Peddling logic during bike craze
Here’s a ray of sunshine in our coronavirus gloom. To beat the lockdown blues, a great number of Greenwichites have adopted bicycling as their activity of choice this summer. Whether it’s pulling the old Schwinn out of the garage or buying a new carbon-fiber Cannondale, tooling around town on your bike seems to be perfect for social distance socializing, all while getting some exercise in the process. And while Junior may have been stuck around the house this summer, nothing gets our crusty old Norman Rockwell hearts beating more than seeing a gang of little scamps pedaling to ye olde ice cream shoppe, then shooting off with friends to explore the neighborhood. Cycling it seems, is good for everyone.
However, complaining about bicyclists this summer has been something of a town-wide cottage industry. Did you know that cyclists in Greenwich have the same rights as motorists? “Of course,” say the bicyclers, “We share the road and are blessed with the same protections as anyone else.” But did you also know that cyclists have the same responsibilities and duties as motorists? That the traffic laws — all of them — apply to bicyclists the same as cars? Well, according to those doing the complaining, many cyclists either don’t know or don’t care that they are still considered “vehicles,” because too often even if they know the rules, they don’t regularly practice them.
And that means whether it’s those endearing scamps weaving around high-traffic streets, packs of friends creating a peloton clump in the middle of the road, or spandexed sprinters buzzing pedestrians, those same bicycles helping their owners de-stress this summer are stressing out others. Take traffic signals for example. In Greenwich, the law says cyclists must obey red lights, stop signs, yields and make hand signals when turning. But if you listen to the concerns of people around town, many cyclists see these obligations as optional.
So back in July, partially in response to community questions and concerns, the Greenwich selectmen held a productive session with interested citizens to discuss bike safety. At the same time, the town wisely reposted and reaffirmed online what many of the rules are. Basics such as, all traffic laws apply to bicycles. In most circumstances, please ride on the right-hand side of the road. No more than two riders side by side, use hand signals, and use caution when passing. You know, the kind of stuff that’s not just the law, but just solid advice.
But here’s a kick in the head. While some in town would like to see more signage and instructions posted to educate cyclists, something the selectmen are absolutely willing to do to encourage healthy and safe bike riding, there are reasons why it’s unlikely you’ll see anything helpful like that any time soon. See, while many people think Greenwich has an abundance of dedicated bike lanes and paths, in reality, not so much. Which is problematic because even a simple solution such as putting up dedicated bicycling directional and “share the road” style signs along city streets could lead to lawsuits if people get hurt.
The good news? Our selectmen, as well as our passionate local cycling organizations, are all committed to a goal of more connected bike paths, as well as a more “active Greenwich.” Events such as Saturday’s town-sponsored kids Bicycle Safety Training are a great starting point, and more fun and educational activities like this should be planned. Because while the town is absolutely prepared to find ways to make bicycling easier, safer and even more fun for everyone, for now, cyclists have to take responsibility themselves and adhere to the rules.
So with due respect to the majority of cyclists who do follow the rules, let’s reestablish some baseline good cycling manners, which should help us all to just get along. Let’s start with recognizing that pedestrians and cars are not just inconvenient obstacles. Both should be passed with respect, caution and on the left. Yields, stop signs and crosswalks should be obeyed, especially when others are doing the same. And let’s all agree that speed limits are there for a reason and that Tod’s Point is not a training ground for the Tour de France.