Where did that number come from?

Where do bicycle accidents happen? At the intersection, turning or crossing movement over > 83% while only ~4-6% happen from behind, overtaking by motor vehicle This is not “that is not downplaying fear from the rear” rather prioritizing hazards, conflicts.

“Fear from the rear” is an irrational public fear and distracted driving associated with more driver electronics (i.e. cell phone/texting, PDA and GPS) may aggravate the situation but it does not legitimatize the fear. Cyclist have more control of their safety than than they believe.

Consider “Fear of Traffic from the Rear.” This paper key point “getting hit from the rear can be just as easily avoided as getting hit from the front, but the cyclist has to be a little more actively involved than to just be maintaining a good lane position.” “Being move visible” by assertive lane position sound counter intuitive but I agree it works.

2001 AAA study of “Role of Driver Distractions in Traffic Crashes” developed the following crash cause categories and percentages (I’ve excluded cell phone stats):

28.1% Outside person, object, event
14.1% Adjusting radio/cassette/CD
11.8% Other occupant
3.5% Moving object in vehicle
1.6% Smoking related
17.1% Other distraction
16.7% Unknown distraction

The problem of “distracted driving” has been around a long time. What about banning radio/cassette/CD? Other occupant? I have no idea what the heck “outside person, object, event” means.

A 2009 NHTSA Traffic Safety Notes: “Examination of Driver Distraction as Recorded in NHTSA Databases”. Here is the key part of summary:

“Measuring driver distraction in the field is difficult and potentially imprecise because of self-reporting and timing of data collection. Due to differences in methodology and definitions of distraction, each study or survey conducted may arrive at different results and conclusions with respect to the involvement of driver distraction during a crash.”

Honestly anyone driving a car is distracted, but it is momentary not continually otherwise more cars, trucks or trains or planes would be in the ditch.

The guy in FW that was killed several months ago was 5 to 6′ over on the right hand side of the shoulder… He was in a de facto bike lane… The white stripe didn’t help him… The distracted motorist who killed him should be held criminally culpable.

Let’s go over each one of the three accidents you had, deconstruct them and reconstruct them, and see what went wrong, and what you MIGHT have done to improve your odds. We might both learn something. Again – no need to hide behind a pseudonym. You know who I am, and you know how to reach me. Come on out – let’s go for a ride.

However, I do want to offer my services as a Dallas cyclo-commuter and recreational cyclist who is trying to help enlighten his own species about myth vs. reality. The cycling culture itself perpetuates the perception that the roads are ‘unsafe’, and that all motorists want to do is kill, either intentionally or inadvertently. I’d like to perhaps meet with you at the Starbucks on Knox, or another one at a location that is convenient to you, and go for a ride together, after a discussion about what does and doesn’t constitute fear, safety, and antagonism, as well as a refresher on road rules.

Dallas really IS a great place to ride a bike. You just have to know HOW to properly ride your bike. Would you want your taxes to go up for miles of bike lanes that will be unused, unsafe, and un-maintained, yet expected to be there when one is present?

Let me offer my time and services, and we’ll both look at it from your eyes. I can be reached through www dot cyclingcenterdallas dot com, or you can email me directly at whareagle at gmail.com. While you’re at it, head over to bikedfw dot com and sign up for a Traffic Skills 101 class. You’ll be impressed. I guarantee it.

Thanks to Keri for hosting and being such a perpetual advocate for real cycling.

I know you didn’t really mean to call out Keri on your post. What you experience and what she experienced are directly related to two things, one primary and the second ancillary.

PRIMARY: Like most beneficiaries of “safety education”, I’ll bet you ride a bike “as far right as possible” in the roadway. That’s not what the law requires, and it isn’t safe. To be able to experience the freedom and hospitality of “bicycle driving” like ms. Caffrey does, I’d recommend you take advantage of this opportunity to “re-learn” basic bicycle traffic skills. It’s easy, it’s simple, and I’m even going to show you how to get a discount. Just follow this URL:
http://cycledallas.blogspot.com/2010/01/learn-how-to-ride-your-bike.html

ANCILLARY: Sadly, your city of Richardson has begun installing some very poorly thought-out bike lanes that ignore every accepted design standard. Even worse (and this is well documented in other US cities… including Portland, Oregon and Austin, Texas), the introduction of these segregated facilities communicates to the hooligans in your neighborhood that you have no right to be on the street.

I encourage you to take the Traffic 101 course, learn its principals, and then enjoy the streets. True, there are always going to be a few assholes. The number of serious incidents and injuries on trails like the White Rock Creek and Katy Trail attest to the fact that assholes jog and ride bikes, too (and cause serious harm).

Cyclists like Keri make the decision to control their lane in traffic, and to exchange the life of a traffic victim for that of being a full partner.

There are none so blind as those who will not see. Nor so sad.