I live in NYC and it seems like almost every time I go out for a bike ride someone almost hits me with their car. And then if you call them out on it they act like it’s your fault. I can’t even get out for a bike ride to clear my head anymore. I’m so sick of it.

  • cerement@slrpnk.netEnglish
    20·
    7 months ago

    won’t help for clearing your head, but try hooking up with Critical Mass (you’ll at least get one day when it’s safe-ish to be on the roads)

    • toothpicks@slrpnk.netOPEnglish
      10·
      7 months ago

      Thanks that’s a great idea. I’ve heard of things like this but somehow never looked into the possibility that it already exists in my city.

  • 𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒏@lemmy.oneEnglish
    11·
    7 months ago

    Probably not the answer you want, but if other road users are being dangerous around you then it would be ideal to try and look out for yourself more, if at all possible.

    At intersections make sure drivers can see you, when in traffic try and stay visible in their mirrors, avoid blind spots whenever you can, and try to “read” what others are doing with their car - as some won’t indicate to show their intentions. Speed is an important one too - if a driver was to righthook/cut you at an intersection, can you evade it or stop in time?

    Try and adapt your riding style to a way that allows you to maintain visibility of yourself, and the environment around you on the road - drivers are protected in a metal box, but we aren’t

    Edit:

    The real fix for these issues is separated bike infrastructure IMO, as well as better education for drivers about people on bikes

  • GissaMittJobb@lemmy.mlEnglish
    6·
    7 months ago

    The streets are a battlefield unfortunately, that much holds true in even some of the better parts of the world for cycling.

    Gotta stay defensive out there, and push your local government hard for protected infrastructure. A large part of my commute is safe due to there being fully separated infrastructure.

  • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    7 months ago

    I’ve found that drivers are a lot more courteous when I’m riding my cargo bike and have my kids on the back.

  • Oisteink@feddit.nlEnglish
    4·
    7 months ago

    According to Norwegian US news coverage, the bike has nothing to do with this, it’s how NY works

  • Oka@lemmy.mlEnglish
    414·
    7 months ago

    I’ve never lived in NYC, but that’s NYC for you.

      • Oka@lemmy.mlEnglish
        23·
        7 months ago

        Find some bike trails in your area. Might have to drive a ways, but if you can transport your bike out of the city proper, you might find some bike-safe places to ride.

  • Tb0n3@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    221·
    7 months ago

    Blame the other riders and delivery bikers for being a massive nuisance to everyone in the city.

    • cerement@slrpnk.netEnglish
      122·
      7 months ago

      “other riders and delivery bikers” developed those habits out of self-defense – they are the effect, not the cause

      • Tb0n3@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        57·
        7 months ago

        Those habits are things like running red lights. How does that qualify as self-defense. It’s the dumbest thing you can do on a bicycle.

        Honestly, have you ever been to New York City? It’s like the wild West for anybody with two wheels. They feel like they’re above the law and do whatever the hell they want with zero consequences unless they get run over.

          • PsychedSy@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
            4·
            7 months ago

            It’s a Danish study vs NY. Anecdotally, drivers here do all sorts of fucky shit, but when a motorcycle or bike does I remember it because I go out of my way to make sure they’re safe. Even if cyclists are being chill, the few that aren’t might be remembered due to confirmation bias.

            • frankPodmore@slrpnk.netEnglish
              1·
              7 months ago

              True. In my other commemts I linked to a couple of other studies, too, including one in London and another in Florida. The picture is pretty consistent regardless of where in the world you are, as far as I’ve seen.

              You’re definitely right that confirmation bias plays a part. Also, some ways motorists break the law (like speeding) are either widely seen as acceptable or are less immediately visible and obvious than cyclists jumping reds, even though they’re objectively much more dangerous!

        • frankPodmore@slrpnk.netEnglish
          62·
          7 months ago

          Running red lights can be safer if the junction is clear. Junctions are the places most collisions happen, including cyclists getting rearended or hit by motorists changing lanes without adequate checking/signalling (the latter is the single most common way cyclists get seriously injured or killed, so it’s understandable that people want to avoid it).

          I’m not advocating for running reds (I never run them myself). I’m saying that road design that sometimes makes a road user choose between doing what is legal and what is safe is a bigger problem than a few bad actors.

          Incidentally, there are lots of studies about this. Most cyclists don’t run red lights and motorists are more likely overall to break trafflc laws than cyclists. EDIT: Just noticed that link’s dead. Here’s an article summarising the results of the study, instead.

          • toothpicks@slrpnk.netOPEnglish
            3·
            7 months ago

            Agreed. Drivers are often turning when they have the light which is dangerous because they don’t care if someone is crossing there even though the crossing pedestrians also have the light. I often feel like it would be safer to j walk as a pedestrian than to cross at the proper time.

      • enki@lemm.eeEnglish
        59·
        7 months ago

        Nah, fam, that’s entitlement. Bicyclists need to follow the same traffic laws as every other vehicle on the road. Doesn’t matter if it’s a car, a bike, a scooter, or a motorcycle, if you’re not adhering to the same traffic laws as everyone else, you’re not predictable and you’re dangerous to yourself and others on the road.