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Cyclist and motorists share the road in front of the Kimmel Center.
Yesterday’s shooting of a cyclist by a North Carolina firefighter is an extreme example of motorist rage. Though thankfully motorist range is less extreme in Philadelphia, it's still very common. It ranges from the annoying (shouted insults from passing cars) to the life threatening (attempts to force cyclists off the road.) Motorist rage is especially frightening because it's unpredictable. You may be pedaling along a city street, obeying the traffic laws --- you may even be in a designated bike lane -- when suddenly a motorist targets you. What do you do?
• Don’t escalate. If motorists harass you, don’t respond. Whether they’re shouting “Get outta the @#!%!! road”, passing lewd comments like “Baby, lemme show you something better than a bicycle seat” or honking in a manner to intimidate or frighten you; your first strategy is to ignore it all. Some motorists are looking for a fight, if you don’t give them one, often they’ll move on.
• Protect yourself. If a motorist is becoming aggressive, get away. Aggressive behavior includes performing unnecessary “emergency stops” in an effort to crash your bicycle into the rear of their vehicle, swerving to force you off the road, attempting to hit you with their side mirrors, throwing objects at you or deliberating attempting to “door” you. If you’re on a city street, change direction, or move towards a building. If necessary, shout to attract the attention of other people. Do not automatically assume an aggressive motorist is “just joking.” There are numerous instances of cyclists being seriously injured or killed by aggressive drivers.
• Call 911. Report every incidence of motorist rage to the police. By Pennsylvania state law, you have a right to be on the road; it’s the duty of the police to protect that right. Help them do their job. Write down the license plate number, get the names and phone numbers of witnesses at the scene and if possible, take a photo with your camera phone.
• Tell your state representative. Unlike many states such as South Carolina, Colorado and Missouri, Pennsylvania does not have a bicyclist harassment law. Write, email or call your elected official and tell them you want one.
Closing thought: Not all motorists are out to get you, but some are. Stay alert, be prepared and above all stay calm.
Have you had an experience with motorist rage? Leave a comment or send me an email.
For more info: Bicycle parking in Philadelphia
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Email me at onyourbike@gmx.com
View video of cyclists who were maced on the road
Comments
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The North Carolina fire fighter incident might indicate a broader problem of negative bicycle attitudes among safety employees across many cities. An example is Southern California’s Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) that is located above a state wetlands preserve used by thousands of bicyclists each week. Both traffic signals entering into the California state preserve have been altered to not detect bicycles. Newport Beach’s Principal Civil Engineer Tony Brine and Traffic Engineer George Bernard replied to my email that the left-turn signal at the south entrance had been set back to not detect bicycles. For over a decade, motion sensors had detected bicycles to safely use the left lane to enter the California state preserve. NBPD police vehicles hide in a condominium driveway to chase bicyclists and fabricate vehicle citations. At the other preserve’s entrance, the bicycle button has been disconnected. If only one car is using the light, a bicyclist has four seconds on t
At the other preserve’s entrance, the bicycle button has been disconnected. If only one car is using the light, a bicyclist has four seconds on the green phase and one second for the yellow pause. The situation is dangerous. A bicycle cannot even make it across three lanes to the median, and has to do a 360 degree turn back to the curb as the traffic roars. Meanwhile, police cars park at the corner gas station. Mayor Ed Selich is not interested in bicycling. In a telephone call with Sergeant Mike James, he supported police engagement in chasing bicyclists at non-detecting signals. California has Statute AB-1581 for bicycle detection of traffic signals upon first placement or replacement. Sgt. James was oblivious to Statute AB-1581. During a similar call with Lieutenant Steve Shulman, he laughed. Lt. Shulman sent me a letter recommending that bicycles first test left-turn signals and then go across the traffic to the pedestrian button. While using the Lieutenant Shulman’s rec
While using the Lieutenant Shulman’s recommendation, I had a Newport Beach Fire Department paramedics van turn in front of me while at the median in a crosswalk. And a Park Ranger in a NBPD vehicle cut me off in a crosswalk at a local high school. City employees and safety officers have to get over resisting bicycles for everyone’s safety.
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