Bicyclists feel in danger of motorists not sharing road

Jul 1 2009 - 4:05pm | Scott Thomas

Brian Barrow feels he is in danger when going to work.

And Barrow, geography junior, feels that is not right.

But Barrow does not feel in danger because someone is out to get him. He feels in danger going to work because he rides a bicycle, and most of the other people on the road are driving cars.

He and other cyclists believe motorists too often do not take into account others’ needs.

“It’s the equivalent of putting a shotgun by my head and pulling the trigger,” he said. “You’re taking my life in your hands and you don’t even care. I don’t get it.”

Cyclists can be frustrated because they feel motorists do not share enough of the road. The issue was brought to light once again because Gov. Rick Perry recently vetoed SB 488, which mandated motorists give three feet of space to cyclists and other “vulnerable road users.”

“While I am in favor of measures that make our roads safer for everyone, this bill contradicts much of the current statute and places the liability and responsibility on the operator of a motor vehicle when encountering one of these vulnerable road users,” Perry wrote in his decision to veto in bill. “In addition, an operator of a motor vehicle is already subject to penalties when he or she is at fault for causing a collision or operating recklessly, whether it is against a ‘vulnerable user’ or not.”

Robin Stalling, executive director of Bike Texas, a cycling advocacy group, wrote on the organization’s Web site they were “extremely disappointed” in the governor’s decision to kill the bill.

“In our view, this reflects a cavalier attitude on the part of the Governor toward the deaths of the 1000 vulnerable road users who are killed annually in Texas,” Stalling wrote. “It is well known that Rick Perry rides a bike on the streets and on the trails. Unfortunately, ordinary Texans do not have a security detail to shield them from motorists who drive dangerously.”

David Matuschak, an urban and regional planning sophomore who works at the Bike Cave with Barrow, feels the bill would have been a useful law.

“The idea (motorists) can’t give us enough room is ridiculous,” Matuschak said.

However, he believes motorists too often disregard the current laws in place, of which Perry was stating he believes adequately protect cyclists and other “vulnerable users” of the roadways.

“People aren’t afraid of the laws out there,” Barrow said. “When people come up on construction zones they slow down because the cops enforce those laws like crazy. Cyclists don’t get the same protection.”

Matuschak said the law would have been useful, but he believes the biggest problem is the people driving their vehicles without regard for cyclists.

“Laws can only do so much,” Matuschak said. “It always comes down to the person. Education and mutual respect would go a lot further.”

Barrow said he was especially concerned because he has been hit 10 times. He said most of these incidents involved being clipped by a mirror or the side of a vehicle, pushing him off the road.

“I’ve broken about seven helmets,” he said. “Helmets have literally saved my life.”

According to Police Chief Howard Williams, reports of bikes and cars colliding happen in San Marcos, “but not too often.”

“It does happen, and too frequently, but in the way all collisions happen too frequently,” Williams said. “Usually it’s a matter of the driver of the car not seeing the cyclists, meaning the driver isn’t paying attention.

However, Williams said collisions also happen when cyclists are not looking out for motorists or ignore traffic laws.

“We have had collisions where (cyclists) think stop signs or stop lights don’t apply to them, and they meet the car coming their way,” he said.

There are more options opening for cyclists as the activity grows in popularity. In May, the Board of Regents at Texas State approved a plan for dual trail bike paths on campus. The project will cost approximately $1.8 million, according to a university press release.

According to the release, the project will be paid for with mix of Texas Department of Transportation dollars and university funds.

Outside of university streets, bike lanes are being established in San Marcos as well. In 2005, voters approved $1.2 million for bike and pedestrian paths. Post Road had its ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, which also has new sidewalks and bike lanes.

Judith Wilson, a resources and environmental studies senior who works at the Bike Cave, said she is going to speak to university officials about teaching students proper driving courtesy when passing cyclists. She said students from Houston or Dallas, which don’t have as large cycling communities as Central Texas, might not know how to properly pass a cyclist.

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