Big Metal Things
You won’t get everyone following the rules. Take a look at drivers. And the “bad name” is more complex than just stopping at a red light- it’s a generalization from a car-centric culture.
Once you’ve biked in a city you quickly realize one rule trumps all road rules: self preservation.
However, people who bike may have varying opinions on how to safely keep away from the big metal things. And it’s chaotic. Why? Because the infrastructure and rules are built around cars, not vulnerable road users.
If you really look at what people are doing (without judgement) you may catch a glimpse of where the real problem lies.
Yes, there will always be those to do what they can get away with. But perhaps some are just doing what they feel they need to get away with to get to work or school or back home safely.
I still take care to follow the road rules, but I’ll also take care of myself if needed.
I gotta say, your drawing is really showing a sophisticated grasp of the medium and perspective, it’s not easy drawing bikes, i must admit that drawing vehicles is much easier! Fine work, and representing a cause we all can identify with. Nice work.
I think the bus drivers have been much, much nicer since their sensitivity training.
I agree with this for the most part, but there are always exceptions to otherwise good wisdom. Here in Melbourne, where trams are common, the law requires that if a tram is stopped and the doors are open (which have flip-out ‘stop’ signs on them), motorists and cyclists must stop to allow travellers to safely enter and exit the tram.
The amount of cyclists I see casually riding past the stopped tram – with its flashing lights, open doors, displayed stop signs and travellers moving to and from – is frustrating to the point of being infuriating.
I cycle every day, sometimes in a rush and sometimes for kicks, but I always stop for the tram. There’s no excuse for not stopping, and so I don’t feel bad when I shout a terse reminder that “there’s a bloody stop sign right there mate, follow the rules”.
I’d like separated paths, too, but the conditions are what they are and you can’t make up your own rules while things are the way they are. And while your argument of looking out for your own safety is absolutely valid, there are just as many cyclists who merely can’t be bothered with considering the safety and needs of fellow road users.
There’s rules, there’s laws, and there’s consideration for fellow road users. Not always the same thing. There seems to be a range of how much people respect authority (i.e., laws), and also a frequent diverge in how much people themselves respect authority (their actions), and how much they expect others to do the same (their words).
I can’t make law, but I can make any silly-ass rule I want. “It’s okay to pass cars with prime-numbered license plates on the left” is a rule, and I just made it. A better rule, though not a law, is “when the sum of small children and loose dogs exceeds 3, proceed at walking speed”.
Empathy? That was a tough request in the pre-Internet era. But it’s needed now more than ever. Thanks for your posting. And the great, great illustrations.