Every weekday at 9:50 a.m. my bus comes sliding into the intersection of Kincaid and East 13th Avenue. The whole process takes forever — the streets are clogged with pedestrians, service vehicles, cars, both parked and inching forward. And, of course, dozens and dozens of bicyclists.
Bicycling is a huge part of being a Eugene resident. According to Bike Portland, 17 percent of University students ride bikes. That’s more than 4,000 students milling in and around campus on bicycles, getting to where they need to go in a quick and environmentally friendly manner.
I like bicyclists. They are, for the most part, courteous. They watch where they’re going and avoid pedestrians. However, more than ever I have noticed the number of student riders who consistently practice reckless and dangerous habits while on their bicycles. It’s a needless hazard that has some easy solutions, but, for some reason, students do not seem to grasp the simple rules that in the event of an accident can save a bicyclist’s life.
First, please wear a helmet.
It’s true — Oregon law does not require bicyclists over the age of 16 to wear a helmet@@http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/outreach/programs/thinkfirst/helmets/index.cfm@@, however it seems like a no-brainer (no pun intended). According to helmets.org, riders without helmets are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than their helmeted counterparts. Helmets are often seen as a fashion faux pas, but is seems like a small price to pay.
Another thing I see bicyclists do quite often on or around campus is riding without using the handlebars. I suppose this is for comfort reasons: it allows a rider better posture, and perhaps it’s even more fun to ride this way. I wouldn’t know, I don’t have this ability.
My freshman year of college, I saw a man riding through campus playing a trumpet. It was interesting and fun, and I supposed he knew the risk he was taking. However, to bicyclists who ride with their hands in their pockets, or their arms hanging limply at their sides, please reconsider your position. I have seen riders zigzagging between moving buses and cars without their hands, and it gives me a little heart attack to see it.
In giving up your grip on your handlebars, you are also giving up your ability to react quickly to a changing situation. A car backs out in front of you suddenly, and you cannot swerve. You may be able to brake, if the bike is set up for pedal-braking, but without a firm hold on the handlebars the rider can go flying.
My last suggestion — obey traffic laws. As cyclists, you are considered a vehicle on the road. Traffic lights, stop signs, and pedestrian crossings all still apply to you. Even if no car is to be seen, respect a red light. Learn and properly execute the correct hand and arm gestures when riding through traffic to indicate merging and turning.
I ask all of this because every day I see riders narrowly avoiding a collision. Every day, I notice reckless behavior in crowded areas, and a bus driver doing his best to avoid cyclists that refuse to let him drive through. I see heads without helmets and empty hands over pedaling legs, and I see red lights given no notice.
It’s a barely controlled chaos, and I request that bike riders do their part to protect both themselves and those commuters around them.