Where are the Bicycling PSA’s?
We all know that probably 9 out of 10 people who “accidentally” hit a cyclist will tell the cop on the scene “I didn’t see him/her.” There is a thread at the www.bikeforums.net web site about how to deal with insurance companies that translates that better.
“I didn’t see him” appears to fly for some courts, when it’s really “I didn’t bother looking.” I think that that is the more accurate way of saying things.
Also here’s a good question for you. How do we get local TV & Radio stations, and Newspapers to run bicycle related PSAs?
I see, I don’t know how many, drunk driving, seat belt, etc. PSA’s but never any for bicycles. Yeah, they’ll cover the story (for a short while) when a car hits a cyclist and one can usually count on at least one reporter asking the question of “how can this happen” or “why does this have to happen?” Of course IF they would air PSA’s related to bicycles maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t happen as much as it does.
Herman Frederick, Car -free in St. Petersburg
Many myths have a kernel (or more) of truth. A very high proportion of cyclist/motorist crashes involve bicyclists who were in some way making themselves less visible than they could have been: riding against traffic, on the sidewalk, at night without lights, darting out into the roadway, or hugging the curb.
It is also true that bicyclists who are plainly visible to even a half-attentive motorist will sometimes hear “I didn’t see you.”
Indeed, my wife and I heard that some years ago from a woman who actually crossed a double yellow line to pass us on the left while we were in the middle of the lane signaling a left turn. Saying “I didn’t see you” in such cases is the “politically correct” way of saying “What the hell are you doing on my road?”
The best way to reduce the incidence of motorists ACTUALLY not seeing cyclists, as well as PRETENDING to not see cyclists, is for cyclists to practice smart lane control.