I am the bike manager for a tri shop that is one of the biggest cervelo dealers in the industry. I see the bike buying habits of people, I hear the riding habits of people as a coach. I have dealt first hand with people who have been hit, and STILL want a bike to ride after the accident. That just happened, and funny enough I put a fb post talking about it. on our business page (Inside Out Sports) I made no reference to fault, I simply said, we all need to have compassion when using roads. We get 10 Garmin varia radars and they'll alll be sold within 3 weeks. We as a bike dealer have to "forecast" the bike buying habits in order to pre order bikes, etc. I see it first hand that people are making changes to their habits....Again I'm not saying to get off the road.
I've personally been hit 2.5 times by cars (( say 0.5 cus that was a side glancing blow that didn't do much, but was from a distracted driver...it was while I was riding with a junior and thank God she wasn't involved).
I most certainly have changed my riding habits over the 23 years of riding. I will no longer ride alone anymore, and I ride with a varia + 2nd blinky light + front light. I only ride in groups and right now I dont think for a second I'm "unsafe" in those instances. But I cringe every time I or someone in the group gets dropped and has to ride some of the roads back to the shop "alone" (and no in the 25 years of shop rides we've never had a car v bike interaction...we've had cyclists crash themselves out on their own, but not by a car...we've had close calls, but no actual incidents).
The only place I'll ride alone is around the local basketball arena, we have an 1.2mi loop that is pretty much closed to traffic except the daily workers there, so I feel safe enough and don't consider that "on the roads" like I would riding out on country roads, etc. It's actually a great venue to ride cus it's got some hills and I find it to be great for strength riding.
So no I dont think it's a death trap out there. But I certainly do see first hand how bike v car has changed people's riding habits. ETA: I'm also in no way saying that we need to get off the roads. I'm actually wanting the opposite. I want it where it's SAFER for everyone to enjoy the roads. People keep saying the technology will be there....just a matter of WHEN.
Consider yourself lucky that you havent been hit or know of anyone. I would say that likely fits a very small minority- not been hit and not knowing someone who has.
Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II
I've personally been hit 2.5 times by cars (( say 0.5 cus that was a side glancing blow that didn't do much, but was from a distracted driver...it was while I was riding with a junior and thank God she wasn't involved).
I most certainly have changed my riding habits over the 23 years of riding. I will no longer ride alone anymore, and I ride with a varia + 2nd blinky light + front light. I only ride in groups and right now I dont think for a second I'm "unsafe" in those instances. But I cringe every time I or someone in the group gets dropped and has to ride some of the roads back to the shop "alone" (and no in the 25 years of shop rides we've never had a car v bike interaction...we've had cyclists crash themselves out on their own, but not by a car...we've had close calls, but no actual incidents).
The only place I'll ride alone is around the local basketball arena, we have an 1.2mi loop that is pretty much closed to traffic except the daily workers there, so I feel safe enough and don't consider that "on the roads" like I would riding out on country roads, etc. It's actually a great venue to ride cus it's got some hills and I find it to be great for strength riding.
So no I dont think it's a death trap out there. But I certainly do see first hand how bike v car has changed people's riding habits. ETA: I'm also in no way saying that we need to get off the roads. I'm actually wanting the opposite. I want it where it's SAFER for everyone to enjoy the roads. People keep saying the technology will be there....just a matter of WHEN.
Consider yourself lucky that you havent been hit or know of anyone. I would say that likely fits a very small minority- not been hit and not knowing someone who has.
Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II
Last edited by:
B_Doughtie: Aug 15, 22 8:16