Bicyclists make better drivers

Forbes reported this story, I can belive it

I can believe it, but it might be confirmation bias 

Also believe it. 

The biggest reason I can think of is overcorrecting. When you end up off the edge of the road as a cyclist, overcorrecting equals crash. The tire catches the edge of the pavement and you're done. Same skill goes to driving. 

Well of course I crash my car less than others.  I ride my bike to work. 

mad_machine said:

Forbes reported this story, I can belive it

 

Can confirm the opposite is not true. I'm a pretty decent driver but darn it if I don't struggle to pull my ass up the hill on my bike.

Considering my idea of fun bike rides include jumping down stairs and intentional sliding along ledges I don't think it helps my driving ability. But man is it fun

I've sometimes wondered if my DH racing experience gave me a head start with autocross. Both involve memorizing a course and lines. Braking and cornering points are critical to going fast. Hitting a tree riding a bike at 40+ MPH hurts a lot more than hitting a cone with your car at 60... I still need to run/practice more, but at least I feel like I have a clue about what I need to do.

The conclusions are not transportable to other locations. A study in Vancouver would show bicycling creates self entitled shiny happy people who have lost the ability to differentiate colour and shape all while being unable to read. A high percentage of bicyclists do no understand a Stop sign.

What about the Spandex boys who shout, "SHARE THE ROAD," while blowing stop signs? I doubt they are better drivers. I DO know they drive Audis.

wow... did any of you read the article?

Shame bicycles can't teach them about turn signals. 

Article mostly suggests the exercise helps them be more attentive drivers. Maybe it's just that they can't use their phone while cycling so they don't automatically grab it when they get behind the wheel. 

Same goes for people who ride motorcycles. 

RevRico said:

Shame bicycles can't teach them about turn signals. 

Article mostly suggests the exercise helps them be more attentive drivers. Maybe it's just that they can't use their phone while cycling so they don't automatically grab it when they get behind the wheel. 

Well yesterday, in front of my house, a guy on a bicycle towing an infant in a little trailer was tapping out a txt on his phone while pedaling.    Steering one handed, looking down, weaving all over the street.

All I could think was "Darwin Award", too bad he already reproduced..

I have been guilty of texting while cycling, but only rarely.  I also tend to bike in the middle of nowhere, so the only thing I'd be likely to hit would be a squirrel, or a tree.

As a cyclist, I get inflamed when I see cycling asshats riding two abreast and forcing cars to crawl behind them until it's safe to pass.  I can think of nothing that does more to increase the animosity of drivers towards cyclists.  These cyclists should be beaten, shot, and beaten again.  I've been riding all my life and always found "keep right, single file" to be the best way for cars to pass safely.

1988RedT2 said:

I have been guilty of texting while cycling, but only rarely.  I also tend to bike in the middle of nowhere, so the only thing I'd be likely to hit would be a squirrel, or a tree.

As a cyclist, I get inflamed when I see cycling asshats riding two abreast and forcing cars to crawl behind them until it's safe to pass.  I can think of nothing that does more to increase the animosity of drivers towards cyclists.  These cyclists should be beaten, shot, and beaten again.  I've been riding all my life and always found "keep right, single file" to be the best way for cars to pass safely.

Why are you in such a hurry?  If it isn't safe to pass two cyclists riding abreast, it isn't safe to pass one, or anything for that matter.

I read the article.   Random thoughts:

Probably true.  Awareness and reaction are survival on a bicycle.

I don't "self-identify" as a cyclist, but I do ride a bike around the neighborhood now and then.  

Note that the claims part is from the UK, from an insurance company that offers cyclist insurance.  So, they're only talking about people who purchase insurance.  What are the stats for uninsured cyclists/drivers?

What are the age breaks of the cyclist/drivers vs drivers?   Younger people do tend to have better vision, better hearing, and faster reactions.  

Does anyone here have such insurance?  What would be the reaction of requiring it in the States?  Compliance?

Cyclists who ride often may simply drive less overall.  

I wonder if Ms. Beanland is a cyclist.  I'd nearly bet on it.

(not) WilD (Matt) said:

1988RedT2 said:

I have been guilty of texting while cycling, but only rarely.  I also tend to bike in the middle of nowhere, so the only thing I'd be likely to hit would be a squirrel, or a tree.

