• Home
  • SUBSCRIBE!
  • Garmin Edge Bike Computers
    • Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared
      • Garmin Edge 1040 vs 1030 Plus: What’s the Difference?
      • ALL GARMIN EDGE BIKE COMPUTERS COMPARED: 130 Plus vs Explore vs 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Plus
      • Garmin Edge 1040 vs 1030 Plus vs 830 vs 530 Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, Reviews and Videos
      • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830: What’s the Difference?
      • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs Garmin Edge 1030. What’s the Difference?
      • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs. 130 Plus – Premium vs. Budget Bike Computers
      • Garmin Edge 830 vs 820: What’s the Difference?
    • Which is the Best Garmin Edge Bike Computer?
      • Which Garmin Edge Bike Computer has the Longest Battery Life?
      • Which Garmin Edge Bike Computer is Best for Mountain Biking?
    • Are Garmin Edge Bike Computers Worth It?
    • Garmin Edge vs. Wahoo Bike Computers
      • Garmin Edge 530 vs Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt
      • Garmin Edge 130 Plus vs Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt: Which is Better?
      • Garmin Edge 520 Plus vs Wahoo ELEMNT
    • 9 Great Upgrades to the Garmin Edge 530
    • 9 New Features in the Garmin Edge 830
    • The New Garmin Enduro Smart Watch – a Good Choice for Cyclists?
  • About
    • Start Here!
    • Contact Us
  • Product Reviews
    • 7 Great Budget Bikes You Can Buy on Amazon in 2023
    • 7 of the Best Budget E-bikes under $1000 for 2023
    • Bike Computer Reviews
      • 7 of the Best Budget Bike Computers for 2023
      • All Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared: Edge 130 Plus vs Explore 2 vs 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Plus vs 1040
      • Best Cheap Bike Computers Under $65 – Includes Budget Wireless Computers
      • Best Bike Computers – Includes CatEye, Garmin, and Wireless Bike Computers
      • Quick Links to our Best Posts about Bike Computers
    • Cycling Gear Reviews
      • How to Choose the Best Cycling Balaclava
        • 7 of the Best Cycling Balaclavas to Keep Your Head Warm this Winter
      • 7 of the Best Waterproof Cycling Jackets for Men and Women
        • 7 of the Best Women’s Cycling Jackets – Waterproof and Windproof
        • The Three Different Kinds of Cycling Jackets
        • Showers Pass Elite 2.1 Waterproof Cycling Jacket Review
        • Best Cheap Cycling Jackets under $100
        • Best Windproof Cycling Jackets
      • 7 of the Best Waterproof Cycling Pants for Men and Women
        • Showers Pass Rogue Cycling Pants – Review by Mrs. Average Joe Cyclist
        • 3 Regular-Looking Pants that Work Well as Cycling Pants
      • Best Waterproof Cycling Gear for Men and Women
      • 7 of the Best Cycling Jerseys
        • Two of the Best Women’s Cycling Jerseys: Pearl Izumi and Sugoi
      • 7 of the Best Dog Bike Baskets and Dog Carriers
      • Adidas Cycling Glasses – Review after Eight Years of Use
      • The New Garmin Enduro Smart Watch – Is it a Good Choice for Cyclists?
    • Garmin Edge and Wahoo Bike Computers
      • Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared: Versus Posts!
        • ALL GARMIN EDGE BIKE COMPUTERS COMPARED: 130 Plus vs Explore vs 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Plus
      • Garmin Edge vs. Wahoo Bike Computers
        • Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt vs. Garmin Edge 130 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, with Videos
        • Garmin Edge 520 Plus vs Wahoo ELEMNT
      • Garmin Varia Vision and Varia Rear Light Radar
      • How to Upload Your Bike Rides to Strava While Garmin Connect is Down
    • Bike Pannier Reviews
      • 7 of the Best Waterproof Bike Panniers
      • Review of the Two Wheel Gear Convertible Pannier/Backpack
      • Best Waterproof Bike Panniers for Touring and Commuting: Ortlieb Bike Panniers
      • Two Wheel Gear Classic 3.0 Garment Pannier for Bike Commuters – Review by Mrs. Average Joe Cyclist
      • Best Commuter/Bike Touring Panniers: Two Wheel Gear Classic 3.0 Garment Pannier Review
    • Bike Light Reviews
      • Complete Guide to Bike Lights
        • Best Budget Bright Bike Headlight – Lumintrail Review
        • Best Bike Light under $40 – Serfas Thunderbolt Tail Light Review
