Sunday, May 9, 2010

AAA and Cyclists

I was browsing other blogs just to see what was out there, and I found "Dave Moulton's Blog:" http://davesbikeblog.squarespace.com/, which had a great article about the AAA openly encouraging drivers to share the road with cyclists.  Here is the actual AAA article: http://www.aaanewsroom.net/Main/Default.asp?CategoryID=7&ArticleID=766.  This is a great first step and suggests that wisdom may yet prevail.  Although this may simply be AAA at its politically correct best, it shows how the winds are shifting and the landscape is changing.  I submit that motorist behavior will not change as a result, however, this is a good time to push measures that could produce a change.  Driver education, whether it be for a learner's permit or a defensive driving course, should be a forum for such recommendations and perhaps a presentation by the NYC Department Of Transportation.

Driving is reflexive.  Once learned, it requires very little thought, and this is good.  Reflex is faster than thought.  However, most drivers are operating on old, out of date assumptions.  I learned to drive when cycling was only an occasional pastime, so I have to re-learn how to respond.  This re-education is a major task, but the key is to gain and maintain momentum.   We've got to put cyclists on the motorist's radar screen whether they like it or not!  The time seems right to me!

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