Test Your Awareness:

[Jim Lane]

10. As a cyclist, I've been there.

In cynical moments, I think that motorists are actively trying to kill us. I realize, however, that it's just inattention. Drivers see bicycles as colorful street decoration rather than as other vehicles.

For those of you who drive: The single most common mistake is underestimating cyclists' speed. Yes, in a traffic-free straightaway a car will go faster, but that doesn't mean we're immobile, and in traffic we may even be faster than a car. The worst accident I ever saw was in a group ride, going north on a two-way street. The driver of a southbound car made a left turn directly in front of us, either ignoring us completely or thinking that he could complete his turn before we reached the intersection. He was wrong. The lead cyclist swerved hard to try to avoid the car but couldn't quite make it and spent several days in the hospital.