By Robert J. Sciolino
 |
| Photo from News-Press |
You
are in more danger, not less, when you ride facing traffic.
I
get it, but it is against the law.
I
know you truly think if you see cars coming you can avoid them when they
suddenly swerve into you.
You
cannot.
If
you are on a residential street and the traffic is approaching you while on
your bike and you are going about 15 mph, that traffic is headed at you at 45
mph. I don’t care if you are a world-class athlete; you are not “stepping” out
of the way of a 45 mph approach.
Sorry.
Had
this been the same “distracted” driver on the other side and you were riding
with traffic, the impact would be 15 mph … a 30 mph car hitting a 15 mph
cyclist. Yes, the impact still occurred, yet now you have a fighting chance to
survive.
You’ve
already made the decision to ride in traffic, so, since you are there … give
yourself a chance.
Here’s
another thing you may not have thought about; cars pulling out in front of you from
a side street are not looking your way … almost ever. Their concern is
approaching traffic to their left, not you on your bike going the wrong way on
their right.
I
save the best for last; other people.
Other
cyclists.
When
you ride on the wrong side you endanger cyclists who are riding legally. When
you approach each other it’s head-on.
Who
goes left? Who goes right?
Who
heads for the grass? Who heads for the street?
When
you both head the same way you end up … if lucky with bad headaches and ruined
bikes.
And
it’s your fault.
You’re
going to be paying someone’s hospital bills and buying them a new bike.
I
ride 10,000 miles every year on the road. I ride with traffic. I have never had
a close call. Thousands of cars pass me every single day on my way and coming
home from work, on the busiest streets in Lee County, including Colonial
Boulevard, the Midpoint Bridge and Veterans Parkway. Never a close call.
However,
years ago when I didn’t know any better, and rode the sidewalks and the wrong
way on the road — close calls three or four times each week and three crashes
with motor vehicles.
The
only crash I have had in five years involving another vehicle was a bicyclist
riding the wrong way. I broke my collarbone, cracked ribs, chipped a tooth and
had a severe concussion — and lost my bike.
He
rode off. It was a hit-and-run — somehow, no injuries.
I say all this because I ran into a couple
taking a leisurely ride on Cultural Park Boulevard in Cape Coral recently,
going the wrong way. I tried to politely explain the issues involved and
instead was treated to laughter and sarcasm — and plain ignorance.
Well, I truly hope we don’t “run into each
other” again because I ride an expensive bike and he may not want to finance a
new one for me. Hopefully, in his ignorance that’s the only price he ever pays
for an enjoyable neighborhood ride.
Be safe, ride with traffic.
Robert J. Sciolino lives in Cape Coral.
