A couple of weeks ago the Cycliquette seed was planted and some great conversation ensued. Several incoming links appeared from dozens of other websites calling their readers for ideas and discussion. It was a record day of comments – most of them extremely productive. Unfortunately the trolls have discovered this site and I’ve now had to moderate some comments to keep the conversation on track and also so I don’t get sued (yes, apparently I can get sued for unruly comments!).
I’ve thoroughly read through the comments and have come up with a shortlist of things that we as cyclists need to clean up in order to co-exist with motorists so that we’re respected on the roads. As it stands right now there are too many of us (myself included) who ride in massive bunches, abuse our rights, and act like a bunch of hoons. I know most of us think that it’s someone else who acts like a jerk in the bunch rides, but we need to be mindful of our own actions as well.
If we conduct ourselves this way we negate the progress that organizations like the Amy Gillett Foundation have made. We’re only hurting ourselves.
Here’s a shortlist of the top actions that YOU put forward to address the problem between cyclists and motorists.
- COOL – Showing some courtesy and acknowledgment to motorists. It costs nothing to give a smile or a wave to someone who slowed down or showed some respect for you. You’re on a public road and not in a race. Use the same social etiquette that the rest of society uses.
- UNCOOL - Swarming cars stopped at a red light when in a bunch ride. Stay left and behind the vehicles. Use discretion when riding alone or in small groups in heavy traffic. Sometimes its reasonable to pass slow moving traffic if you’re consistently traveling faster.
- UNCOOL – Using the opportunity of stopping at traffic lights to regain your position at the front of a bunch. This ends up blocking multiple lanes while getting around the forward riders.
- COOL – Riding 2 abreast. This is preferred but not always possible when passing other groups. If passing, at the very least, keep inside the white line. EVEN if it means losing your position in your bunch, drift back and keep inside the your lane. Shoulder check and look for cars when overtaking.
- UNCOOL – Treating our bunch rides like races. We’re not in a closed arena. There is no need for a bunch sprint to go all over the road at the end of a ride. Yeah it’s fun, but that’s what Sunday crits are for. Leave your ego at home and show what you’ve got in a real race.
- COOL - Having the balls to tell your mates when they do a bonehead move. The more the higher level riders speak up, the more others will speak up with you. 88% of you reading are expert to advanced level cyclists. Use your position of influence to promote change.
This was a popular one in the comments but it doens’t necessarily involve our relationship with motorists:
- COOL – Leaving your iPod at home on busy roads. For your own safety and the others in the bunch. You primarily use 2 senses on the road – your vision and your hearing.
I didn’t bother to write things in here like “don’t run red lights“, “don’t damage someone’s car” and “don’t draft trucks” etc. I think we’ve come far enough to know that these things are unacceptable and aren’t tolerated by other cyclists. In time I hope that this whole list is viewed in the same way.
Please feel free to point out any glaring omissions in this shortlist or to share your opinions.
Also, check out www.bunchridefinder.com.au for a fantastic site about bunch rides all over the world. Steve, the bloke who runs the site is fully on board with Cycliquette. I’m glad that he’ll be spreading the word as well.
