Cyclists urge motorists to share the road
JOHN D. RUSSELL/MORNING NEWS
From left, Mike Cullen and Janet Heath cycle down Pocket Road in Florence on Thursday. Local bicyclists are urging motorists to be more aware and respectful of riders. State law requires that a motorist must maintain a safe operating distance between the motor vehicle and a bicycle.
FLORENCE — As daylight-saving time draws to an end, local cyclists are urging drivers to be respectful and careful of riders on two wheels.
SHARING THE ROAD
DRIVE CAUTIOUSLY
- Reduce speed when encountering cyclists
- In inclement weather, give cyclists extra trailing and passing room
- Recognize situations that may be potentially dangerous to cyclists and give them space
YIELD TO CYCLISTS
- Cyclists are considered vehicles and should be given the appropriate right of way
- Cyclists may take the entire lane when hazards, road width or traffic speed dictate
- Motorists should allow extra time for cyclists to traverse intersections
BE CONSIDERATE
- Scan for cyclists in traffic and at intersections
- Do not blast your horn in close proximity to cyclists
- Look for cyclists when opening doors
PASS WITH CARE
- Leave at least three feet of space between your car and a cyclist when passing
- Wait until road and traffic conditions allow you to safely pass
- Check over your shoulder after passing a cyclist before moving back to normal position
WATCH FOR CHILDREN
- Children on bicycles are often unpredictable — expect the unexpected and slow down
- Most children don’t have adequate knowledge of traffic laws
- Children are harder to see because they are typically smaller than adults
— Source: Palmetto Cycling Coalition
In less than two years, three members of Florence’s Pedal Pack have been struck by vehicles. Though none were seriously injured, the incidents serve as evidence that drivers need to be more aware of cyclists.
Janet Brand, a local tri-athlete, was headed home on her bicycle after a group ride two weeks ago when she was struck by a car along Palmetto Street. She doesn’t know exactly what happened but thinks the driver was trying to cross Palmetto when he hit her.
“He hit me on the left side, and a lady who saw the whole thing said I did a flip then landed on my right side,” Brand said. “I thought my leg might have been severely messed up, but the X-Rays looked good. So I’m just bruised and sore. I know God was with me, because the outcome could have been a lot worse.”
Brand said she thinks many drivers are inattentive in general, which causes problems for cyclists.
“People are on their cell phones and doing other things while they’re trying to drive,” she said. “People are in such a hurry these days, and they just don’t have any patience.”
Scott Connelly of Florence agreed and said drivers always should watch for bikers. Connelly was struck by a car while riding his bike around Lake Robinson in Hartsville in spring 2008. Connelly suffered minor neck injuries and road rash.
“I was at the base of the hill doing about 26 mph. He tried to pass another car and hit me coming into the lane,” Connelly said. “It was a 1991 Lincoln, and I took the side mirror off. It bent the frame of my bike, but fortunately I got out with scrapes and bruises.”
Under South Carolina law, a driver of a motor vehicle must at all times maintain a safe operating distance between the motor vehicle and a bicycle. It is unlawful to harass, taunt or maliciously throw an object at or in the direction of any person riding a bicycle. A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than $250 or imprisoned not more than 30 days, or both.
Any violation of the new law, including the safe passage provision, is punishable by a civil fine. The fine structure is based on injury and ranges up to $1,000.
“People aren’t watching,” Connelly said. “We’re not getting any respect out there. We do have a right to the road. We’re considered a part of traffic, and drivers don’t seem to understand that.”
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Reader Reactions
If you want to call assuming that people will act responsibly and actually understand that they are driving a dangerous piece of equipment idiotic, then you might be right. However, like other cyclists, I make myself as visible as possible to minimize those problems. I would be irresponsible if I went out in camo or dark, unreflective clothing.
The distracted are not necessarily what I find the problem. The malicious and the flat out ignorant drivers (i.e. those who don’t understand that I am a moving vehicle with a significantly different closing speed with oncoming traffic than with them) are the big problem. Additionally, the trucks are the least of the problem. If car drivers acted as responsible as truck drivers, there would be many fewer collisions between all vehicles.
Maybe we should just ban all cars. That would solve a lot of problems (obesity, global warming, etc.). Or maybe not. I’m not willing to give up my car just yet.
You put your safety in the hands of motorists…young, old, impaired, texters, smokers, coffee drinkers, nose pickers, overworked, etc….sounds a little idiotic to me…
First of all cyclist are not idiots – at least most of the ones I know are not. But while statements that we need more bike riding and less eating and smoking may be true, they don’t address the saftey concerns we all have. A drastic reductions in motor vehicles on our highways is not a realistic expectation. Most, but not all, bike riders are are on the “busy” streets because the choose to be there - motor vehicles, for the most part, have to be there.
