disturbing that our youth is still ill informed and ignorant enough to shoot a bicycler in the back with a metal projectile simply because he didn't like bikes on the road. As stated in this Make Way For Peaceful Coexistence editorial, although attacking bicyclists with weapons isn't common, Travis County prosecutors can cite plenty of examples of threatening behavior by aggressive motor vehicle drivers. Is this due to lack of education or straight stupidity? I would like to think education is the problem, and if so, we need to implement some kind of training into high school (in particular) since this is when our youth begins hitting the Austin roads. Maybe a billboard campaign is in need. There are plenty of Signs for Bicycles and certainly this helps, but what about some sort of (large billboard) reminder campaign. I can't really remember seeing any billboards in Austin reminding people to share the road, although I am sure there are some (just not enough). I'm not even sure this would be a good election campaign since so many people are surprisingly not on the right page yet, and in Austin?? If the human being and fish can coexist peacefully can't bikes and cars!!!
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4 comments:
The young man who fired the airgun that is mentioned in the article, unfortunately, sounds like he is afflicted with a serious case of disregard for other beings, period. I am a cyclist and a driver and I, too, have issues with cyclists who want to have all the rights of the road but not be held accountable for exhibiting road courtesy. That being said,I do not whip out an airgun and shoot it at every cyclist that races through a stoplight since it appears clear to go. (That'smy particular pet peeve with fellow cyclists) Yes, I think there should be more signs about sharing the road and yes,I want cars and bikes to peacefully coexist but, I don't think the real issue here is about respect for the cyclist. It's about respect for the person, the being, life. Because I am a mother, I have had my share of being around alot of teenagers and young people and sadly,I see a distinct trend of younger people not caring and not affording common courtesy for fellow human beings. Ask public school teachers and my guess is that they would agree. And yes, I am going to throw the issue of violent video games and moviesinto the mix. Our culture and I think even more so in this state, encourages machismo behavior and even acts of bullying (geez,look how long anti-bullying legislation sat around in the dome). I am not excusing the act,not at all. I am merely suggesting that the root of the problem is really not about a cyclist, it's about the idea that a violent act towards anyone, be they riding,walking,jumping or cycling, should not be acceptable.
In Bikes and Cars Coexsisting, Matthew wonders if education or stupidity is the problem with people in cars attacking bikes on the road. I will say it's stupidity. Even though it is VERY tempting to run some of these cyclists over, I think it's a lack of intelligence and common sense that some little punk kid shoots one in the back of the head with a projectile. Having said that, I think it's absurd that cyclists think they have the right to do whatever they want on a road that is intended for motor vehicles. I hate driving through downtown Austin, not only do I have make sure I don't hit a pedestrian and worry about when I will be cut off next by another car, I also have to worry about making sure I don't run over a bike that thinks they have the same right of way that I do. Starting to educate about bikes on the road in high school? Are you insane? Don't you think we have enough problems with the education system in this state? These kids are not learning what they should be learning to begin, but lets throw something trivial in there as well. I did not grow up in Austin, so maybe I don't get the whole "bike" thing, but I just can't wrap my head around bikes and cars coexisting, peacefully anyway. I know that I don't have much of a choice, so I will continue to just deal with it as long as I live here, but in my opinion the bikes need to be off the road.
In the commentary for Bikes and Cars coexisting, Matthew believes the younger generation should be taught in school how to drive cars next to bikes. Well I agree the younger generation needs to improve their driving habits; however I do not believe it is with cyclist. It is hard to expect drivers to respect cyclists when the cyclist themselves do not even respect a 4 wheeled motor vehicle, a fast moving vehicle that can do serious damage to them as well as their bike. I believe it is the cyclist need to learn how to ride around cars, they are constantly swerving in and out of lanes or causing a major traffic jam. Making drivers having to stop suddenly or drive 10 miles per hour in 25 to 30 mph zone to ensure they will not hit the cyclist since the consequences for the drivers are extreme.
Therefore I believe it is the cyclist who needs to be schooled on riding their bikes around cars. As for the younger generation and their driving they need to focus on the road and the other cars around them and not their texting.
It's a shame bikes and cars seem to be at odds in Austin, a city that's supposed to be known for its outdoor opportunities that include biking. Unfortunately, Austin seems to have a problem with aggressive driving, and adding in the boom we've had, extra congestion is making for a very poor setting for anybody who utilizes a bike. About a month ago I actually saw a driver who hit a guy on his bike around the Burnet/Anderson Ln. area. He was okay, but both of the parties involved were not following the rules of the road. A lot of people seem to complain about how the bikers disregard traffic rules, but drivers are just as bad and it makes for potentially deadly outcomes.
So what's the solution? While many will say people should be held more accountable (and I certainly don't agree with pulling out airguns to solve this problem), I think Austin should make some improvements to the roads and infrastructure in the higher density areas, which are where many people bike more for transportation and not for leisure. School is a great idea, but at this point, it would only be an attempt to break people of the habits they already have while biking or driving. The stretch of Guadalupe at UT has attempted to improve on this, but it was a quick paintjob in the right lane letting bikes know that's the lane they can use (anyone who rides a bike knows this already so it was pretty useless). I would say an individual lane dedicated to bikers would go a long way in ensuring everyone's safety, and giving many drivers a lot more patience so everyone can enjoy their preferred method of transportation.
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