And don’t make eye contact or signal your intent in any way, either.
As someone who uses a bicycle as my primary mode of transportation, I try to do all the things bicycle safety experts tell me to do. I wear a helmet, stop at lights and stop signs, make eye contact with drivers, etc. Well, it turns out that if I want to be safe, I’m doing it all wrong.
Are you ready for your utilikilt?
Bicycling magazine recently published an interview with Tom Vanderbilt, the author of the book Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (And what it says about us.) Vanderbilt is a cyclist who’s book is about the psychology of people in traffic and why we do the things we do.
In Bicycling’s interview, Vanderbilt references a British study that found drivers are more likely to hit cyclists when the cyclist signal’s his intent and looked at the driver. Vanderbilt believes once drivers look you in the face, you become a pedestrian and the driver’s reaction times change. The study also found that drivers tend to give cyclists more room if the cyclist wasn’t wearing a helmet or was a woman.
Interesting food for thought out there on the mean streets.
So where does this leave us? Well, I’m pretty sure you still should not ride like this guy:
on Aug 14th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
If I did a study and told you that it inferred that women can’t do math wouldn’t you say its bunk? Of course you would if you have any intelligence. So, as you wouldn’t give a sexist study like that the light of day why on earth on a bike blog would you let this ridiculous study have any credence?
Brains are a valuable gift from God. Don’t misuse them.
on Aug 14th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Mark, this isn’t a study about anything that women are doing, this study was showing how drivers are reacting towards women cyclists. I think you have completely misinterpreted what this is saying.
on Aug 15th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I’ve heard about that British helmet study and from my own experiences can’t verify it. But then, I always wear a helmet and signal my intent but without looking at the car. Mostly. However, wearing a skirt does seem to slow traffic down a bit. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Anything to keep from getting killed is an evolutionary advance. Nice blog. thanks.
on Aug 15th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Thanks Karen. We really just think it’s ridiculous that drivers only seem to behave better towards cyclists, according to this study, if they seem unpredictable or dangerous… it definitely shouldn’t be that way!
on Aug 16th, 2008 at 8:35 am
I’d like to know the context of the study. Its true that being seen as a pedestrian is a great risk. This risk happens to me when I jump on the shoulder, then when I look to jump back on the road or are forced back on, by a pole or car leaving a parking lot, cars don’t notice I exist. Its the most dangerous situation I have met. So, I avoid using the shoulder and use the right lane.
You see, the only west bound route to work is 8 miles down an often busy road with two west bound lanes. My biggest concern is drivers coming out of the many retail parking lots. The best thing is to make eye contact to ensure that they see me. When flying out of a lot drivers are often using mainly their peripheral vision and are less likely to see a bicycle. So, in the summer I use my bell, get further into the road (if safe), and make eye contact to obtain certainty that they see me. Without eye contact I’ll slow down until it appears safe.
I have not seen the study yet or article.
on Aug 18th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Mark,
If you read the study, which you obviously haven’t, you would know the author took great pains to control the study as best he could. He tested for male vs female as well as helmeted vs helmetless.
Your analogy, vis a vis a study of women’s math ability is a false one. The author was studying perceptions of drivers toward cyclists of differing gender AND equipment.
Would you find a study of shopkeeper’s perceptions toward a customer’s race ridiculous? I doubt it.
In the future I suggest you actually perform a bit of research before spouting your opinion.
I would suggest