According to the Cycle Kyoto website:
Accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians have skyrocketed in the last 10 years in Japan. In 2009, there were 2,934 such accidents. That is 3.7 times the number recorded a decade earlier.
 |
| Why can't we all just get along? |
It looks like Japan and the U.S. have more in common than I thought. I'm not sure if the cyclist/pedestrian accidents have gone up that much in the United States, but I do know that (I'm going out on a limb here) the majority of both cyclists & pedestrians that I see are extremely careless.
The cyclists always seem to be in a race. It's not about getting from here to there, relaxing, enjoying nature, or even functional commuting. It's, "How fast can I go on these wheels?" I have to admit, I'm totally puzzled by this attitude and amazed at how prevalent it is.
As for pedestrians, it's a different problem. Mind you, I notice this not only on trails & sidewalks, but also in stores, in schools, etc. The pedestrians are either a.) oblivious or b.) entitled. The carelessness sometimes amazes me & always angers me.
It gets worse when the pedestrians are in groups. It doesn't matter how few or how many there are, they have to take up the entire trail, aisle, or sidewalk. Then, if you politely ask to go by (not only if you're a bicyclist, but even if you're a walker or jogger) they give you a dirty look and very slowly & grudgingly move.
I know I'm not perfect, but I can honestly say that when I'm walking or riding my bike, just like when I'm driving my car, I'm constantly aware of what's going on around me, in front and in back. If someone is approaching, I make sure I move over to let them go by. When I'm with someone else, I request that they do the same.
Now, having reported all this negative stuff, I'm glad to report some positive news. Most of the behaviors I've chronicled in this post seem to occur on sidewalks, roads (bike/pedestrian lanes), indoors (such as in malls/stores), and on local trail. I have not noticed these problems on long distance trails such as rail-trails. It seems like people are more relaxed, courteous, and considerate on those trails.
Now, after the good and the bad, it sounds like this bicyle and pedestrian carelessness is a major problem in at least the United States and Japan. How about in the rest of the world? I'd like to hear the experiences and opinions of other readers. Am I overreacting or is there a lack of common sense and common courtesy when it comes to bicyclists and pedestrians? And what about the issue of the long-distance trails? Have any of you noticed that those seem to be much more civil? I look forward to any comments.
5 comments:
When cyclists ride on roads, we're scared of the bigger vehicles who always seem to be in a hurry and have little patience or regard for our safety.
Pedestrians feel pretty much the same about cyclists on paths or sidewalks. Yes, peds (like cyclists on the roads) can be jerks at times, but cyclists (like cars) too often act like bullies.
I couldn't have said it better, Randy.
I think it's safe to say that we're both avid cyclists.
Yet I think we have both seen too many fellow cyclists acting like bullies or at the very least acting very selfishly and inconsiderately.
The vast majority of the times, I've found that it's all about speed. There's a time and a place for everything. And a busy trail, road, or sidewalk is not the place for speed. I wish more cyclists would practice a little impulse control.
Cycling is a great sport, hobby, exercise, relaxation, and transportation. But it's getting more and more of a bad name each day.
Relative to the lack of civility that is pervasive by motorists, I'd say bicyclists and pedestrians are doing just fine.
When I'm on trails, everyone seems pretty civil.
When I'm on streets, it seems like civility, on everyone's part, is severely lacking.
On a trip to Vegas last week, I saw a perfect example of this. While I was driving, it was a total rat-race. As soon as I got on the River Mountain Loop trail, I had numerous nice encounters w/ fellow trail users, everyone was pleasant, it was totally relaxing, and I had a wonderful ride.
I'm glad I didn't have to spend much time on the roads with my bike.
When I'm on trails, everyone seems pretty civil.
When I'm on streets, it seems like civility, on everyone's part, is severely lacking.
On a trip to Vegas last week, I saw a perfect example of this. While I was driving, it was a total rat-race. As soon as I got on the River Mountain Loop trail, I had numerous nice encounters w/ fellow trail users, everyone was pleasant, it was totally relaxing, and I had a wonderful ride.
I'm glad I didn't have to spend much time on the roads with my bike.
Post a Comment