        • 7 of the Best Bike Lights for Night Riding and Commuting in 2023
        • Reelight Rl721 Bike Lights Review – Lights that are ALWAYS on
        • How to Choose the Best Bike Light
      • When to Use Flashing Bike Lights
      • Quick Links to Our Best Posts about Bike Lights
    • Bike Saddle Reviews
      • 9 of the Best Road Bike Saddles for 2023
      • How to Choose the Right Bike Saddle
      • Zacro Gel Seat Cover – a Budget Solution for Saddle Discomfort
    • Headphone Reviews
      • Best Headphones for Safe Cycling
      • Aftershokz XTrainerZ Headphones – Open-Ear, Bone Conduction, Safe Headphones for Cycling AND Swimming
      • Review – AfterShokz Trekz Cordless Open Ear Bone Conduction Headphones for Safe Cycling
      • Jaybird Tarah Wireless Headphones Review
    • 7 Reasons to Use a Power Meter on Your Bike
  • Bike Computer Reviews
    • Best Cheap Bike Computers Under $65 – Includes Budget Wireless Computers
    • Garmin Edge Bike Computers
      • Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared
        • ALL GARMIN EDGE BIKE COMPUTERS COMPARED: 130 Plus vs Explore vs 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Plus
        • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs Garmin Edge 1030. What’s the Difference?
      • Garmin Edge vs. Wahoo Bike Computers
        • Garmin Edge 530 vs Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt
        • Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt vs Garmin Edge 130 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, with Videos
        • Garmin Edge 520 Plus vs Wahoo ELEMNT
        • Garmin Edge 520 vs. Wahoo ELEMNT
    • 7 of the Best Budget Bike Computers for 2023
    • Quick Links to our Best Posts about Bike Computers
    • Best Bike Computers – Includes CatEye, Garmin, and Wireless Bike Computers
    • 9 Great Upgrades to the Garmin Edge 530 – Garmin’s Game-Changing GPS Bike Computer
  • Health Benefits
    • Cycling Weight Loss
      • A Guide for Fat Cyclists
      • How Cycling Can Help You to Lose Weight
      • The Top 10 Ride Your Way Lean Eating Rules, for Effective Weight Loss
      • 7 Steps to Lose Weight Cycling
      • How Many Calories Do You Burn Cycling?
      • How Many Calories Can You Burn Riding an Ebike?
      • Top 10 Tips to Lose Weight Cycling
      • Our Best Lose Weight with Cycling Posts
      • Intermittent Fasting, Cycling, HIIT, and Weight Loss
    • Cycling and Aging
      • Science Shows HIIT on a Bike is the Best Exercise to Fight Aging – And We Show You How to Do it!
      • 5 Great Reasons to Take Up Cycling During Retirement
      • Science Says Exercise is a Miracle Cure and Protects You from Diseases
      • Science Proves Cycling Can Help You to Stay Strong as You Age
      • Science Shows that Cycling Really Does Fight Aging
      • 7 Tips to Help You Keep Mountain Biking after Age 40
      • Case Studies: Three Seniors who Regained their Health with E-Bikes
    • Cycling Knee Pain
      • 5 Doctor’s Tips to Start Cycling Again after Knee Replacement Surgery
      • Video: 3 Exercises for Cycling Knee Pain
      • 7 Ways to Prevent Cycling Knee Pain
      • How to Cure Cycling Knee Pain with a Miraculous, Cheap Cure
    • Cycling and Strength
      • Top 7 Strength Building Exercises for Cyclists
      • 5 Great Strength Exercises for Cyclists
      • Science Says Cycling Can Help You to Stay Strong as You Age
      • How Strength Training Can Boost Your Cycling Speed and Quality of Life
    • Cycling and Sleep
      • How Cycling Helps You to Sleep Better and Get Healthier
      • One in Three Cyclists Experience Reduced Stress Levels
      • Why Cycling May Be the Sleep Aid You Need
      • How I Became a Bike Commuter and Shed Stress Immediately
    • Cycling and Brain Health
      • Science Shows Five Ways that Cycling Boosts Your Brain Function
      • Research shows that cycling makes your brain grow
    • Kids biking
      • 7 Easy Steps to Teach a Child to Ride a Bike
      • 7 of the Best Baby and Child Bike Seats to Keep Your Child Safe – Reviews and Videos
      • 7 Tips for Parents to Keep your Kids Safe on their Bikes
      • How to Transport Kids on Bikes (Video and Infographic)
      • Babies and Bikes: How to Get Kids Active from the Start
      • How to Encourage Kids to Ride Bikes
        • How to Help your Kids Bike to School
A Blog for Average People who LOVE to ride bikes!

