Our Focus Is Wrong
If you have followed this blog at all (what’s wrong with you!?!), you know that I am all for restricting e-bikes. I restrict the one’s I sell. You know I am against speeding on our MUP’s, Trails and in our lanes. That said, our cities are getting upset about pedestrians being harassed by bicycles while ignoring 35,000 motorized traffic deaths every single year!
The odds of killing or severely injuring a person on a speeding bicycle of any type is miniscule by comparison. Perhaps we need to change our focus.
The single most common reason I hear for not commuting or running errands on a bike is, ‘crazy drivers.’ This is not surprising. The NTSB says the average motorist is speeding at any given time (when was the last time you even saw a police cruiser not speeding?). Quite rightly, our parks departments and conservation services are starting to crack down on illegal e-bikes. Fines are becoming more common and it appears confiscations are on the horizon, but out of control motorists are a much bigger problem.
There aren’t many 100# e-fat bikes. Even then you’ll have to be carrying an extra battery. Still, even on a MUP, that heavy bike is no where near the danger to pedestrians or other cyclists that is a 2 ton pick-up on the street. That pick-up is going to be moving at 35+mph, on average, in a 30mph zone. At 45, where most of our newer shopping areas are located, a cyclist or pedestrian has only a 15% chance of surviving being hit (NTSB). Roughly, 20 pedestrians a day die from being hit by a motor vehicle in The U.S.
People complain about cyclists disobeying traffic laws. It is a problem about which cyclists should be aware, but who’s life are cyclists risking on the street? When was the last time a motorist you know personally was ticketed for speeding that was not involved in a crash or a DUI? I challenge every motorist reading this to, for just one week, rigidly obey speed limits (stop encroaching on crosswalks while you’re at it). Find just one moving police cruiser that isn’t speeding and smile at anyone that gets upset that you are obeying the law.
I wanted to ask you to contact your city council members asking them to have local police enforce speed limits, but that just isn’t going to happen. My family knows that of I am injured to go after the city for negligence. Laws that are not enforced are no laws at all.
Ever wonder why so many carry their bikes to segregated paths to ride? It is because they fear riding on the street. That fear is almost always blown way out of proportion (ridden properly, safer than high school contact sports), but it is because of out of control motorists. Frankly, I am done worrying about being a good example for the cycling community. I will no longer ask cyclists to avoid sidewalks, parking lots, alleys and to rigidly obey traffic signs. I’d rather see you ride than continue to be part of the problem. Ride in the manner that makes you feel safest, but RIDE!