Phillip Barron
The Herald Sun
February 23, 2006
DURHAM — Some in the Triangle suggest that recent bicycle-related fatalities, one in November and another in January, highlight the inherent dangers of cycling. There is an undeniable risk to cycling in traffic, but more soundly these deaths serve as a reminder that the privilege of driving an automobile and the right to ride a bike on North Carolina’s roadways are each coupled with corollary responsibilities. Those responsibilities have to do with safety.
Sometimes accidents happen. The very nature of the word ‘accident’ suggests two things: first, it suggests that no one is at fault, and second it suggests that these unfortunate incidents are unavoidable.
When you look at statistics, fatal bike accidents don’t happen too often. Although every year Durham county sees an average twenty-eight bicycle accidents involving automobiles, rarely is there more than one fatality per year. Nevertheless, one is too manyfor me.
So while it might be the case that (actual, unavoidable) accidents happen, it might also be useful for us to believe that all accidents are preventable, whether or not this is strictly true. That is, if thinking that accidents are avoidable leads us to adopt better habits (while driving or riding), to don more safety gear, or to be more patient on the road, we might all share the road with more confidence and respect for our fellow travelers.
And that may make the roads safer places for you to be, whether you’re in the driver’s seat, in the passenger seat, or on the saddle.
For a cyclist, safety begins with what we wear.
Growing up, at some point you probably reached an age when you wanted to take the factory-issued reflectors off your bike. That illuminescent red disk on the back of your seat post might slow you down, or the clear reflective mis-shapen rectangles claspingyour spokes might off-set the balance of your wheels so you argued with your parents, anyway. Really, you took them off because they weren’t cool.
Cool or not, reflectors are an inexpensive way to make your bike more visible on low-light or night time rides. If you have to ride in the dark, and many commuter cyclists do, then your number-one concern is making yourself visible. Think about putting those reflectors back on your bike. Reflectors don’t weigh much and don’t require batteries to light you up as you cruise down the road. If you gave them to the kid next door, you can pick up a set of new ones at your local bike shop for about $10.
Bright orange reflective vests ($15), with neon orange mesh and safety-yellow reflective strips, brighten up your torso. But keep in mind that a vest won’t do much good if you wear a backpack.
The local bike shop is also your source for bike-specific headlights and tail lights. Not only are adequate lights (front and rear) required by N.C. state law, they really do make a difference in your ride.
Geoff Martin of the Bicycle Chain thinks that the single most important piece of safety equipment a bicycle commuter can have is a blinking tail light. Whereas reflectors work only when a beam of light hits them, the battery powered, blinking LEDs scream I’m here, I’m on the road too all the time. This means that even before a car’s headlights shine on you, a good blinkie can be seen from a hundred yards away.
LEDs, the light emitting diodes that most blinkies are based on, require very little power, so the batteries powering them seem to last forever. However, if you ride in the dark often you may want to consider investing in a set of rechargeable batteries and a charger. Recharging your own batteries produces far less waste than relying on disposable ones, and it ends up saving you money in the long run.
When looking for a blinking light or other commuter accessories for your bike, look for components made by Planet Bike. Planet Bike makes a range of quality add-on products for your bike from fenders to lights to speedometers and donates 25% of their profits to bike advocacy organizations. They sell blinking red tail lights and blinking white handlebar-mounted lights for $15 each.
LEDs have made their way into headlights as well, and there are more than a few models to choose from at your local bike shop. Cateye makes a headlight ($40) that throws a beam more than twenty-five feet in front of you; its mounting system stays with the light, so you can easily move the light to another bike or reposition it to a better spot on your handlebars.
Finally, although not required by state law, wearing a helmet is never a bad idea. Helmets start at $40 and the prices climb pretty steep. Differences in price have mostly to do with the aerodynamics and comfort features integrated into the helmet. Which ever style you’re most comfortable with, just make sure your helmet is ANSI certified.
For more ideas on how to ride safely on the road or just to caffeinate on your way to work, stop by Mad Hatter’s Café and Bakery tomorrow morning. Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of Durham’s Bicyclist Breakfast.
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Bikers Breakfast
7:30 9AM, drop-in
Mad Hatters Café and Bakery
1802 W. Main St.