[SDCBC] Dillow's O.C. Register editorial

[Lauren Cooper (DancesWithCars)]

Another letter sent:

Dear Mr. Dillow,

Thank you for your recent article “Cars And Bicycles Shouldn't Compete”, in
which you state you don't like to share a high-speed road with bicycle
riders because you feel it's too dangerous for them.  I’m sure a great many
motorists feel much the same.  

However, please understand that everyone is subject to relatively similar
risks.  While it may seem dangerous for cyclists to share the road with
cars 100 times heavier, similar risks are taken daily by car drivers
sharing highways with 80,000-pound tractor-trailers, hurtling along at
speeds of 70-80 mph.  A collision at these speeds will be just as dangerous
to the average car driver; just look what happens during a highway fog
pileup.

As for statistics, please remember to take them with a heavy grain of salt.
 In over half of car/bike collisions, the cyclist is treated and walks
away: less than one in 40 is fatal.  And comparing overall risk by
"fatalities per miles traveled" is as flawed as apples and oranges. 
Cycling is far safer than motorcycling, ocean swimming, horse-riding and
climbing ladders.

What is very true is that over half of car/bike collisions are caused by
the cyclist. That’s because in this country we do not teach people how to
safely cycle in traffic at an adult level.  The basic cycling instruction
we get in third grade is sufficient for third graders; not for faster
adults, and not for real traffic.

That’s why Advanced Traffic-Bicycling (sm) classes are offered by most
local bike orgs.  Similar to classes for motorcyclists and bike police,
cyclists can become 80% safer by learning to compensate for common motorist
mistakes: making them safer wherever they ride, on every road, bikelane or
not. Trained cyclists are just as safe as trained drivers – but it's the
training that makes the difference. 

Please understand that the problem is not that “when monsters mix with
munchkins the munchkins get stepped on”. It’s not inevitable. It’s that the
munchkins need to be taught how to ride better.  Obviously, a lot of
motorists do too; but at least drivers get some amount of adult-level
instruction.  Most cyclists get none.  

That's why Advanced Traffic-Bicycling is taught to bike-police nationwide
(ipmba.org); and in adult-level, in-depth traffic-bicycling classes from
the League of American Bicyclists (BikeLeague.org)

For further discussion, please see Cooperative Cycling at CycleMedia.org
Thank you for your thought and consideration.

Ms. Lauren Cooper
Co-founder, National Equal Rights for Cyclists Campaign



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