Bike riding in America

I ride a bike to work just about every day, weather and circumstances permitting. As with everything else I do, I do it "my way", which is not necessarily the way most Americans would approach it.

I'm not riding a racing/road bike, or a mountain bike (on a road?!?) or a so-called "hybrid". I ride a bike that is made for commuting - a European commuter, in this case a German built Biria 3 speed. It is perfect for the purpose to which it is employed, commuting over less than optimal surfaces.

There are many, many European commute bikes made - several brands are imported (in, no doubt, limited numbers) to the US, the Biria was my choice largely because of availability and the very low step-through frame necessitated by my preferred mode of dress.

Americans seem to feel the need to make a competition, or "sport" out of everything - nowhere else in the world do bicyclists dress up in spandex racing outfits to ride their bikes - to the office. Such attire is reserved for the Tour de France and other similar events in the rest of the world.

Being that I wear skirts as much as possible, a skirt friendly bike was essential - hence the Biria. A so-called "woman's" model from another manufacturer would have sufficed as well, but the Biria has an ultra-low (and I mean LOW) step through frame. Great!

You read in the populist bicyclist press, and on the Internet, all kinds of rants from bike riders claiming that they're vehicles too and have the same rights as any other. They feel they have the right to "take the lane" whenever they feel it necessary - and "too bad, so sad" about the cars they may inconvenience. Then they draw the next breath and claim they shouldn't have to ride on so called "MUPs" (Multi Use Paths) shared with pedestrians - the pedestrians get in their way! If not hypocrisy, does anyone besides me at least see the irony of this position?

They claim riding in the same direction as (motor vehicle) traffic is safer. And indeed, as an experienced bicyclist, I agree with that assessment - MOST of the time. Certainly not ALWAYS. There are times when riding against traffic is safer - but the onus is on the bicyclist when choosing to do so. In other words, take responsibility for your actions! Oh-so un-American in today's Socialist/Liberal climate.

A similar thing goes for pedestrians - it is actually often MUCH safer to cross a street in the middle of the block than it is at an intersection, where there is usually just "too much" going on. This is, of course, in direct conflict with conventional wisdom and what is taught us from very small childhood. Once again, the onus is on the pedestrian to make the crossing safely. Don't expect the cars (and bikes!) to see you or yield right of way. What is safer about a mid block crossing is that the pedestrian can often see the traffic situation much better from the middle, and choose when to cross such that no vehicles are interacted with at close range. But of course in America, pedestrians are used to having the right of way, contrary to both common sense and the way its done in much of the rest of the world.

Returning to the bicycle, much similar can be said. Stay the Hell out of intersections as much as possible - they're deadly! Take command of your own ride, your own responsibility, and ride like a hybrid between a pedestrian, and a motor vehicle, because that is what you are. Neither one nor the other, but somewhere in-between. Common sense applies.

Be careful out there...