Average Joe Cyclist

A Blog for Average People who LOVE to ride bikes!

  • Cycling Training Plans
    • Our Most Successful Cycling Training Plans
    • How to Get Bike Fit: Complete Bike Training Plan
    • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner Cyclist Training Plan: Phase 1
    • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner Cyclist Training Plan: Phase 2 – Interval Training
    • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner Cyclist Training Plan: Phase 3 – Preparing for Your First Race
    • 7 Reasons to do High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on Your Bike – and How to Do It
    • Top 7 Strength Building Exercises for Cyclists
    • Science Shows HIIT on a Bike is the Best Exercise to Fight Aging – And We Show You How to Do it!
    • Workouts and Stretching for Cyclists
      • Complete Guide to Stretching for Cyclists
      • Stop Doing Crunches! 10 Minute Complete Core Workout for Cyclists
      • Updated Video: 3 Hip Stretches to Cure Cycling Hip Pain
      • 5 Benefits of Cross Training for Cyclists
    • How to Protect Your Testosterone Levels from Over-Training
    • Research shows Amazing Benefits of Sprint Intervals in Cycling
  • Indoor Cycling Training
    • 7 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers
    • 5 of the Best Smart Indoor Trainers for Effective Indoor Training
    • How to Set Up a Zwift Indoor Training System on Any Budget
    • Guide to Smart Turbo Indoor Trainers
    • How to Get Started with Stationary Biking: A Guide to Stationary Bikes
  • Cycling with Dogs
    • 7 of the Best Dog Bike Baskets and Dog Carriers
    • How to Train Your Dog to Safely Run Next to You When You Are Cycling
    • Complete Guide to Taking Your Dog on Bike Rides in a Bike Basket
    • 6 Steps to Gently Train Your Dog to Go On Bike Rides With You
  • Lose Weight!
    • Cycling and Weight Loss
      • 7 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers for 2023
      • 5 Quick and Easy Tips to Lose Weight Cycling
    • Our Best Lose Weight with Cycling Posts
    • Cycling Nutrition
      • Best Matcha Tea for Cyclists: My Matcha Life
        • How to Make Matcha Tea
      • How Protein Helps your Post Bike Ride Recovery
      • 5 Best Protein Supplements for Exercise Recovery and Health
    • Cycling Training Plans
      • How to Set Up a Zwift Indoor Training System on Any Budget
      • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner’s Bike Training Plan
    • Cycling and Health
  • Tips & How-Tos
    • How to Prevent & Cure Cycling Knee Pain
      • Video: 3 Exercises for Cycling Knee Pain
      • 5 Doctor’s Tips to Start Cycling Again after Knee Replacement Surgery
    • How to Change Gears on a Bike – Beginner’s Guide
    • Bike maintenance
      • How to Fix a Flat Bike Tire
      • How to Get Your Bike Ready for Safe Winter Cycling
    • Top 10 Tips to Keep your Bike from being Stolen
    • Smart Phone vs a Bike Computer for Recording Bike Rides – Which is Better?
    • How to Set Up a Zwift Indoor Training System on Any Budget
    • Do You Need a Cycling Jersey?
    • Complete Guide to How to Buy and Sell Bikes on Craigslist
      • How to Buy Used Bikes on Craigslist (and Other Online Marketplaces)
    • How to Understand Bike Terminology
    • 5 Things You Need to Know about Hydration for Cyclists
      • Hydration for Cycling – How Much Fluid do You Need?
  • Bike Commuting
    • Bike Commuting Tips
      • Top 10 Tips on How to Avoid a Sore Butt from Cycling
      • How Women Cyclists Can Prevent Saddle Soreness and Associated Issues
      • How to Choose the Best Bike Light
      • The 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make When They Try to Start Bike Commuting
      • 7 Tips for Going Car-Free
      • Can Cycling Cause Penis Numbness, Erectile Dysfunction, and Prostate Cancer?
      • Best Bike Light under $40 – Serfas Thunderbolt Tail Light Review
      • 5 Ways to Stay Visible in Traffic When Cycling
      • The 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make When They Try to Start Bike Commuting
      • 7 Helpful Tips for New Bike Commuters – Don’t Start Bike Commuting Until You Read This!
    • Winter Cycling
      • Safe Winter Cycling – How to Cycle Safely in the Winter
      • How to Dress for Winter Cycling – Cycling Clothes that will Keep You Warm and Dry
      • Our Top Tips to Keep You Warm and Dry for Fall and Winter Cycling
      • How to Get Your Bike Ready for Safe Winter Cycling
      • Quick Links to Our Best Posts about Cold Weather Cycling
    • Safety for Cyclists
      • Top 10 Tips to Not Get Hit by a Car on Your Bike
      • When to Use Flashing Bike Lights
      • 7 of the Best Bike Lights for Night Riding and Commuting
      • Aftershokz XTrainerZ Headphones – Open-Ear, Bone Conduction, Safe Headphones for Cycling AND Swimming
      • Best Budget Bright Bike Headlight – Lumintrail Review
    • Benefits of Being a Bike Commuter
      • Survey Shows London Bike Commuters are Happier and More Productive
      • What Is the Function of Myelin in the Body?
      • Research shows that cycling makes your brain grow
    • Bike Maintenance
      • How to Get Your Bike Ready for Safe Winter Cycling
      • How To Clean Your Bike Chain the Easy Way
      • How to Fix a Flat Bike Tire
      • Inspirational Video: How to Fix a Bike Flat – with No Hands
    • Cycling Infrastructure
      • 3 Reasons Why We Need Separated Bike Lanes
      • Research reveals a surprising benefit of separated bike lanes
      • Montreal Cycling, Part 3: Separated Bike Lanes – What Other Cities can Learn from Montreal
      • Cycling and the Post-Covid Transformation
You are here: Home / Bike Commuting / Bike Safety / Open Season on Cyclists in New Zealand – and New Cyclist Safety Laws in Nova Scotia

