Re: Greater respect needed between cyclists, motorists (Our View, Sept. 19)
Unfortunately, hoping for a bit more courtesy between cyclists and motorists and more cycle facilities (eg bike lanes) is a faint hope prescription for improvement.
In any activity, one has to know the hazards and ways to avoid them. As the more vulnerable to serious injury, cyclists have to be really savvy!
First of all cyclists need to be seen and predictable. Dark costumes are death suits! Also one needs 20/20 rear vision – a rear view mirror that really works. Mine is a dental mirror on my glasses. With no distortion and a slight turn of the head, I can even see the stop light four blocks behind!
Passing parked cars should be done in a straight line, so that their drivers have ample time to see one coming and not open the door suddenly. Further bike lanes continued into the intersection encourage cars to turn right from the middle of the street, potentially knocking down any cyclist coming into that space.
This is just a small sample of what cyclists need to learn. It’s a pity that much of this isn’t in the school curriculum, beginning at about age 12.
Robert McInnes, Victoria