I fully understand the point of view of the cyclist who simply want to enjoy their activity for any number of different reasons, be they social, health related, or whatever. I myself enjoy an occasional trek on some of our roads and streets on my bike.
I have also been backed up behind 20 or more cars and trucks, all of us trying to get to school, work, or whatever on a narrow 2 lane road, only to discover the problem is a cyclist clinging to his narrow stretch of pavement – his only choice to get run over or land in a 12 feet deep drainage ditch.
Here are some ideas – maybe not all original - and maybe not simple to implement – but maybe starting points for other ideas to make the roads safer for all. Some of this may already apply – I don’t know.
Require all cyclists (including moped riders) to be licensed to use primary and secondary highways, SEPERATELY from a SC driver’s license. Require ALL bicycles and mopeds used on those roads to be registered and licensed. Use those license and registration fees to fund construction of more bike paths and lanes.
Since bikes and cyclist are even harder to see when the conditions are the most dangerous for them – (bad weather, increased traffic, poor lighting), require minimum standards for markings and safety equipment on bikes and mopeds used on the highways.
Require cyclist to get off the road temporarily if traffic becomes overly congested due to their presence, in the same manner that farm equipment or other slow moving vehicles do.
Just as we mark some streets as unfit for large trucks for various reasons, designate certain roads as unfit for the combination of cyclist and motor vehicles (too narrow, too many blind curves, etc.)
The main probelm is that cyclist just don’t have enough “safe” places to ride. But cyclist, please keep in mind motor vehicles are not as manuverable as you are and you are inherently much harder for divers to see under stressful driving consitions. No amount of law or regulation can change that.
I really don’t have anything against the bike riders, but they really need to stay off the heavily travelled roads.
I do have a problem with the golf carts. In our neighborhood we have several that are being driven by kids, and the police will not do a thing about it.
I suppose the negative comments below should be expected in a state where according to the CDC > 30% of adults are obese and > 20% still smoke.
More should be done to encourage bike riding especially in area like Florence where there are plenty of beautiful (and flat) country roads. The law does not go far enough to protect bikers.
More physical activity for adults is certainly part of the solution to the healthcare problem in the country today.
We need more biking and less eating and smoking in the PeeDee.
I’m not going to argue. I’m just going to state some facts. The “Idiots” and “Morons” you speak of are mostly Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, CEOs and a College Professor among others. Does this meet reasonable definitions of “Idiots” or “Morons”? We also happen to be mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons.
I’m also pretty sure that the people in the club all have cars and pay taxes and insurance on them. I have 3. I acutally don’t tear up the road with my bike.
In as far as not riding on the main roads, we use them only as a necessity to get to lower traffic roads. We don’t just ride them. I was hit by a drunk driver on a back road.
A question back: Why do you hate cyclists? We ride for many reasons, but the bottom line is we enjoy being out there. We do not do it to offend anyone.
Sidewalks will not work for these IDI0TS, if they have to stop or even raise their head and look away from their front tire, they get mad! Eventually a log truck will run down 10 or 15 of these morons if they are not made to get out the ROAD!!
Ride the bike paths and side streets and sidewalks. Florence does not have many walkers on the sidewalks. Probably as many riding the local city buses. 0
These IDI0TS ride down the road I live on thats traveled heavily by log trucks,dump trucks,drunks and many other IDI0TS! They will ride in packs of 2-3 or 15-25 they will take up the whole lane and not even look behind them all the while dressed like there in the Olympics! My only real question is…WHY RIDE ON HEAVILY TRAVELED ROADS WHEN THERE ARE PLENTY OF MUCH LESS TRAVELED, VERY GOOD ROADS TO TRAIN FOR THE OLYMPICS ON…..IDI0TS!!!
Amen to the two previous posts. Just because a thing is legal does not mean it is smart to do it. Only a nut will turn high rise buttocks to fast oncoming vehicles on a heavily used main artery. What part of no can the 1800’s legislature not see? That stupid law allowing bicycles [or mopeds] on State highways surpasses human reasoning. The bicyclists must have one heck of a lobby ! Same goes for farm tractors. I can see allowing such to CROSS a paved highway, but only if property is owned on both sides of the road. There is a surplus of low boy trucks to haul them around safely. I would support building of off road lanes for bicycles as funds become available. But until, get them off the fast lanes.
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