Open Season on Cyclists in New Zealand – and New Cyclist Safety Laws in Nova Scotia

November 18, 2010 by Average Joe Cyclist

Pin
Share
Tweet

Avatarwp-user-avatar wp-user-avatar-96 photo

In the last five days, five cyclists have been killed on New Zealand roads.

13 November: Patricia Anne Veronica Fraser, 34, died during a training run for the Lake Taupo cycle race, when a motorist ran her down. She was cycling single file when she was hit from behind. Her friend, Tania Malaquin, who was cycling right next to her, says she may never cycle again. She describes the accident:

“He was passing on double yellow lines, between two corners, where there was not enough stretch of road to pass safely under any circumstances. It was just ludicrous. He just made the worst decision that he has ever made in his life.”

Patricia was married, and had four children: Jakob, 13, Eylish, 10, Lily-Rose, 7, and Paityn, 5. Patricia’s husband Joe will ride the race in memory of his wife, wearing her number.

Badly mangled bike in Morrinsville, following accident in which a motorist killed 3 cyclists

14 November: Mark Andrew Ferguson, 46, Wilhelm Muller, 71, and Kay Heather Wolfe, 45, were killed by a motorist who crossed into the wrong lane and ploughed into a group of cyclists near Morrinsville, hitting them head on.

17 November 2010: The latest cyclist to die in New Zealand was a British woman, 27-year-old Jane Mary Bishop. She was cycling along the notoriously busy and dangerous Tamaki Drive in waterfront Auckland, when a parked motorist opened a door. Jane swerved to avoid the door, and was run down by a truck. The truck driver and resource personnel laboured to extricate her from the truck wheels and keep her alive, but she died before paramedics arrived.

Cyclist Jane Mary Bishop was killed by the combined efforts of the motorists driving this car and this truck

Seems like the truck driver tried to help – but it also seems to me he was way too close for safety, otherwise Jane might have had space to swerve.

