Pissing Off Cyclists

The Spokesman Review published a column today by contributor Sue Lani Madsen in which she solves the problem of hard-to-see bike riders and what she refers to as a relatively high casualty rate for cyclists with what she thinks is a simple solution.

Spokane has a strong history of bicycle commuting and can lead the way in doing it safely. There doesn’t need to be a law. There needs to be more common sense. Be a trendsetter. Wear bicycle green. 

That got my dander up.

Set aside the complaints she and her neighbor regularly exchange and her informal survey of Spokane drivers as indicators of possible bias and note that she is assuming that dark clothing is a primary contributor to cyclist deaths.

Although she repeats stats from the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center she neglects that the center also states:

"...there is no reliable source of exposure data as we don't know how many miles bicyclists travel each year, and we don't know how long it takes them to cover those miles (and thus how long they are exposed to motor vehicle traffic). Risk based on exposure varies by time of day (with night time being more risky), experience level of rider, location of riding, alcohol use, and many other factors. Until we have better exposure measures, we just don't know how bicyclist risk compares to other modes, but the health benefits of riding may offset some of this risk." 

Reading past the first sentence takes so much effort.

In my comments I suggested that Sue should see for herself what it's like.

I ride with the expectation that drivers don't see me because almost every time that is the case. And they don't see me not because of the clothing I'm wearing or my bright frickin' lights, but because they aren't looking for bikes. I recommend you try commuting for three or four months and gain some experience from a cyclist's perspective. Wear bright clothing and use good lights and then come back and tell us all about how invisible you felt. 

I'm not hopeful. It would make things awkward with the neighbor with whom she regularly exchanges complaints.