It feels as though a war is going on. The roads serve as a battlefield for the passive-aggressive fight between cyclists and motorists. Unfortunately, this war is not an even battle. Cyclists are left at a dangerous disadvantage without bike lanes, general motorist awareness and respect from law enforcement.
In October 2011, a 30-year-old artist was killed on his bike in Brooklyn by a crane truck when it hit him and sent his body 40 feet down the road. After this incident, the NYPD sided with the motorist and concluded that the cyclist had run a red light. This phenomenon is all too common in the United States, as law enforcement is biased toward motorists.
After intense pressure by the cyclist’s lawyer and family, the NYPD decided to conduct due process. It turned out they had footage of the incident from a nearby building, and that the truck had hit the cyclist while turning right. The cyclist was legally riding on the right side of the truck, and the truck failed to use its turn signal or look in its mirrors. The punishment was absolutely nothing—not even a fine.
The cycling community understandably blew up after this news came out because, regrettably, events like this are all too common. Unlike the legal systems and infrastructures in the Netherlands and Denmark, officials here demonstrate a strong bias for the people in large metal boxes and not the people risking life and limb to get some exercise and help the planet. Maiming or fatally injuring a cyclist is only a felony in three states. That statistic is a crime in itself.
In 2014, a 50-year-old woman was sideswiped while riding on a two-lane road in Annapolis, Maryland. The driver was trying to avoid oncoming traffic while passing the cyclist, and ended up killing her. The driver was charged a whopping $1,500 fine and three minor traffic violations.
“The driver thought, ‘Instead of damaging my car or myself in an accident, let me run over this cyclist so that I am not struck by a car,’” commented an angry cyclist in response to a story by The Washington Post. People deserve to be angry. Cyclists are at a clear safety disadvantage, but drivers don’t seem to be aware.
From 2002 to 2012, the number of hit-and-runs involving cyclists increased 42 percent in Los Angeles County. In Manhattan, a pedestrian or cyclist dies, on average, almost every other day. Understandably, the number of bike commuters has also increased, but that’s no excuse. That just means people should be more prepared to encounter cyclists and get in the habit of looking out for them. I live off campus and, having not filled my gas tank since January, I would like to feel safer than this.
We deserve more respect. We are trying to save money, help this deteriorating planet and get some fresh air and exercise, but the odds are stacked against us. While I would like more bike lanes and paths similar to those the Europeans have adopted, I only need some respect and a little room. We aren’t trying to make your life any harder or your commute any longer. We can’t move as fast as you can up hills, so please be patient and we will be out of your way shortly. A couple more seconds won’t kill you, but an impatient driver could kill us.
