In several weeks, I know some friends that will be competing in a half-ironman triathlon which starts and finishes a few miles from where I live. The swim is in the James River, the bike portion goes on one of my usual bike routes, and the run goes through some trails I ran this morning. I’m not really a glutton for punishment anymore: a 1 mile swim, 55 mile bike, and 13 mile run sounds brutal, and that’s only half the distance of the standard ironman. In my present condition, I could probably do the swim and bike, but the run would finish me off. Someone wrote into the Virginia Gazette to remind everyone of the race:
Two triathlon races will be held at Jamestown on Sept. 11 and 12. There will be 1,200 competitors from all parts of the state competing. Please be patient and observe the police checkpoints along Greensprings Road and Route 5 toward the Chickahominy River, as the cycling portion will be on the roads and not the path. The race brings local revenue and money for local charities, so please show everyone what respectful citizens we are.
The fact that someone wrote in to say this is telling. I hope for the cyclists’ sake that there is a sizable police presence, for Route 5 is a magnet for road rage against cyclists. I’ve had several run-ins with drivers on different places on that course — even on the backroad portion I had someone yell at me out the passenger window and give me the finger.
Much of the problem on Route 5 stems from the adjacent bike path: before the path was installed, I never had any trouble. However, since many other cyclists and I don’t feel like hitting a pedestrian or getting clotheslined by a dog leash, we stick to the road. While we exercise responsibility by avoiding pedestrians, some drivers don’t feel like driving responsibly and avoiding cyclists, as reported in this Last Word comment:
Riding bicycles is part of living a healthy lifestyle, but ride them on safe roads where there is a bike path. Motor vehicle drivers should not have to slow down to follow behind bicyclists. If we attempt to go around them, we are crossing the yellow line, which is illegal. If we hit them, we go to jail. Ride on appropriate roads where there is a bike lane.
This attitude is very pervasive among drivers where I live: many treat the road as their personal space and are unwilling to share. Whatever happened to defensive driving? Everyone has an equal right to share the road, be it cars, trucks, bikes, or pedestrians. Some are not “more equal than others.” The attitude above makes the road a dangerous environment for everyone, including other drivers. The boilerplate “laws of physics give heavier vehicles priority/roads are designed for motor vehicles” arguments are no excuse for poor driving skills, not to mention the law. If you can’t safely handle slower (or faster) traffic, you shouldn’t be on the road. If you think bikes or pedestrians shouldn’t be on the road, then write to your state representatives to change the law, but I guarantee it will be an uphill battle.
It isn’t just a cycling problem, either: I’ve seen drivers completely ignore other cars and pedestrians, creating plenty of close calls. I’ve seen plenty of pedestrians march into traffic without a second glance. I’ve been on group rides where some people will sail through a red light. It’s time to take some responsibility. Everyone complains about traffic, but if you’re stuck in it, you’re as much to blame as anyone else.
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