More about bikes and cars

In the ongoing conflict between bike and cars, or more properly, riders and drivers, bike riders are part of the problem. There. I said it. Study results vary and are inconclusive but I think we can generalize by saying it's about a 50-50 split on which side causes the accidents. (It's actually the drivers but I'm not going to belabor the point.) There is no national database and a very large portion of bike/car accidents are not reported. I get a bit frustrated when I see riders behaving badly. It is often when I am on the other side of the equation – driving. The general population sees riders ignoring traffic laws and thinks they are just arrogant and smug. "Watch this," I tell myself (but not out loud, usually) when I am driving. "That rider is going to blow through that stop sign." Or I will make a list (in my head) of all the things a rider is doing wrong. Wearing a black hoodie with the hood up, at dusk, with huge headphones and wearing flip flops. No helmet. Riding on the wrong side of the street and weaving in and out while looking at a phone. What could possibly go wrong? Non-cyclists tend to bunch all bike riders into a group, the kid on a BMX, the commuter and the racer. Plus, the legal system can be biased against bike riders, since most judges, jury members, attorneys and police officers are not riders themselves. (I would love to take some local authorities on a ride in the area.) A driver might be found to be negligent but if the crash wasn't intentional, penalties (even prosecution) can be minor. Of course, drivers can be reckless at times, too. The unreliable statistics say about half the time (OK, it's 52 percent but I wasn't going to make drivers feel defensive). When drivers make a mistake or drive too aggressively, it's going to be the rider who suffers. Even if there is not actual contact with a car, a cyclist hitting the ground can cause anything from a bit of road rash to a broken acetabulum to death. Transportation experts promote the idea that protected bike lanes (those with some barrier between the bike and the car) are the safest for everyone. A quick digression: CalTrans is looking to create a protected bike lane on Highway 80 to allow riders to more safely ride from the end of Ophir Road to Maple Street in Auburn (heading north) and from Nevada Street to Ophir heading south. This is a route often taken by riders from Lincoln. There are more riders on the road than ever, partly due to the natural increase in cycling nationwide and partly due to Covid-inspired activities. Every time a rider hits, I mean, takes to the road, he or she will encounter distracted or impatient drivers, big vehicles that take the entire lane, rough roads and (in more urban areas) heavy traffic. Statistically, bicycle fatalities aren't increasing, even with more bikes on the road. Researchers say, and studies agree, that the presence of more bikes raises general awareness among drivers, therefore decreasing accidents. Judging by the number of riders I see, especially on weekends, cycling is becoming more popular in this area. While all the new housing construction will bring more traffic, it will also bring more safe neighborhoods in which to ride and more bike lanes on major roads. Tom Frady is a Lincoln resident and avid cyclist and driver.