In this connection, I am happy to hear that Nova Scotia has introduced legislation for new bicycle safety laws. If passed, these laws will ensure that Nova Scotia becomes the first Canadian province to enact the one-metre rule, which is already law in 15 U.S. states. This law requires motor vehicle drivers to leave one metre of open space between their vehicle and cyclists when passing. The amendments would also introduce several other safety measures for cyclists:

  • prohibiting vehicle parking in a bicycle lane
  • making it an offence to fail to yield to a cyclist in a bicycle lane
  • redefining cycling on the extreme right
  • allowing drivers of vehicles to cross a centre line to pass a bicycle, if the driver can do so safely

Also, and very encouragingly, penalties for breaking this law will be severe enough to be a deterrent (which is a nice change from the recent case where KILLING 2 cyclists only earned a $5,000 fine). Nova Scotia proposes a $455.26 fine for breaking the one metre law, and $1,260.21 for driving in a bicycle lane.

All Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared with Chart and Videos
Garmin Edge 130 Plus vs Garmin Edge Explore vs Garmin Edge 530 vs Garmin Edge 830 vs Garmin Edge 1030 Plus

This last one pleases me, given that I have been stationary in a bike lane at a red light and had a car honking at me because he wanted to make an illegal right via the bike lane. The driver was furious, while his female companion was looking embarrassed, as well she might. Interestingly, the driver next to me gave me a thumbs up when I calmly refused to either move or get angry. I am however well aware that the driver could have chosen to run me down – which is why I am happy to read that Nova Scotia Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Bill Estabrooks said:

“We know that Nova Scotians expect and deserve to feel safe on our roads. By clarifying the roles and responsibilities of cyclists and motorists, the rules will be clearer and safety will be enhanced.”

We need more of these positive legal amendments in Canada, so we can start to change the stats that show that cyclists are between 3 and 11 times more likely to die as motorists, per passenger mile (and that’s pretty intense, given that every year, 3,000 Canadian drivers die on our roads).

What we really need is a law such as the one in the Netherlands. There, the law imposes a rebuttable presumption of liability on drivers. This means that if a motorist is involved in a crash with a cyclist, the law presumes that the motorist is liable for the crash, unless the motorist can rebut that presumption with evidence to the contrary. The Dutch realized that the cyclist will virtually always be the injured party in a collision with an car, and so by putting the onus of fault on the driver, they have given motorists a powerful legal incentive to pay more attention to the presence of cyclists.

Maybe such a law, combined with the one metre law, would prevent cyclist deaths such as the recent  ones in New Zealand, and also prevent incidents like the latest one in New Zealand. Just this morning, 12-year-old Jacqueline Wyatt was cycling to school when she was clipped and then run over by a 6 tonne truck driven by Tex Simmons. Jacqueline is now in hospital, fighting for her life.

12-year-old Jacqueline Wyatt is fighting for her life after being hit by a truck in Blenheim

Bring on more legislation to protect cyclists – we need it desperately, so that we don’t have to see tragic sights like this.

Related

Pin
Share
Tweet

Filed Under: Bike Safety Tagged With: Bike accidents, Bike Safety, Yeah I wanna cycle without getting killed!

Comments

  1. Sean says

    November 18, 2010 at 3:54 pm

    Incidents where cyclists hit car doors are terrible, especially when they’re fatal – but I’ve come to believe that these are largely preventable. I’m not saying that careless door-opening motorists are not to blame, but in my mind it’s like crossing the street on a green light and not bothering to look around to make sure nobody’s going to hit you. There are times where the consequences of error are so great that it’s foolish to assume that the other guy is infallible. Being in the right doesn’t keep you out of the hospital, or worse.

    One of the most valuable things I got out of the VACC cycling course was keeping my distance from parked cars to eliminate the chance of being “doored”. I’d always known about the danger, of course, but I never wanted to venture far enough out into the traveling lane and interfere with traffic. I used to try to check every car to see if it was occupied, but the truth is you just can’t expect to do that and be right 100% of the time.

    What the VACC course made me realize is that bicycles have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicles do, and that in terms of the law there’s no requirement to ride your bike so close to parked cars as to place yourself in danger. The actual wording in the motor vehicle act is that a cyclist must “ride as near as practicable” to the right side of the lane (see:http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/96318_05#section183). Riding in the door zone isn’t practicable, IMHO, and as far as I know the law has never been interpreted differently.

    So now I leave a metre of space or more between me and any parked cars, and it doesn’t matter whether I’m inconveniencing traffic or not. I don’t travel on busy enough streets that I’m going to be holding anyone up for very long, and as far as I’m concerned there’s a lot less danger of someone hitting me (in my bright yellow reflective cycling jacket) from behind than there is from someone not bothering to check their mirror before they open their driver’s door.

