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Letter: Riding facing traffic safer for cyclists?

Editor:

In last week's Almanac, Richard Swent said that my idea to ride facing traffic vs. riding with traffic wouldn't work because the problem is "not to get the bicyclist to see the cars" but rather "to get the drivers to see the bicyclist." Mr. Swent missed the point entirely. The entire idea of riding facing traffic is to enable the bicyclist to see the cars coming at him or her so they won't get mashed like bugs on the windshield by cars running over them from the rear. A motorist can see a bicyclist no matter which way they are riding but at least a bicyclist has a chance to get out of the way if they can see the car is driving in the bike lane and may hit them.

Riding against traffic would also discourage hoards of bicyclists (who ride in the Valley all the time and totally close a lane) from riding out of the bike lane and just dare motorists to try and pass them until they are done with their "race." If they are facing oncoming cars they will probably stay out of the road and in the bike lane or risk getting hit.

Ron Wilson

Bear Paw, Portola Valley

Posted by Nathan, a resident of another community, on Jun 28, 2007 at 12:35 pm

It is a horrible idea to ride against the flow of traffic... for more reasons than one.

One of which being: drivers of vehicles turning right do not look to the right, they look to the left for oncoming vehicles - bicycles included.

Another being: a bicyclist meeting a car in a head-on collision would be certain death.

Posted by Concerned, a resident of the Portola Valley: Los Trancos Woods/Vista Verde neighborhood, on Jun 28, 2007 at 12:57 pm

The Cailornia Vehicle Code states that bicyclists must ride WITH traffic and Pedestrians walk AGAINST.

Posted by Anon, a resident of the Menlo Park: Sharon Heights neighborhood, on Jun 28, 2007 at 7:15 pm

No, apart from the reasons given by Nathan, riding against the traffic means the relative speed of the bicycle to the car is very high and accidents would be harder to avoid and people will die all the time.

Posted by Anon, a resident of the Menlo Park: University Heights neighborhood, on Jun 29, 2007 at 3:03 pm

Ron Wilson is entirely correct. If you want to decrease the odds of being run over, ride against traffic on small roads at off-peak times. Keep your eyes peeled for dangerous drivers. Be extra cautious at all intersections. Get off the road if a car tries to run you over. That's your best bet and dramatically increases the odds you will live another day. You may be violating the California Vehicle Code. You may get a ticket from a police officer. But you won't get run over from behind.

Posted by Anon, a resident of the Menlo Park: Sharon Heights neighborhood, on Jun 30, 2007 at 9:50 am

university heights resident:

you cannot act fast enough to get off the road when a car tries to run you over when you are riding against traffic.

Also, cyclists riding against traffic would piss off motorists even more.

Posted by Palo alto mom, a resident of another community, on Jul 2, 2007 at 11:00 pm

I would be really grateful if people on bikes would simply stop at red lights and stop signs! (You know, like cars...)

Posted by A Realist, a resident of another community, on Sep 7, 2007 at 5:43 pm

[Post removed by Almanac staff]