tg1896

I've been commuting to work for over two years and almost never see another cyclist. This morning - SURPRISE! - another commuter. What a joy! I catch up to him (he's on an MTB) and say hello - as I approach I notice he has no flashers, no reflectors, he's wearing dark clothes and a black backpack. I'm thinking about providing a little advice, but decide to just give him a wave and a hello. No response. I go to the next red light and am waiting besdie a line of about five cars and here he comes. He not only doesn't stop - he actually started pedaling harder - and runs right through the red light. I follow to the next intersection - same thing.

Now for the clincher - he parks at my building. I see him and decide to hold my tongue. What do you think? Should I have given him some helpful advice in a non-threatening way? Told him he was a complete idiot? Beaten him about the head and shoulders with a tire pump?

LóFarkas

If he rides in broad daylight only and looks around at intersections, he's just a safe as you. Safety is not about ticking all the boxes and following al the rules, but watching traffic and using your head.

Enjoy the ride instead of spying others.

georgiaboy

Be happy about the fact you have a fellow commuter who travels to the same place about the same time. Certainly, you both can discuss things to help each other. Why don't you ask him how his commute has been? Has he had any unsafe encounters? Get a feel of his viewpoint on these matters. Maybe something did happen recently and he maybe open to some suggestions. Sometimes when we are riding our bicycles we are not able to determine our visibilty to others.

kf5nd

just make sure you don't get hit by his spray of blood, it could carry disease!

Oh, I so disagree with "If he rides in broad daylight only and looks around at intersections, he's just a safe as you. Safety is not about ticking all the boxes and following all the rules, but watching traffic and using your head" on so many levels.

What if cars made up their own rules all the time? Unfortunately, many do, and the most vulnerable of us (peds and cyclists) pay with our lives.

kf5nd

Safety Maxim which we use extensively in our company:

"The most common outcome of an unsafe behavior is... nothing at all".

Which means, most of the time, people who are reckless do OK... then, the 99th time, or the 999th time, all of their stupidity lines up with the stupidity of others, and random chance (weather, lighting conditions, etc) and they get hurt or killed.

Then people say, "Oh, what a terrible accident!" Accident? Nothing accidental about it. It was a conspiracy of incompetence and stupidity!

CBBaron

+1
Not only is it unsafe for him to ride this way but it may endanger someone else. And it also breeds contempt among the motorist towards "those cyclists who never follow the rules". The difficult part is figuring out how to approach this cyclist in such a way as to educate him with out him feeling attacked.

Craig

oboeguy

++

Flak

If he rides in daylight, then there is no need for lights or reflectors.

My light recently broke, so i bought some reflective tape as a substitute.



Couple that with the reflecto tape on my backpack and helmet....im plenty visable.

tsl

Not everyone bicycle commutes by choice. It could well be he has a resentment towards being forced out of his cage, which could explain the f*** it and you attitude.

I-Like-To-Bike

+³

tg1896

Your response makes it clear that I did a poor job of providing enough detail. Let me add a few salient points.

1. It was 6:00 a.m. – pitch dark
2. The first red light that he ran came at the end of a slight downhill. He did not stop – he did not slow down – he actually sped up before going through the light.
3. The second red light that he ran was also at the end of a downhill. He crossed a four-lane road in metro Atlanta that has a 45 mph speed limit. There is also a blind curve to the left, making it impossible to see cars unless you stop or at least slow to a crawl. He once again sped up and ran the light.

DanO220

I can understand your reluctance to try and strike up a conversation - again - espcially when you know you're going to be offering constructive criticism on his commuting technique in short order. But if he parks at your building on a regular basis, why not leave a note on his bike? You should definitely compose it as if you're simply concerned for his safety. And perhaps leave it with a short, concise booklet on bicycle safety. (You can download that sort of thing.)

He'll most likely throw it away and ride off as usual. Then again, he might actually think about some of the chances he's taking. He might realize that it's OK to ride safely. You'd be surprised how many riders simply think that flaunting traffic laws is the cool, hipster thing to do. He might have had a few close calls already and maybe just needs a little positive encouragement. He might even ask you if you left that note next time you guys cross paths. I know... rose colored glasses, right?

Like I said; chances are he'll ignore it and continue to ride as if he's mad at the world. In that case, just thank God he's not driving a truck.