    Regarding The NS legislation: I really like the 1 metre rule, and I’d love to see it applied here.

    • Avatar photoJoeAverage says

      November 18, 2010 at 6:43 pm

      Sean, I agree that the best thing is to give doors a wide clearance; I always do, for the same reasons you mention. At the same time, for those cyclists who don’t do it, or forget to do it occasionally, they sure don’t deserve to get killed. I don’t know why it’s so hard for motorists to remember to look before opening. It’s much like the many, many pedestrians who just step out onto roads without looking, because they canot hear cars coming – even though the road is clearly marked as a bike route. A couple of times I have stopped to explain to pedestrians that even though me and my bike are silent, our combined weight is over 200 pounds, going at 30 km an hour – which could kill them. They usually just look blank and bemused. Once I almost hit a stroller with a tiny baby, for the same reason – the mom just pushed the stroller into a bike route (on the sea wall) without looking. I told the mom “I would HATE to hurt your baby, please be more careful.” She just looked blank. Are there a lot of really stupid people around, or am I missing something?

      I look forward to having a 1 metre rule; I am sure it will come, because it simply makes sense. A

      • Sean says

        November 19, 2010 at 10:03 am

        Of course a cyclist doesn’t deserve to die for someone else’s mistake. But we all make mistakes. We get distracted and for a split second we do something without thinking that may have disastrous consequences.

        It’s happened to me more times than I’d like to admit. I’ve made mistakes while driving and cycling which could potentially have killed me if the circumstances had been a little different.

        So I really believe that everyone – motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, need to “act defensively”. Accidents hurt you just as badly even if it’s the other guy at fault. And some day, when you’re the one who makes the mistake, the difference between tragedy and a lesson learned is whether or not the other guy made allowance for your blunder.

        1 meter rule or not, I’d still check my mirror…

        • Avatar photoAverage Joe Cyclist says

          November 19, 2010 at 11:00 am

          Defensiveness is key. I am never more alert than when I’m on my bike. I use a mirror to keep an eye on what’s going on behind me, and try to be aware of everything in front and to the sides, too.

          If I think about it, there have been times when I have opened a car door without looking – we all make mistakes, or get distracted, as you say, Sean. The thought that I could have killed someone by doing that is enough to make me feel ill. There but for the grace and all that. Of course, now that I am a cyclist, on the rare occasions that I do drive I am more careful than I have ever been before around cyclists – but I’m still not perfect.

  2. paddyanne says

    November 18, 2010 at 5:13 pm

    The first photo in this post says it all. Very sad state of affairs but its good to see Nova Scotia setting a good level on the proverbial bar. The fines they are setting are a good wakeup call, but the laws in the Netherlands even better. …Sean, I’ve been meaning to take the VACC safety course; its on my to-do list for next spring. Nice to hear some more good feedback on a course that I have only heard good things about.

    • Avatar photoJoeAverage says

      November 18, 2010 at 6:35 pm

      Good idea paddyanne, I would like to do the course as well. I think one cannot know too much about safe riding. There are many tihngs that confuse me … for example, if I get to a red light, I always just take my place in the line-up of cars. However, I notice that I am almost always the only cyclist who does this. It makes sense to me, because if you ride up the right side of the traffic to get to the front, all that happens is that the cars squeeze past you immediately the lights turn green. So to me it just exposes you to more danger, while inconveniencing motorists unnecessarily. However, I could have this all wrong …

      • Graeme says

        November 19, 2010 at 3:44 am

        I wouldn’t mind hearing the safest way to proceed here as well.

        It depends on the situation, but I usually pull up to intersection on the right of the cars. When I do this, I tend to get through the intersection ahead of or just behind the first car in the line. If I was further back in the line of cars, I’d be stuck between two cars who are starting to move very close together. Worse, by the time I got to the intersection they might have had enough time to accelerate to a point where I’d actually be impeding them.

        As I’m judging the situation with my gut rather than any objective observation, I’m not sure when I choose one over the other; it seems to be that I sit in line with the cars when the lane is narrower or when I’m heading into a “channel” where there won’t be much room for us to drive two abreast—such as a row of parked cars along the sidewalk ahead, leaving just enough room for one lane of traffic to proceed.

