While biking is a convenient way for students to get around on campus, it’s becoming more dangerous for students than beneficial. It decreases travel time, is environmentally friendly and helps students get in some exercise in between classes and other obligations; yet, biking safety is being threatened not only by drivers on campus, but also by cyclists themselves.
Biking on campus has become more convenient for students, especially during this semester. With the help of LimeBikes and decreased construction on Hillsborough Street, quick rides around campus have become more accessible. It’s true that cyclists are being seen more frequently around NC State, but that doesn’t mean that drivers are any more cognizant of their presence. Many drivers continuously practice unsafe driving behind the wheel, which puts cyclists at risk because of the lack of protection a bike offers.
Data gathered in 2015 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that the number of cyclists killed while biking has risen by 12.2 percent since 2014. There were 818 cyclists who died from bike-car related accidents and over 45,000 who were injured in 2015. These finding are based on the accidents that were reported to the police, a large amount never being reported.
With the increased number of bikes around campus, drivers should become more used to seeing these students on the roads, but in reality, cyclists are so commonplace on public streets that drivers are becoming more immune to their presence. Many people in cars aren’t looking for bikes when turning onto streets or merging lanes and don’t take into account the decreased visibility of a cyclist while driving.
Even as a pedestrian, I am aware that drivers on campus tend to drive above the posted speed limit, making an accident more likely to occur. Cyclists aren’t just injured when a car is driving; a common accident between cars and bike riders occurs when drivers get out of their cars and strike a cyclist with their door.
The fault is not to be placed entirely on those who are driving cars on and around campus. Cyclists themselves are not engaging in safe cycling practices to ensure they won’t be in danger while on busy roads or in the campus community.
Many students aren’t wearing helmets or following basic traffic rules while biking. While bike lanes are not available on every street, especially many of those on campus, cyclists are not immune to the laws and safe practices of riding in the same lanes as cars. Cyclists commonly don’t stop at stop signs and lights or yield at roundabouts. They can also be seen transitioning on and off of sidewalks on Dan Allen Drive and Cates Avenue. When driving on streets without a bike lane, bicyclists will not indicate when they are switching lanes or turning, which is commonly done through arm motions.
Ignoring important safety laws like these puts a cyclist at an even higher risk of being seriously injured or killed even on the shortest of rides. This also puts drivers in a frustrating and difficult situation because bicyclists are typically not blamed for bike-car accidents even if they are at fault.
While it has become easy to blame drivers for bike-related accidents or disputes on the roads or in the campus community, cyclists need to remember that they can perform the same reckless driving tendencies. When driving or riding on the roads near NC State or cruising through campus, both drivers and cyclists need to be aware of their surroundings and respect those they share the road with.