DanO

xB_Nutt

Ignorance is bliss. Or maybe this guy knows exactly what he is doing. My take is that he doesn't want to lose any precious momentum by stopping for the red lights, doesn't want to waste precious money on lights/reflectors and is probably not going to be commuting long term. As much as you want to help this guy out, he will more than likely just resent your helpful advice. If you do happen to strike up a conversation with him, maybe feel him out for opportunities to provide helpful advice. If you sense an attitude, then you're better off letting him learn it on his own. Let sleeping dogs lie...

newbojeff

1+. Based the chilly reception you've already received, I think you'll be wasting your time and effort. If you see him around, give a "hello" or ask about the ride. I wouldn't take it any further unless he does.

capejohn

Are you Dr. Phil? Advice should only be given to your own family, and those who ask for it? Like you did here.

Halfway through your speech the guy may give you his advice.

capejohn

Best answer of the thread. So what did you think of our advice?

SingingSabre 

If I caught up to him, I'd talk to him. Perhaps getting to know him on a level even slightly more personal than "just another doofus road user" for both of you would make it able to strike up some constructive dialogue.

Just remember, there's stuff you can learn from him, too.

bradchu

Maybe I'm not the nicest person, but if I see someone driving a car, running red lights with both headlights out, speeding around and ignoring safety, my first reaction is not to have a conversation with him or leave a note on his windshield. I would just let the cops handle it, or give a short prayer that he doesn't get killed.

I guess this might be different for cycling advocates, but like someone else said, not everyone is interested in being a cycling advocate. Just as not everyone is interested in being the best motorist they can be.

LóFarkas

Yeah, that adds a bit of perspective Riding into blind turns without lights in the dark fast is exactly the kind of idiocy that gets people killed sooner or later. Darwin at work, I guess.

I know I wouldn't approach him about his safety... If a conversation starts for any other reason; at the cafeteria in your building or whatever, drop a word or two about how a friend of yours got killed when he ran a red in the dark without a light

HiYoSilver

Normally I would say be quiet and don't make waves. However, his reckless behavior may lead drivers to tend towards road rage towards other cyclists. I don't see any other approach than

1. one verbal warning to nut case
2. reporting to cops next time it happens explaining you are concerned about drivers acting aggressively towards you as they are mad at idiot.

unkchunk

If the guy can't respond to a "hello", then anything else is pointless.

GTcommuter

If you see him again, try to get to know him. If he's a regular rider then details of commuting will come up in conversation and eventually turn to safety. This isn't a case of spying on other riders, it's offering help and advice to a fellow rider. It will make him safer and the road safer for you.

He might not listen to you, but then again he might. Offer friendly advice if the chance arises and if he doesn't respond then its his life. I say this because I recently met a fellow who had been a carfree cyclist for three years and he couldn't figure out why he was getting brushed off the road by cars so often. Take the lane, I told him, and he's since become a more confident and safer rider. The fundamentals of riding in traffic are not immediately obvious to everyone.

That's a great point. I've been riding for years and finally just recently put my bike in front of some car headlights to look at my visibility from a driver's point of view. I was amazed at how ineffective my reflectors and lights looked. Caused me to add several more. Again, this stuff doesn't come automatically it takes time to experience and learn.

[edit:] What part of the city is this in?

Denny Koll

You might try striking up a conversation and throwing in some backhanded compliments.

"Hey...nice to see another bike commuter. I wish I had as much nerve as you do."

"I love wearing black and I hate having to put a light on my bike but I'm too chicken to ride like that in the dark"

"And I'm just to scared to blow the traffic lights like that. Man you have a lot more guts than I do."

Skyway6

yes. i see this frequently. It adds to the drivers mentality that bikes dont belong on the road

the cagers wont remember the bikes that stop at every light and follow the road rules - they could come across 100 bikers that follow the rules. its this one person that rides like the above that will be remembered and will lump all bikers into his category instead of the rule follower biker.

tg1896

Excellent advice from all. I agree with the sentiment to strike up a conversation and see where it leads (if anywhere). I actually liked the Dr. Phil comment - that was pretty witty.

I really had two reasons for wanting to address this (both of which were picked up on). One - he could wind up as a greasy spot. Two - I regularly read letters to the editor from angry motorists threatening to wear "idiot bicyclists as hood ornaments because they think the traffic laws don't apply to them". IMHO - commuters like this make it more dangerous for the rest of us.