In aus.bicycle on 23 Apr 2006 22:11:36 -0700
Bleve said:
Of course. The above is conceptual. I'm hoping to put together a DVD
or something that illustrates all this stuff (modeled roughly on
motorcycling safe riding stuff, but more bicycle orientated)
Perhaps if you start from the idea that they are already car drivers.
So there's things they know, like how to read what a car is doing, and
things they think they know, like selecting a route, and sitting in a
lane.
I don't really know what car drivers think when they get on a bicycle,
I haven't driven a car exclusively for over 20 years. But if I
guessed I would say the main differences would be:
- selecting a route. Whoever mentioned that was right on the button.
When I first looked at commuting by bicycle this time round I had
completely forgotten what I'd learned about cycle commuting and was
planning to more or less take the same route I took on the motorbike.
- dealing with traffic when you aren't in a tank. The most
frightening thing for new riders is the feeling of vulnerability.
This is what makes them hug the gutter, that and their memory of being
[censored] at cyclists who didn't.... So how to overcome that? How
to get them to feel safe taking the lane, and how to get them to feel
it is OK to get in the way?
- right hand turns. If you aren't Victorian you don't know about hook
turns 🙂 And drivers might not think of them, they may think of
hook turns as something you do when there's a sign telling you to.
- how much hard work it is. SOmeone who hasn't been on a pushbike is
quite likely to find themselves tired and sore. (Unless they have
the sense to buy a recumbent of course, then they will just be tired.)
How many km should they do a week when starting?
- how to climb hills. maybe encourage them to get a cadence computer,
so they can really see what they are doing. It's easy to think you
are spinning when you aren't when you are new! And of course all
novices prefer to mash big gears, illustrating how much easier it is
to climb hills by spinning is probably a good thing.
- road surface dangers. Most car drivers don't really think of things
that are specifially dangerous to 2 wheelers. They probably realise
potholes are bad news, because they don't like them in a car either.
but what about sand, oil, metal plates, and raised bits of road that
can unstick your tyres or jolt you? There was a study done ages ago
(meaning I can't recall anything about it bar the conclusion) that
said, amongst other things, that motorcyclists tended to be watching
the road surface close to them far more often and for longer than car
drivers did. Because they were more aware of road surface dangers.
- cycle-specific traffic problems. Car doors of course. Peds who
can't hear you. Right turners who turn across stopped traffic and
don't expect you. Left turners who turn across you after passing you.
Things that don't happen to cars, and so car drivers won't be
expecting them. Might be good to mention things that don't happen
often to cars but do to 2 wheelers, such as people turning right
across your path at an intersection because they don't see you.
(The trick with the road danger thing is not to scare them off!)
I reckon your best bet is to see if you can spot newbie commuters and
ask them what they've had problems with. They are going to know a lot
more than experienced cyclists about what problems car drivers turned
cyclists face, because they experience them right now, and memory
plays tricks.
I don't think saying "courtesy" is useful, because few people think
"I'm going to be rude", they may behave badly but they do it for
reasons that are good to them. They probably know what bad behavious
is in cyclists, they no doubt curse it lots when in their car. The
trick is to get them to realise what's bad and what's safe.
Zebee
