Cyclists, drivers: Aretha, RodneyD have a word for you...

Aretha Franklin sang about it. Rodney Dangerfield swore he never got any. Some kids are taught it’s what they should have for their elders.

And these days, cyclists and drivers need to have it for each other.

Yep, you know what I’m talking about. As Aretha sings, it’s spelled: R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Cyclists are becoming more and more a part of road traffic as the popularity of riding a bike gains momentum as a way to get from point A to point B. It’s also getting bigger as a healthy, fun way to exercise and keep fit.

Cycling is on such a big upswing that it has brought about big numbers of accidents between cyclists and drivers that have killed or injured cyclists, here and in other countries.

But the problem isn’t just with drivers, angry that cyclists are in the lane that they always used to have for their vehicles. The problem lies equally with cyclists who completely ignore traffic rules and the safety precautions they need to take to minimize the chances that they’ll be flattened by a car or truck.

This is a national culture clash that is being forged through mayhem. And cyclists, because they have a whole lot less protection than a motor vehicle, have a lot more to lose than drivers.

So what’s the path to a cooperative roadway relationship between drivers and cyclists?

There are signs and stickers visible only on a rare occasion that urge everyone to “Share the Road,” which is a great start. Drivers all across the country that have never shared the road, should be presented with a more generous view on the matter. The view that now – in the interest of avoiding charges of vehicular manslaughter -- they really should share the road safely with cyclists.

But this isn’t a one-way problem. It isn’t just about preaching to drivers that they have to look out for cyclists. Because there are millions of cyclists out there that ride irresponsibly in traffic. I see them all the time. They’re everywhere. They don’t wear a helmet, they ignore stop signs, they talk on their phones while riding, they wear dark clothes while riding at night without reflectors. They’re a huge part of the problem. They need to realize that their blissful, “hit me if you dare” riding style is a recipe for a smack down that could maim or kill them. And when they get hit through their negligent riding, through no fault of the driver, the driver is left to feel the emotional and legal trauma of being unnecessarily part of what could be a tragic accident. Which could have been prevented.

What’s missing between riders and cyclists on the road?

I’d say it’s one big thing:

Respect for each other.

In my experience, although I’ve experienced a few harrowing exceptions, drivers are often respectful to cyclists on the road. They’ll give a rider space  – as long as the cyclist is riding within the rules and makes his or her intentions clear with hand signals pointing out a turn, waves, thumbs up, etc.

It’s all about communication riders really owe to drivers, if you ask me. A hand signal, that says, “I’m going this far out in the lane, please give me some space, so we can both get where we’re going without a problem.” It’s a sign of acknowledging the driver, respect, cooperation. It’s a very critical “we” versus “me” mentality.

But if the rider makes no effort to communicate with drivers with hand signals, etc., drivers are left to guess. And that often makes drivers feel fine about driving as close as possible to a rider they are passing. It’s their not so subtle way of giving the annoying cyclist the middle finger.

Now many drivers are in a hurry and hate to have to slow down for a cyclist. It makes many of them hit the gas in anger as they blow past the rider. This isn’t good, because in their anger, they can hit or run the rider off the road and force him or her into a crash.

These kind of drivers think the road is their domain only. They are irked by the idea of having to share it with a cyclist that might cause them to slow down a bit and lose a few precious seconds in getting to their destination.

Add it all up, and there’s plenty of blame to go around to both drivers and cyclists. So what will make it safer for both drivers and cyclists both using the same road at the same time?

I think it will take a change in mindset on both sides, a cultural shift, from what has been a car-centric nation, to one willing to tolerate cyclists. And a similar change in mentality needs to take place among the masses of cyclists, to seriously cut down on their irresponsible, unsafe riding habits in traffic.

This can be done with more, wider bike lanes built on city streets and on the plus side, a lot of that is happening. And while there have been some efforts to curb bad cycling with traffic tickets, that strategy just won’t work. Logistically it would be impossible and too costly to enforce.

So how about a well funded and creative national awareness advertising campaign to get more drivers and cyclists thinking cooperatively about each other on a national scale?

Who would have the dough to properly fund such a thing?

A lot of charitable foundations are out there. I’m thinking Bill Gates is the guy to hit up on this. That’s just me. I’m sure there are others.

The pitch:

“Hey Bill, so great that you’re doing the campaign to stamp out malaria in Africa, very commendable. But you’re far more bucks up than anybody anywhere, so why not throw a few million bones as a tax write-off on a national educational ad campaign touting driver/cyclist cooperation?  Think about it, you could help save lives and injuries in your own country. You would be the good guy in this effort, Bill, and you’d feel good about yourself for doing it. It would just be a matter of promoting more respect between drivers and cyclists on the road. You could call it the Respect campaign. It’s a short, catchy tag, the job very do-able.

Aretha Franklin, remember her? She could sing it up: “Whatchoowant? R-E-S-P-E-C-T…”

Rodney Dangerfield impressionists could help bring funny stuff to the campaign with some “I get no respect” lines.

And hey, kids could grow up riding bikes armed with the knowledge that respect for safety and drivers will help the odds of their avoiding injury or death on the bike.

Drivers could be presented with the notion that giving space to cyclists on the road is a better idea than trying to run them off it!

R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Sock-it-to-us, sock-it-to-us,sock-it-to-us, Big Bill. Whaddaya say? It’s a win-win-win proposition. Everybody wins.

Just sayin’…”

Until next time, remember to strap on a helmet every time you get on the bike. And then, make sure you keep the rubber side down, have fun and be safe.

-- Mark Eric Larson

Mark Eric Larson has written two books of essays, "The NERVE...of Some People's Kids," and "Don't Force it, Get a Bigger Hammer. To read, visit: 

http://www.scribd.com/Mark%20Eric%20Larson/shelfHis blog of personal essays is at: http://marksmuzings.blogspot.com/