Cyclists & Pedestrians - An Uneasy Mix
Part of this week’s EcoWorldly cycling series: Cycling and its importance in countries around
the world.
A bicycle, I once read somewhere, is the most efficient form of human transport ever developed. Coupled with the fact that bicycles are relatively cheap and trouble free, and suffer few of the traffic problems that dog other forms of transport it’s no wonder that cycling has never been more popular.
But I’m starting to wonder if this popularity might start becoming a problem?
When the automobile was first invented, way back in the 18th century, it didn’t take long for a series of accidents to take place as drivers and pedestrians alike struggled to adapt to the idea that they were unevenly matched. The initial solution was the red flag, carried by a man walking in front of the car to warn any pedestrians or live-stock of the approaching danger.
Clearly impractical (and possibly sponsored by the railroad companies), a better solution was quickly found by way of the introduction of traffic regulations, and the segregation of the highway into motor and pedestrian areas (sidewalks).
There seems to be somewhat of a parallel to this story developing here in Zürich, where bicycles seem to have free range over the streets, sidewalks, tram-lines, bus-stops, and practically any place that lies within a direct line of the cyclists point of origin and destination. Cyclists, it seems, have decided that the lines of stationary cars are too dangerous, and therefore that pedestrian areas are the safest place - Pedestrians are much softer in the event of accident.
And this is accepted. It appears the fact that they generate zero carbon emissions has given them carte blanche to travel in the most reckless manner possible, often wearing ridiculously tight shorts whilst weaving in and out of pedestrians and other urban obstacles, frequently coming within inches of catastrophic collision with those of us travelling to work on two feet.
I remain fully convinced that my days are numbered and my fate is sealed at the hands of an errant cyclist who has skipped the clogged up cycle lane and misjudges the human chicane that is myself and another innocent bystander.
So, in the absence of the traffic laws and segregation of territory that made the man with the red-flag redundant, what other options do we have to free our walkways from this menace?
At this point, I should probably come clean on my bias: Twice hospitalised after cycling accidents in my teenage years, I remain highly suspicious of anything that doesn’t have at least three wheels to hold it upright, and have to say that I feel rather too aware of just how fragile a human body is when it hits something, even at relatively minor speeds. I psychologist might say that I have too many rather negative associations.
I’ve considered all sorts of solutions for bicycle traffic calming, from speed cameras to cycle-traffic cops, to natural obstacles which might keep some areas bicycle free. Ultimately however, I think it will simply require a few high profile nasty accidents before education and common sense start to prevail, but until then the war on the car is likely to overshadow this new urban danger..
Other Articles in Ecoworldly’s Bicycling Series
- Forget Sky-high Gas Prices, Biking Beats Them All! by Sam Aola Ooko
- UK: Bike Week 2008 by Pem Charnley
- Bicycle powered water pumps and filtration systems by Nayelli Gonzalez
- Italy’s Two-Wheeled Cities Speed Up Your Life Quality by Eva Pratesi
- In Chiang Mai, Social Attitudes Crush Bicycling Prospects by Masimba Biriwasha
- Google’s Sexy Bicycle Giveaways and Africa’s Versatile Bike Trucks by Sam Aola Ooko
- South Korean Bicycle Ninjas Do Battle Against Asthma by Gavin Hudson
- Of Course Cycling in Australia is Healthy, But What To Do With the Cars? by Ross Kendall
- Cheer up! Bicycling in Italy is a Daily Adventure by Eva Pratesi
- If You Want a Blissful Sex Life, Don’t Ride a Bike! by Sam Aola Ooko
- Bicycling in Peru: An Art of Adaptation by Levi Novey
So is the assumption here that as bicycle use increases, the availability of biking options (i.e. more or wider bike lanes) does not increase? If that’s true, then yes, pedestrians, and jogger strollers, beware. If not, then I think that it comes down to licensing cyclists and making sure that they go through some basic street etiquette education.
If you ride reckless, you get a ticket. Seems simple enough.
Or we can push via legislation that roadways need to make room for cyclists. Let’s make more pavement!
Cheers,
-Brandon
@Brandon: Here here!
@Brandon - the problem is that cycle lanes can’t really increase any further without either taking cars completely off major city streets (not practical in the short term), or taking away even more pedestrian space - things are filling up. Most streets here have cycle lanes, but cyclists don’t stick to them.
Interestingly also, cyclists here must be insured and display a small insurance plate somewhere on their bike.
I agree with you on ticketing, but are you suggesting we concrete over more of the city to make more pavement?
I know that when I was growing up in Holland, there were rules against cyclists using the sidewalk. As far as I know, that’s still the case, and it’s a good rule to have. Cyclists should be riding on the road. The real problem is making the roads safe enough for cyclists, by creating designated bike lanes.
There’s a good line in the film ‘Men in Black’ - “a person is a calm, rational being; people are dumb, panicky animals”… No matter how many signs, laws, markings you put up, there are always going to be problems and accidents when more than one person is doing anything.
Since I don’t like to be completely unconstructive: urban design is key to solving the problem. Burntwood Lane in south London has some really good road/cycle lane design … pics on page 117 of this if anyone’s interested (7mb) http://www.londoncyclenetwork.org.uk/uploaded_files/LCN_Design_Manual.pdf.
One thing that would make it better is curving the curbs, and putting a curved curb between the cycle lane and the road. That way, the cyclist has more freedom to move easily and swiftly between the three (which we will continue to do with or without them, we’d just be at less risk) and cars will be dicouraged from intruding on cycle lanes - which impatient drivers do all the time when the car in front is turning right - and they may also then go slower.
@ Mark, if you get speed cameras put up in the bike lanes I use, I’m personally going to come over there and make you feel a lot worse than either of those accidents
Matt,
That’s what I was looking for - some practical design solutions to the problem.
The issue here is that part of the sidewalk (pavement) is used for the cycle lane, not part of the road, so cyclists constantly switch from cycle lane to pedestrian area like a bunch of certified lunatics.
Matt, since you live in London you might as well face it that you are going to end up with something equivalent to cycle speed-cameras anyway…
Mark.
I’m a fan of what they’re doing in NY: changing the orientation of the some streets by removing one lane of traffic and having cars park at the edge of where that lane used to be. Then, the parked cars act as a buffer for cyclists and there’s an automatic bicycle lane without cost to the pedestrians.
BTW, I absolutely agree that cyclists should be respectful of pedestrians. After all, pedestrians aren’t drivers, which is nice.
In many places, it’s actually illegal to bike on the sidewalk. The reason? Bicycles are a vehicle and follow the same rules of the road as any other vehicle. This gives them (us) both protection and responsibility.
[...] 7. Bicycles are efficient vehicles. [...]