The Journey To A Texas IronMan

Hi Everyone,

It’s the time of year when more and more cyclists of all levels are hitting the pavement in Texas. Some folks have been training all winter while others have dusted off the bike and are ready for a season of fun.

I recently read an article about the 3-foot passing law and if the law is truly effective. What the law entails is a driver must safely pass a cyclist with a minimum of three feet between the car and bike. Sounds like a good idea right?

While the concept is a good start, there is a catch. If a driver does not follow the three foot minimum and an incident occurs, the driver can be fined only if witnessed by law enforcement. The concern is if a cyclist is rear ended, without the witness of a police officer, the driver could very well avoid being ticketed yet the cyclist could very well loose his or her life. There are reported cases where this very scenario has occurred.

I have mentioned in past blogs of driver’s buzzing (veering too close) cyclists. The “I’ll show you” or "get out of my way" aggression is unfortunate. Thing is, it’s not just the driver's mentality. There are cyclists who are unfortunately adding to the problem. So before we get too far into the season, here are a few friendly reminders to all my cycling friends:

Wear a helmet every time you are on your bike. No bargaining on this topic.

Cycle single file. Cyclists do not have the right to take up road space preventing cars from passing.

Ride as far to the right as possible with the flow of traffic.

Know the route ahead of time. Drive your intended route and note any disruptions on the road i.e. pot holes, construction or blind curves.

Follow the rules of the road. If you come to a stop sign, stop. No California stops and yes, we are all guilty of this one.

Dress in bright colors. If you are cycling early morning or early evening, wear reflective clothing. The more reflective, the better.

Always take the high road as not every driver will turn out to be a compatible road mate. If a jerky driver decides to buzz you, there is not much you can do. Sinking to their mentality by letting them know of your discontent however places you at the same jerky level. Karma will catch the jerky driver and the jerky cyclist as well. Keep good karma and take the high road.

Finally, spend a few minutes reviewing the rules of the road for your state. The reminders could very well save someone’s life and your life as well.

Talk to ya next week,
Janet