Get On the Sidewalk!

Life in the Bike Lane

Tom Frady

I remember the day a driver leaned out his window at a stoplight and yelled, “Get on the sidewalk!” He said it with the confidence of a man who had never read the vehicle code, but had strong feelings about it anyway. I smiled, waved, and rolled on, biting my tongue and pedaling away with my dignity intact.

Sharing the road sounds simple, it’s right there in the phrase: sharing. There are even road signs with a graphic clarifying for drivers how to do it.  Yet somehow, when bicycles enter the picture, sharing becomes controversial. Roads, it turns out, bring out a surprising amount of territorial behavior in otherwise reasonable adults.

Here’s the first thing every driver should know: we cyclists are not guests on the road. We’re not borrowing it for a joyride. In most states—including ours—bicycles are legally recognized vehicles. That means we belong there as much as cars, trucks, and the occasional odiferous farm implement.  In fact, back in the day, the first paved roads were paved specifically for bicycles.

Second, cyclists are not trying to “slow you down.” No one on a bicycle wakes up in the morning thinking, “What can I do to delay a stranger’s commute today”. We’re just trying to get where we’re going alive. The average cyclist is keenly aware of speed differentials and would love nothing more than for traffic to flow smoothly—for everyone.

Drivers should also know that cyclists often ride in the lane on purpose. This is not rebellion. It’s survival. Riding too close to the curb invites hazards—gravel, potholes, storm drains, car doors flung open without warning. Taking the lane makes us visible and predictable, which are two qualities you generally want in traffic.  We do our best to move right when it’s safe so a car can pass.

Speaking of passing, a safe pass is not a courtesy; it’s a necessity. Giving a cyclist a three-foot buffer—more if you have it—isn’t about being generous. It’s about physics. A gust of wind or a wobble to avoid debris can turn a close pass into a catastrophe. Slowing down for a few seconds beats explaining yourself to yourself for a lifetime.

It took several years for the “3-foot rule” to pass, even though there are all kinds of data showing lives are saved by giving riders a little room.

Another thing drivers should know: cyclists stop at red lights and stop signs more often than you think. When we don’t, you notice it because it confirms a bias. When we do, it’s invisible. It’s called “confirmation bias” if I remember my psych 101 correctly.

And yes, some cyclists behave badly. So do some drivers. One cyclist running a stop sign does not indict everyone on two wheels any more than one bad driver represents the entire DMV.  Yes, I know riders are not always attentive or courteous and I wish all cyclists were perfect, like me.  I will let the guy who writes “Life in the Traffic Lane” speak to drivers’ complaints in more detail.  I’m not trying to be ‘fair and balanced’ here.

Finally, (and this is important) cyclists are people, not nuisances. People with families, jobs, and dinner plans. Many of us are older than we look.  It’s about public safety and we lycra-clad studs are part of the public.

When drivers and cyclists (nearly all cyclists are drivers, too) see each other as humans first and road users second, something remarkable happens: the tension eases. The road gets quieter—not in decibels, but in spirit.

Sharing the road isn’t about cyclists earning respect or drivers granting it. It’s about recognizing that we’re all just trying to get somewhere, and that arriving safely is the one destination we have in common.