Shared Roads, Shared Responsibilities for Bicyclists and Motorists
Bicycling organizations throughout state call on both bike riders and drivers to work together.
Tensions between bicyclists and motorists are in the spotlight this summer and we believe it’s time we all took more responsibility for cooling the confrontation and sharing the road.
We represent bicycle clubs and organizations with over 2,000 members in NW and Central NJ. Each of us is also a motorist. We understand sharing the road from behind the wheel of a car as well as on a bicycle.
We are as upset as anyone when a bicyclist does not ride safely or a group of cyclists block the road and surround a car as reportedly happened in Tewksbury this summer. Our organizations train riders on safe road sharing, criticize riders who do not, and are ready to work with police and town officials to make the roads safe for all.
We also know, firsthand, the consequences when a car or truck weighing two tons or more collides with a rider on a bicycle that weighs about 25 pounds. Our hearts go out to the families of the four cyclists alleged to have been hit from behind, sending two to the hospital as happened in Sussex County this spring.
To the motorist, the consequence of driving safely and sharing the road may be a short delay. The consequence to the bicyclist could be his or her life.
Our plea to both bicyclists and motorists is simple: When we share the road, share the responsibility.
For bicyclists, that means riding single file as safely to the right as is safe and never more than two, side-by-side, even in the absence of traffic. It means being alert to traffic conditions and observing traffic signage. It means learning and following the laws that govern us, participating in safe riding clinics, and keeping our cool when drivers do not.
For drivers, it means understanding bicyclists have a right to be on the road, that one of them could be your neighbor or a relative, and that passing safely does sometimes mean slowing down and giving the bicyclist three feet or more of clearance. Please don’t honk, tailgate, or floor it to pass. And please keep your cool even when the bicyclist does not.
We all can benefit from more dialogue and less road rage. There’s room for all of us on the roads we all pay for—and have a right to share. We’re sure that there’s not a single bicyclist or a single driver who gets out of bed in the morning with the idea of creating a dangerous situation. Let’s all work together to make our roads safer for all.
Jay Marowitz, President, Morris Area Freewheelers Bicycle Club
Jim Hunt, Chair, Morris Area Freewheelers Foundation
Mike Kruimer, President, Central Jersey Bicycle Club
John Kinsey, President, Bedminster Flyers Cycling Club
Cyndi Steiner, Executive Director, New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition
Ethan Brook, President, Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey
JRC
7:38 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012
Great story with a good message to all ! Thank You for writing/posting it on this site.
faith
9:20 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012
i agree. great message.
twogirls84
3:34 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Thank you for a posting this article. My husband is an avid cyclist and we are always concerned for his safety. That being said, the towns truly need to make a strong effort getting across the msg to 'novice/weekend' cyclists who do not ride in groups or with cycling clubs. Just the other day, a cyclist chose to ignore the red light and headed full speed ahead into the intersection right in the path of my daughter's car. Thank goodness she was able to hit the brakes and come to a stop before making contact with him. This gentleman was obviously unaware that he DID NOT have the right of way by the obscene hand gesture he sent her way. He scared the daylights out of my daughter who could have caused an accident by attempting to swerve out of the way. It would be nice to see some educational signage around town reminding cyclists to obey traffic signals and other rules of the road for their own safety if nothing else!
cnewman
9:24 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
I am glad this issue is being addressed and hope there can be some positive improvements in the rules of the road. Cycling is a great sport and there should be room on the road for everyone...my son is an avid cyclist and was hit by a car, thrown over the hood of the car and hit the pavement in the middle of the road several months ago. He was with his bicycle club and it was during the day and one of their colors is red - so it is not as if he was hard to see!
the person that hit him tried to leave the scene before the police arrived saying they were late for an appointment! as far as i know the person had no concern for my son or his injuries. my son was taken away in an ambulance. We never heard one word from the person who hit him as to how he was doing, etc.
This is a crazy world. And a car is bigger and more powerful then a bike - i think drivers have some responsibility to slow down when sharing the road with cyclists - what is the big rush anyway???
johnsmom
7:02 am on Saturday, September 1, 2012
Does anyone know what happened at the corner of South and LaGrande yesterday afternoon?? I saw the aftermath of an accident (I think involving a bicycle) and Union Co. police were taking measurements for accident investigation. I don't think it looked good for the victim. I pray he or she is okay.
firedup49
2:06 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
johnsmom, I too hope the victim is OK, my prayers go out to the driver and the victim
cnewman
9:36 am on Saturday, September 1, 2012
in general people drive like their pants are on fire! bikers have little protection save their helmets! i too pray for anyone hurt and also for the driver -
firedup49
2:05 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
You get not approval from me, find a park to bicycle in, or one of those Sustainable Cities like Lawrence. Bicyclists are rude and take over the road which causes uncalled for accidents. I have driven on Old Rartian Rd, driving 25 mile per hr around blind turn all of a sudden there is a cyclist hogging the middle of the road. frightens me.
cnewman
12:36 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
you are scary and sounds like you need to move onto the senior bus system. I have never met a "rude" bike rider and when i ride around town on my old bike i wave at people and they wave back - hope you live on the other side of town :)
waveznstarz
1:13 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Why don't cyclists obey the same rules as drivers do. I can't go through a red light yet they do. Cyclists don't belong in the middle of the road they belong on the side of the road.
Marshall Krugman
6:09 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Although I'm sure they exist I don't recall seeing any efforts to educate the public, drivers and riders alike, in safety measures and procedures for bicyclists. This past summer I have witnessed a number of unsafe cyclist practices among both young and adult riders. I focus on bicyclists because they are by far more vulnerable than drivers on the road. An encounter between a bicycle and a car is by far more dangerous for the bicyclist no matter who is right. Drivers are prone to "bicycle blindness" (they can be staring directly at a bicycle and still not see it). It is encumbent upon the bicyclist to ride defensively as if his life is at stake if he does not.
twogirls84
9:16 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Well said. (...and I am the wife of an avid cyclist!)
cnewman
8:19 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
i have no idea where you drive, but i do not see cyclists riding in the middle of the road and i go to work 5 days a week, so i spend a fair amount of time in my crv! When i come upon a cyclist i slow down! i don't know if any of you are bike riders, but even in my 60's i like to get on my bike and ride around town from time to time - it is a great pleasure to do something i so enjoyed as a child - you all need to lighten up!
Jeanette Smith
9:50 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Every Saturday morning on Mountain Road between Summit and Berkeley Heights there are packs of riders. They ride 4 bikes across blocking the entire lane. As a former competitive long distance rider this is extremely frustrating to me. When I have rolled down my window to remind two across they usually always give me a very fun gesture and don't appreciate the advice.
Also, many don't wear brain buckets. They are required for a reason!
cnewman
8:05 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
i have never seen this, but if so, maybe you can tell them either move over or you will photo with cell phone and call local police???