Many of the most significant safety concerns for cyclists relate to other people, rather than their own choices. Cyclists tend to be safety-conscious, as they don’t have the structure of a motor vehicle to protect them in the event of a collision.
Technically, cyclists have the right to share the road with drivers. Bicycles are vehicles according to the law. Cyclists typically follow the flow of traffic and have to adhere to the same regulations as those operating motor vehicles. Unfortunately, those in motor vehicles frequently make choices that put cyclists at risk. Many cycling collisions are the fault of drivers rather than those on bikes.
Why is it so difficult for motorists to safely share the road with people on bicycles?
Drivers often forget to watch for bikes
One of the most consistent safety issues for cyclists involves drivers overlooking them in traffic. Driving produces quite a bit of incoming visual information. The human brain cannot quickly focus on every detail a driver encounters in traffic.
The brain prioritizes safety-critical details, such as bigger vehicles or obstacles ahead. Drivers can potentially look directly at cyclists without registering their presence in the street due to the phenomenon professionals refer to as inattentional blindness. Cyclists often try to account for inattentional blindness by making themselves as visible as possible.
Some drivers resent the presence of cyclists
Even when motorists are aware of a cyclist nearby, they may not make the smartest or safest choices. Instead, they may try to scare or intimidate the cyclist. Drivers often view cyclists as an obstruction to the flow of traffic, especially if they are behind a cyclist on a two-lane road.
Drivers may swerve at cyclists, cut them off or open their doors in front of a cyclist with tragic results. Those on bikes need to be aware of how drivers might put them at risk. They also need to be ready to take appropriate action if a driver causes a crash through distraction or malicious behavior.
Filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit can potentially help compensate a cyclist for injuries and other losses caused by a bicycle collision. Drivers who don’t share the road safely with cyclists are typically responsible for any damage they cause.