Bike Riding Has Become A Risk
Years ago before they changed Ford Woods it was supposedly safe to ride your bike. Unfortunately, there were drivers that thought Ford Woods was the perfect hang out and most cars usually cruised in and out, some without regard to the stop sign at the entrance. In one of those instances, I was hit by a car as I rode the trail. After that close call, I stored my Shogun Trail Breaker Mountain Bike for nearly 15 years.
With a little inspiration from my brother who took up bike riding religiously, I pulled the bike out of storage and decided to commit myself to riding at least 10-15 miles per day for both health and peace of mind. My daily trail takes me from Michigan and Greenfield to Andiamos to the University of Michigan Trail to Hines Drive up to Outer Drive. In that 6-7 mile route I have on a daily basis at least 3-5 close calls where I am nearly hit by a car again.
My brother ironically was just recently hit but not seriously while riding his bike on Outer Drive near the new Allen Park Mall as someone was pulling out of The T-mobile entrance. The driver said that he heard my brother call out to him as he was checking for oncoming traffic but didn't know where it was coming from. That's because he was only looking in one direction so he could scream out of there. His 300 dollar bike was replaced by the driver.
Closer to our Police Station you would think that more drivers would be careful
but it is in front of the Library and the Police Station that my close calls are frequent. No one allows for pedestrians or bikers anymore. People pulling out of parking lots or even just waiting for the light to turn green again are only looking in one direction for on coming cars.
What is even worse are the ones who have no bluetooth in their cars and still have the handhelds talking on the phone. Don't even get me started with texting. I am amazed that we don't have more kids being struck by cars as the yellow line where cars are supposed to stop may as well be pink with ribbons, either way the effort is moot.
Today, while riding here are the things that happened:
Michigan and Greenfield: The light on Greenfield turned red allowing me to cross. The light for Michigan Avenue is now green and a driver wanting to turn right on Greenfield did not allow for me to cross as he thought he had the right of way.
At the Comfort Inn Hotel entrance a car turning into the parking lot caused me to slam on my brakes as he was turning in. He actually waved to me thanking me for stopping so he could pull in. I called him an "idiot".
At the Police Station and the Library crossing the driver sped up without any regard to the stop sign before I could cross.
And finally, a woman sitting on her phone at the United Airlines driveway blocked my path as she pulled up over and above the stop sign and had no idea I was coming to her right as she was too busy looking to her left for oncoming traffic and talking on the phone.
Courtesy in this city has gone out the window. Too many people in a hurry and distracted. Because of my bike riding experience I have become a bit more tuned in to the pedestrian and the biker so maybe we should all take a day to ride our bikes and understand that there is an accident waiting to happen if something isn't done soon.
I realize that this is not universal to just Dearborn but on the other hand, we have been fortunate to have many trails like the Dearborn Community Center, The University of Michigan/Ford Estate trail and Hines Drive but we have to get there first in order to avoid the hazards of neglectful drivers.
We also have more kids in Dearborn enjoying the outdoors. Many a time I have had to come off my porch to stop speeding drivers who have no idea that a ten year old is about to come down from his driveway on his bike.
On that note, for those drivers who think that their neighborhood block is a drag racing strip I hope the Police finally catch up with you and throw away the key.
Ron Nolan
4:49 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
I have actually been told more than once to get off the road by younger drivers while bicycling. Private driving schools evidently don't explain or teach laws regarding pedestrians and bicyclists who ALWAYS have the right-of-way. The city needs a tandem bicycle/patrol car patrol to enforce the laws, as well as a "flying squad" to patrol in response to citizen complaints about speeders on residential streets.
Nickel
5:31 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012
Ron, sorry to tell you this. Pedestrians DON't alway have the right of way. Look it up.
Of course drivers are supposed to avoid pedestrians, but the law is clear that no pedestrian shall leave the curb of safety and walk in front of moving vehicle. Too many pedestrians just enter the road and they are basically saying you better stop (refering to the driver of an automobile) Too many people think like you and believe that the pedestrian and bicyclist ALWAYS have the right of way when it is clearly not true.
Julie A. Brown
5:02 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
I make it a point to watch for bicyclists, and I don't talk on any type of phone while I drive, but it also goes the other way. As a driver, I'm appalled by the number of cyclists who just fly thorugh red lights and stop signs, expecting drivers to slam on their brakes or ride right in the middle of the lane, especially on a busy street like Outer Drive. If you're riding in the street, you're supposed to follow the same traffic rules. I can't tell you the number of times that I've run into the groups of cyclists in spandex and fancy helmets COMPLETELY disregarding lights and stop signs. There was a group of about 20 that went straight through the Outer Drive/ Pelham/ Carlysle light with no thought to anyone a few weeks ago! I completely sympathize that Dearborn doesn't have enough bike-friendly zones and I agree that we do need them, it's the reason that I don't ride very much, but bicylists need to follow the rules, too.
Sandy Al
5:48 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
I remember the first thing we learn in Driving School is pedestrians first. What happen to that?
Holly
7:15 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
One day I was bicycling on a street near my house. When a car comes, I ride to the far right of the lane in order to allow cars to pass by. One day a car rode by particularly close, almost clipping me. As it passed, I looked up to see a driver with their cell phone held up in their hand sending a text message. This was very scary! Distracted driving is becoming more and more of a menace.
