First off, Yes, I believe that bicycles and cars can share the road. BUT, they BOTH have to learn to "drive" defensively. Here's what's happened twice this month: A bicycle is in the bike lane, a truck is in the right hand lane. At the intersection, the truck signals to turn right, the bike is going straight. The truck does not see the bike in it's blind spot, and the bike continues to speed to the intersection. The bike hits the truck, and smash, the cyclist is crushed dead.
What's wrong? In my opinion, the cyclist did have the right-away, but he/she was passing a truck turning right. He/she, if they were riding defensively, would have slowed down enough to make sure the truck driver saw them, or stopped and let the truck turn, then proceed on through the light. Instead, they're dead.
Neither truck driver has been cited. Which is correct.
What the bicyclists don't seem to understand is that defensive driving rules apply to them too if they want to actually make it to their destination. Hello? A large garbage truck or cement truck has a blind spot of probably at least 50 feet, maybe more, and the driver is not going to see a little-bitty bicycle speeding up beside him - he's going to turn. And if the cyclist is not aware that the truck driver may not see them, and he/she doesn't plan ahead for this, a tragedy can occur.
In our case, twice.
1 comment:
Hmmm. Me thinks I've heard this argument before. I wish all the bikers would ride on the sidewalk. As a driver of a SUV I hate having to share the road with idiot bikers who do not know how to share the road.
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