In the never-ending strife between motorists and cyclists, the latter are frequently stereotyped as irresponsible and a general menace on the road. A litany of characterizations about cyclists always running red lights, weaving in and out of traffic, or riding on sidewalks emanates from motorists in every venue. Even when cyclists retort with complaints about poor driving habits, inattention, and rudeness, their points fall on deaf ears. This is, in part, caused by their minority status.
With this in mind, I was traveling through Brookline and Newton, Massachusetts one day, when I stumbled upon some signage which served as proof of motorists’ inattention. My first observation was that signs directed at drivers have become increasingly pointed in the information they convey. For example, as I was riding up the hill on Beacon Street, alongside Boston College, I came to the point where the bike lane ends.
For some inexplicable reason, Newton has not seen fit to continue the bike lane along Beacon Street, although there is a shoulder on part of the road, which acts as something of a safe haven for cyclists. More needs to be done to protect cyclists and pedestrians since Beacon Street has become a speedway, with cars driving in excess of 40 MPH right through the center of town.
To combat the problem of cyclist safety in this environment, someone decided to place an electronic sign at the intersection of Beacon and Hammond Street, heading into Newton. The sign, consisting of large orange letters on a black background, cycles through three messages: “Share the road with bicyclists; use caution while turning; and, it’s the law.”
Share The Road With Bicyclists
Use Caution While Turning
It's The Law
You would expect motorists to know these things since they are part of the rules of the road. But, they don’t. I have seen a patrol car parked near that intersection on a regular basis. Cars still speed, run the red light, and cut off cyclists when turning left and right along Beacon Street.
So far, I haven’t seen any improvement in driving habits from the installation of the flashing sign. And, it makes me wonder about how many accidents must have occurred – and citations issued – for the authorities to resort to using an electronic sign to get the drivers’ attention. Are drivers really that distracted? Yes, they are.
Not long after I noticed the electronic sign, I was walking through a parking lot which I have walked through thousands of times over the past decade. I spotted a few new signs. One, in particular, grabbed my attention. It was the epitome of proof that drivers don’t look where they’re going when they drive.
The sign was placed along a road leading around the back parking lot of a shopping center. I had to read it several times to make sure I wasn’t imagining things. It read: “Slow watch for parked cars.”
Slow Watch For Parked Cars
Is there a driver alive who doesn’t expect to see parked cars in a parking lot? Can you imagine what must have occurred in that parking lot to induce the owner to install a sign explaining to drivers that they must watch out for parked cars and not drive into them? If you were driving along the road pictured below, would you follow the road to the right – or drive left into the row of parked cars? The stupidity of some drivers never ceases to amaze me.
Parking Lot Road
If drivers can’t be expected to avoid crashing into parked cars in a parking lot, then what hope is there of keeping them from driving into cyclists when they’re asked to share the road? This recent turn of events with respect to safety signage, aimed at drivers, has made me wonder whether drivers are actually conscious behind the wheel.
At the rate we’re going, they’ll soon be posting signs explaining to motorists how to drive. In my experience, most drivers tune out signs, so I’m not optimistic about seeing drastic changes in their behavior. Still, it sure is great to see some attention paid to cyclists’ rights and safety – and some proof that motorists don’t pay attention to what’s happening on the road.
