David Kattan was right on the money when he said that cyclists and drivers need to show more courtesy to each other (“In traffic-choked city, motorists and cyclists must be safety-minded,” Letters, Dec. 8). He was right again in saying that, for motorists, courtesy includes using turn signals. Possibly the one best thing we as drivers can do for cyclists is ALWAYS to signal, whether or not we think there is anyone to see us do it.
Unfortunately, Kattan was just as wrong to assert that a reciprocal courtesy on the cyclist’s part would be “avoiding thoroughfares during rush hour.”
Comments
Somehow, we all accept that mixing pedstrians and traffic together in the same lanes is dangerous and foolish. A pedestrian walking in traffic would lead to quick police action, and a trip to a nice facility to be mentally evaluated. Streets were not designed for pedestrians and cars to coexist. Most streets were not designed for bikes and cars to coexist. Trying to wish it otherwise doesn't make it safer, and degrades the street's designed purpose, to move large, motorized vehicles that provide limited visibility to operators. And more than turn signals and driver inattention, the real danger to bikers is that drivers have limited visibility. Blind spots are rarely large enough to hide a car, but bikes can, and will often in be in non-traditional locations. Like we have for pedestrians, the best solution is to provide bike lanes isolated from pedestrians and vehicles.
Common sense says that people in cars, on bikes, or afoot should exercise more caution at all times.
Let's consider putting speed bumps into the bike lanes as well.
just tell them to get off the sidewalk!