Samia Saleh Kabbani-realtor
9:38 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
Thanks Mary. Your post is just what people need to recognize the bikers here in the area. I bought a leaisure bike a couple years ago but it has been in my garage collecting dust since the first month I got it. People here just dont understand the importance of responsible driving. I have had a couple near misses just going from my home to my moms not even a mile from my home. People dont pay attention while coming out of driveways and out of alleys. My leisure bike ride has become a horror trip. I love bike riding. I want to get a chance to ride to the trail then through the trail to hines then to merriman rd and back on a saturday the only day of the week Hines is closed. but getting there like you said, is going to be the challenge.
Therese Terns
9:48 am on Monday, September 3, 2012
Yes, thanks Mary for your article. I agree with what we learned in Driver's Education-pedestrians first! Yet I do believe that there are some bikers who are not mutually respectful of the motorists in the community.
I live in Springwells Park, a wonderful neighborhood with many places to walk or ride bike, yet we have drivers who go over the 25 mph and don't stop at the stop signs, and unfortunately these are our OWN neighbors who make it unsafe in our neighborhood. Several of our concerned residents are working on a plan to make drivers aware of their speeding and not stopping. We try to teach our children that STOP means STOP and to follow directions then we model something totally different. Mutual respect of pedestrian, biker and driver and all of the rules that help keep us safe is of the utmost importance. Each one of us, from the smallest child to the oldest adult plays one of those roles on a daily basis. each one of us has to be the best we can be and do the right thing for the safety of all. How do you teach people to "pay attention" to what is happening in the present moment.Not using your turn signal, speeding and "hesitating" at STOP signs doesn't get you anywhere faster or safer. Let's all be good models for each other :)
summer Homayed
11:40 am on Monday, September 3, 2012
This epic of incidents is not just for bicycler, but it has gotten me as a runner on the watch also. I have been running for years and there have been many incidents like this. And the sad thing is its not just in dearborn, its all over especially on ford road in dearborn hts. So people be aware of traffic, and know this.. "Pedestrians do not have the right of way!" anymore.
matthew j schulte
1:47 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012
bicycles are supposed to be on the road, pedestrians have right of way over bikes, and when I am walking my dog this seams to be an issue. I can understand a kid riding his bike with training wheels on the side walk , but an adult should follow the law and ride on the road and obey traffic signals. If the roads are too busy tryusing a sidestreet with less traffic.
Nickel
5:34 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012
Matt, no where in the motor vehicle code does it say that a bicyclist must use the road
Nickel
9:45 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012
it is amazing that comments are being made here without the person writing them knowing the law. Matt, I will apologize if you can give me the law that requires a bicyclist to use the road. I know if a bike path is available, the bicyclist is supposed to use it, but it is disturbing when someone posts something that is NOT true.
OBEDIENCE TO AND EFFECT OF TRAFFIC LAWS is the section under the Michigan motor vehicle code; Please give us the section that requires a bicyclist to ride in the roadway?
malak
11:02 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012
if your going to ride your bike please ride it on the sidewalk. If you decide to ride your bike on the side of a busy street, please know that you are not as fast as a vehicle. Therefore, causing traffic to go below speed limit.
Nickel
11:44 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012
and your point Malak? It is perfectly legal for a bicyclist to be in a roadway. Great way to slow down traffic if you ask me. It addresses all the others that complain about the speeders.
Nickel
11:47 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012
and to clarify Malak, bicycles were being used before the automobile. Quit being in such a hurry.
Nickel
11:49 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012
Sec 257.660 of the motor vehicle code:
(3) Where a usable and designated path for bicycles is provided adjacent to a highway or street, a person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device may, by local ordinance, be required to use that path.
Nickel
11:54 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012
13* When traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger, but no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.
Mary
12:37 am on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Nickel it is obvious that you are knowledgeable about the codes but my article clearly stated that even though we abide by the law may it be pedestrian, runner or cyclist there are still mistakes being made. I stop at all red lights and stop signs as I am aware of the immense speed a vehicle has over my bike. But there are rules to follow for the vehicle as well and that is to respect that it is my turn when the signals allow it. Just today actually, a woman blew a red light as she was more concerned about beating me before I could cross. She never saw the red light because when I stopped mid crossing and yelled, "What are you doing the light is red?" She put her hand over her mouth in shock. As far as riding on the main roads, there would be no way I would try that with the texters that are out there. Its just too dangerous. I will stay on the sidewalks as much as possible until I get to the bike trails.
Nickel
5:12 am on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Mary,
I understood your article, I couldn't agree more with it. However, taking the equation of bicycles and pedestrians out of the picture, you will still have the traveling motorist still breaking the laws (speeding, red light violations, stop sign violations, etc). I am an avid bicyclist and I too see what you have written about, Just watch any World's Worst Drivers and it is quite apparent that it is impossible to get every idiot off the road. And yes, runners and bicyclists make mistakes just like a driver. Good article though to remind people to be cautious, unfortunately, those that need to be reminded will never read it
Michael Berry
1:45 am on Thursday, September 13, 2012
Here is a bikers guide from the state of michigan!
http://lmb.org/index.php/component/option,com_jdownloads/Itemid,204/cid,8/task,view.download/
I also wanted to add that as bicyclists, runners, walkers, etc., that we also need to follow the law of the road. We can't just assume that we have the right of way. Educate yourselves on the law and obey it, whether your riding, driving, or walking.