Frazz by Jef Mallett for March 04, 2017

Preach, Brother!

Being seen when riding is very, very important, especially with the increase of bicycle riders and lack of attention by too many car drivers.

Not with people Driving While Texting!

I think the colorist dropped the ball on this one

Well said, Jef And then there are people who walk/run unlighted residential streets after dusk in dark clothing without color bands, or without vests, or even a flashlight/head light, and expect drivers to see them. Unreasonable but typical here.

While cycling, I once let an older gentleman through at an intersection. He walked by me chuckling to himself. When I asked what he was giggling about he said: “Do you realize what you look like dressed like that?” I guess being seen, aerodynamics and riding comfort is lost on some, but at least I made his day.

Drivers, cyclists, pedestrians… everyone see and be seen. Maybe even be polite about sharing the road, but at least start with safety.

I wish “hope” would have prevented the distracted driver from putting my cyclist wife through his windshield a week before her birthday last year and destroying her new Cannondale Evo. It didn’t matter that she was riding in a designated bike lane with lights front and back. Fortunately she is recovering with lots of broken bones and three brain injuries. But here in the South Bay of L.A. the hits just keep on coming!

If everyone were constantly awake and aware, this would be a better society. Eternal vigilance is not merely the price of liberty, it is the price of life itself. Be aggressive about seeing, and being seen, on the road—whether you walk, bike, or drive. Not a bad way to be all the time: life is richer when you don’t ignore it.

It is words to live by.

There are some drivers who make a game of seeing how close they can come to a cyclist. When I was stationed in Hawaii, many years ago, I had a friend who rode a 90cc motorcycle. Some driver decided that he should be goin faster than the 25 mph speed limit and gave him a push to speed him up. He only sprained his ankles in the crash and didn’t break anything. The drive sped away before he could get the license number.

Don’t run stop signs and red lights and your chances will improve even more.

Can I ever relate to this! A good ride is when you make it home.

This one hits way too close to home, we had two killed and three seriously injured (one permanently) in three separate incidents last year. A large number of former roadies have switched to mountain biking.

Trouble is that no matter what you do to be seen, some folks just don’t bother to see you.