        • Stephan says

          November 19, 2010 at 9:42 am

          The factors vary each time, this is why cyclists can’t be expected to follow the rules of the road exactly the same all the time. sometimes it makes more sense to wait in the line-sometimes it would be stupid or unsafe. Cars are always safe so drivers don’t have to think or make choices-they can just follow the rules blindly.

          • Estrella says

            May 16, 2012 at 6:19 am

            I have to agree with you on this Nancy. During our year of travel we found the matjrioy of people to be kindhearted and generous. We also had many people (in the U.S., New Zealand and Australia) invite us to stay the night, buy us meals, and give us the key to their house! They shipped packages home for us, sent our son Legos for Christmas, brought us homemade birthday cake at the top of Hoosier Pass (for our son’s 9th birthday), saved us from a lightening storm and drove miles out of their way to help us. I could go on and on. Our experiences have reinforced our belief that most people in the world have good intentions. We hope the end of your journey continues to be blessed with an outpouring of love and kindness. All the best. Dorrie, Mike and Gregory Williams[]

          • Avatar photoAverage Joe Cyclist says

            June 29, 2012 at 1:06 pm

            Wonderful to hear this! Thanks for sharing it with us. I agree that most people in the world have good intentions.

        • Sean says

          November 19, 2010 at 9:52 am

          Don’t take this as legal advice because I’m about as far from a lawyer as you can get – but legally speaking bicycles are treated as motor vehicles, and my understanding is that a motor vehicle cannot pass on the right unless there’s a separately marked lane or unless the vehicle being passed is stopped to make a left-hand turn.

          So I believe that means if you’ve got a marked bike lane you’re good to go, but otherwise you should stay in line.

          In practice, what I do depends an awful lot on the circumstances. If there’s plenty of room on the right and there’s a fairly long lineup, I’ll usually proceed beside the cars – largely because if I stay in line then I’d end up delaying the cars behind me when the light turns green.

          But if I do stay in line then I do what the VACC taught me – I “take the lane”, riding far enough from the right side of the lane so that cars can’t try to squeeze by.

          As with most things, I’m perhaps naive enough to think that as long as my actions don’t cause any problems, nobody’s likely to charge me with minor infractions. And I say this not in the spirit of trying to get away with something but rather in appreciation of the fact that there are occasions where blindly obeying the letter of the law will cause more general inconvenience than by bending it a little.

          It’s the same attitude I have when, instead of pushing the button to get a “walk” signal to cross the street, I wait for a while to see if I can safely cross during a break in traffic without having to force anyone to stop for me.

          • Avatar photoAverage Joe Cyclist says

            November 19, 2010 at 10:15 am

            I think Sean, Stephan & Graeme are all saying much the same thing – use your brain and discretion. Which is definitely what I would agree with. And of course, trying not to hold cars up – I always think it’s a good idea not to annoy people who are in a position to kill you on a whim … still, I would like to know what the law says, which is why the VACC course would be good. I am often in situations where I wonder if I could be fined – such as on the Sea to River bike route, where Metro Vancouver is STILL riding roughshod over cyclists’ rights, by blocking up the route and not providing signage or alternatives. I just go ahead and ride on the sidewalk as they have blocked off the road – but I am at the same time aware that this is illegal – but is it still illegal if the city takes away your alternatives. I mean, what am I supposed to do – fly?

  3. Alex P says

    November 18, 2010 at 5:39 pm

    A fellow YouTube helmetcam guy from New Zealand is TheVexatiousLitigant (http://www.youtube.com/user/TheVexatiousLitigant). He uploads a lot of videos of some dangerous close calls in NZ, but got knocked over recently and broke a few bones, and had to upload his videos as user CarBoundCyclist (http://www.youtube.com/user/CarBoundCyclist) for a while… In NZ you can search license plates online to find expired licenses or failed and expired vehicle safety tests, and it’s shocking how many of the dangerous encounters in his videos involve vehicles with such expireies!

    He posts this statistic on his site (not sure the source):
    Road Traffic Deaths per 100,000 Population 2009
    USA 13.9
    New Zealand 10.1
    Canada 8.8
    Australia 7.8
    France 7.5
    United Kingdom 5.4
    Japan 5.0
    Netherlands 4.8

    • Avatar photoJoeAverage says

      November 18, 2010 at 6:43 pm

      Good info Alex, thanks!