As a cyclist, I get inflamed when I see cycling asshats riding two abreast and forcing cars to crawl behind them until it's safe to pass.  I can think of nothing that does more to increase the animosity of drivers towards cyclists.  These cyclists should be beaten, shot, and beaten again.  I've been riding all my life and always found "keep right, single file" to be the best way for cars to pass safely.

Why are you in such a hurry?  If it isn't safe to pass two cyclists riding abreast, it isn't safe to pass one, or anything for that matter.

As an adult, I am generally operating a motor vehicle with a purpose.  That is, I have to get from one place to another in accordance with a schedule.  I might have a job for example, and the boss might expect me to start at a particular time.

We all are acquainted with the fact that even if we make an allowance for delays, such as traffic (or deviant cyclists) such delays can accumulate and put our planned arrival time at risk.

Lane widths on modern roads range from nine to twelve feet.  If I, as a cyclist, am riding within a foot of the right edge of the lane, and we assume the average vehicle width is around 6.5 feet, that requires (in most cases) that the overtaking vehicle merely hug the center line in order to overtake a cyclist and leave a reasonable buffer.  In my experience, most motorists will go out of their way to give me as much room as possible.  In countless thousands of road miles, I have never been struck by a motorist, or felt threatened by passing cars.

As a lifelong cyclist, I believe that staying alive on a bike in traffic requires that the cyclist have a sense of humility.  It is important to realize that cars are much faster and heavier than bikes, and bike/car collisions generally end badly for the cyclist, while the motorist may be merely inconvenienced.  Cyclists are wise to remember "Means, motive, and opportunity."  We as cyclists must realize that the motorist (driving a big, fast, heavy car) has the "means" to kill us.  As we are on our lightweight two-wheeled vehicles on a public road, a motorist driving the speed limit in our lane also clearly has "opportunity."  The last thing I would want to do, as a cyclist, is to unreasonably blockade the road and force the driver (who may be late for an important engagement, angry, drunk, or otherwise impaired) to slam on brakes and fume behind me as I pedal my self-important tooshie down the road.  In so doing, I may have just given him that important third item:  "Motive."

dropstep said:

Considering my idea of fun bike rides include jumping down stairs and intentional sliding along ledges I don't think it helps my driving ability. But man is it fun

But that type of riding helps develop your sense of balance, which is a critical component of performance driving. 

1988RedT2 said:

As a lifelong cyclist, I believe that staying alive on a bike in traffic requires that the cyclist have a sense of humility. 

Bingo.  I've ridden lots of miles in both urban and rural settings.  I generally feel safer in an urban setting mostly because of lower speed limits.  If I need to turn left or take the lane because of trash, dead animals, whatever else on the side of the road a car is unlikely to be barreling down at 70 mph.  In the case that a car is closing fast, I'm hitting the brakes and staying in the bike lane (if present).  I'm never going to put myself in front of a car in such a way that would A.) put me in a dangerous, avoidable situation or B.) piss off a reasonable driver.

When it comes down to it, I can put a dent in a car.  The car can do a lot worse to me.  Not that they intend to, but the risk is there.

More on topic, I feel that I am a pretty good driver, but I am friends with a bunch of cyclists who are so-terrible-I-wouldn't-let-my-kids-in-your-car drivers.

Being an avid motorcyclist and daily commuter plus a rookie bicycle commuter. I have to say that in my humble opinion I'm a damn good driver. 

I will say that I've already had two cars pass within inches of me on the bicycle. That's two more close calls than I've had in the last five years on a motorcycle. I think cycling is more dangerous than motorcycling.

slantvaliant said:

Note that the claims part is from the UK, from an insurance company that offers cyclist insurance.  So, they're only talking about people who purchase insurance.  What are the stats for uninsured cyclists/drivers?

Terrible, I'm pretty sure, regarding that last question. But hopefully we're talking about a reasonable sample of "normal" drivers; the policies that gave them their cyclist data appear to be discounted auto insurance for people who also cycle. That is to say, not some tiny slice of people who purchase cycling insurance.

That article was essentially worthless clickbait, thank you for sharing.

I'm going to pretend I never opened this thread, and continue on having a lovely day.

Here is video refutation of the theory proposed.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rmTHk3sxSUA" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

In reply to Toebra :

Fun video!

Interestingly, I am walking out the front entrance of my local Publix tonight and almost got clipped by a guy on a bike.   He's riding on the sidewalk in front of the store at a high rate of speed.  If I hadn't glanced left and seen him and stopped, I'd have been clocked.  Kinda wish I'd been pushing a cart.

At least he said "Excuse me!"