Road Rage Against Cyclists Increases

8-11-2008 Yesterday's New York Times Magazine featured an article entitled, "Moving Targets", about rising road rage around bicylists and the drivers with whom they share the road. According to the article, there is rage as well as fault on both sides of the issue. The article matches my own experience fairly precisely. I find most of the road rage on the part of drivers occurs during the morning commute. Usually I ride to work around 6am. At that time there is relatively little traffic. However, on those days when I leave later, say at 7:30 or 8am, I encounter much more aggressive drivers, rushing to beat the bicyclist to the corner and then cutting them off, or anticipating with the accelerator while the cyclist is still in front of their vehicle. On the other side I see a lot of cyclists ingnoring the rules of the road, deliberately and unnecessarily obstructing traffic, obliviously turning, and otherwise behaving discourteously.

I have been a commuting cyclist for 11 years. During that time I have learned a lot, but the most important thing I've learned is, DON'T FIGHT WITH CARS. Assume they can't see you. Assume they will not yield right of way. Anticipate when they will cut you off. This is the key to survival as a commuting cyclist. (Click here for my article on commuting by bicycle.) Sometimes the road rage is too deep to deal with and all you can do is try to get out of the way.

Take the High Road

Road courtesy is contagious. Yes, drivers think they own the road, but since their vehicle taxes, licensing, registration and fuel taxes all contribute to road maintenance, in a sense they do. As bicyclists we enjoy a well maintained road surface, but pay nothing directly related to cycling (except maybe sales tax) for it. Would it hurt to show a little courtesy by way of gratitude?

Following are a few ways you can show road courtesy:

1. Stay as close to the edge of the road as conditions permit.
   Be conscious of when you are in the way of traffic and get out of the way as soon as you can. You don't want cars to invade your space, so try not to invade theirs. Akin to this, when in traffic make sure you can go as fast as traffic or get out of the way. Your right to get where you are going does not take precedence over anyone else's.
2. Obey traffic laws whenever possible.
   There are few things more frustrating to a driver running late on the way to somewhere than a bicyclist who coasts oblivously through a red light, cuts in front of traffic or stops abruptly without signalling, or does not yield to pedestrians.
3. Try to be visible.
   Wear a brightly colored jersey and/or reflective gear and use lights when appropriate. Drivers do not enjoy cyclists who seem to appear out of nowhere.
4. Communcate with sensitivity.
   When you cut somebody off by accident, give them a wave and mouth "sorry" at them. When somebody yields the right of way, give them a wave. And, of course, use legitimate hand signals whenever you can.
5. Sympathize.
   Ride a mile on the other guy's rubber. If you were behind the wheel, how would you want a bicyclist to behave?