  4. Roy says

    November 19, 2010 at 10:55 am

    As both a cyclist and a motorist I can see when both parties are right and wrong.Vechiles defintately pass too close to cyclists often at excessive speed. In Taupo i noticed signs telling vechiles to keep 1.5 metres away. As for doors when on bikes we are travelling quickly as well so if a driver (and don’t forget children opening doors) checks their mirror then opens the door we can be on them before they realise so should treat every car as if it already had its doors open. Also as cyclist we can and often are ignorant of our responsibilities as road users and the law such as stopping at lights and intersections ect.
    I believ there should be dedicated off road cycleways for cyclists its good for us good for motorist and good for the planet so bring them on NOW!!!

    • Avatar photoAverage Joe Cyclist says

      November 19, 2010 at 11:20 am

      Could not agree more about the dedicated off road cycleways, Roy. Vancouver is bringing a lot of them in at the moment. It’s not easy – business fights back, but thanks to a determined mayor, we are winning.

      The argument for dedicated off road cycleways (or separated bike routes) is so obvious: bikes and cars are not compatible vehicles. Cars are so much bigger and faster, they pose an obvious danger to cyclists. It’s similar to having Sumo wrestlers and toddlers competing on the same track – no one would do that, because of the risk the Sumos would crush the toddlers!

  5. Glen A says

    July 17, 2012 at 12:53 pm

    Regarding door opening into cyclists. As well as being on top of a parked car quite quickly the other problem is that cyclists are approaching the parked vehicles right in one of their biggest blind spots – the left rear corner. This view to the rear is frequently obscured by head rests, rear roof supports (C pillars) & rear passenger heads, so even if the person opening their door checks they still might not see a moving cyclist. Believe it or not the front corner roof supports (A pillars) can hide a moving Bus (No exaggeration) from the drivers view so you can imagine how visible a cyclist is. Simple rule when riding – Aim High, Scan Wide

    • Avatar photoAverage Joe Cyclist says

      July 17, 2012 at 1:13 pm

      Thanks Glen, those are really useful points. I had no idea the roof support could hide a bus …

  • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs 830 vs 530

Welcome to Average Joe Cyclist!

Welcome to our blog! I’m Joe Goodwill, an average cyclist, and I write a blog for people like me. People who love cycling but will probably never win any races, and who don’t necessarily look good in Lycra! I also write the Electric Bikes Blog and Average Joe's RV Living Blog. To find our most popular posts, check out our Start Here page.

Hi! I'm Maggie Neilson (aka Mrs. Average Joe Cyclist). Joe and I have done a lot of cycling, and we share what we have learned on this blog . We also write reviews of cycling products and trails! Get to know us better HERE.

How our Product Links Work

  • You pay EXACTLY the same price, whether you use our links or go direct to the websites.
  • Earning some commission enables us to spend more time writing posts 🙂
  • THANK YOU to all the good people who have bought through our links. Your support is sincerely appreciated.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Search Average Joe Cyclist!

Trending – Our Top Posts Right Now!

  • Every body starts somewhere - and with enough determination, you could become one of the smiling competitors in a cycling event How to Get Bike Fit: Complete Bike Training Plan
  • They look the same - but there are quite a lot of differences!. Garmin edge 1030 plus vs 1040 bike computers Garmin Edge 1040 vs 1030 Plus: What’s the Difference?
  • The Garmin Edge 830 on Maggie's bike Garmin Edge 1040 vs 1030 vs 830 vs 530 GPS Bike Computers: Full Review and Comparison of GPS Bike Computers with Navigation
  • How E-Bikes Can Help Couples to Cycle Together 5 Doctor’s Tips to Start Cycling Again after Knee Replacement Surgery
  • 7 of the best bike panniers 7 of the Best Waterproof Bike Panniers, 2023 – for Better Bike Commuting and Touring
  • 7 of the best budget indoor trainers 7 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers for 2023
  • Best Headphones for Safe Cycling
  • tips for success lose weight cycling Top 10 Tips to Lose Weight Cycling
  • Winter is a good time to take a break from cycling and do some different kinds of exercise. Click here for our video about the 7 top strength building exercises for cyclists Top 7 Strength Building Exercises for Cyclists
  • erectile dysfunction Can Cycling Cause Penis Numbness, Erectile Dysfunction, and Prostate Cancer?

  • Click for our Best Cycling Training Plans!

Copyright © 2023 · Average Joe Cyclist, please contact us for syndication rights.

 

Loading Comments...