Comments on: Where are the Bicycling PSA’s? http://floridabicycle.org/wordpress/2010/01/where-are-the-bicycling-psas/ Better bicycling means a better Florida Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:12:32 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mighk Wilson http://floridabicycle.org/wordpress/2010/01/where-are-the-bicycling-psas/comment-page-1/#comment-445 Mighk Wilson Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:10:26 +0000 http://floridabicycle.org/wordpress/?p=659#comment-445 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. 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.

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