Death Rides On My Left - urban bicycle commuting

As you can see by the comments, there are some bicyclist with extremely aggressive attitudes. They have no tollerance for motorist or bicyclist. Unfortunately, some of the these individuals are League of American Bicyclist Certified Instructors. I can not recommend to my friends the League's safety classes. I have taken there Road safety class and it was too expensive. You can find all of the information they present for free on the internet, including the videos. The practice drills are simple and a waste of time.
I recommend to my friends a book by Robert Hurst titled "THE ART OF CYCLING". His is a common sense approach to urban bicycling and he is an excellent writer. You, also, can find much of his advice on the internet. The best thing a bicycle rider can do to improve their safety is to ride your bike. Experience reduces crash rates more than any other activity. Know the risk and enjoy the ride.

I am a bicycle commuter. I am not a certified safety instructor. This video represents real world conditions. Not some imaginary utopian world that bicyclist hope to create. The statistics are only approximate. Don't get bogged down in the numbers. The important message is riding in the road has risk. These are some of the most common risk you will face. Much of the advice is for motorist. Motorist do not yield to bicycles in the bike lane and they should be. Cyclist are as much at fault as motorist for the situations in which we find ourselves. If you trust motorist to do the right thing and drive safely you will be disapointed. Part of the reason I am so obsessed with safety in my videos is it is so F**king crazy on the road. I have had way to many close calls. I make these videos for my own safety awareness. I have discovered that filming helps me discover my own mistakes. Hopefully others can learn from my mistakes too.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• bicycle
• bike
• bicyclist
• cycling
• commute
• commuter
• commuting
• danger
• safe
• safety
• bicycling
• culture
• accident
• urban
• livable
• street
• healthy
• lifestyle
• riding
• excercise
• dangerous

[ddallass]

I get the motorist to understand by riding my bicycle as any other vehicle on the road. When a car approaches from behind and I am traveling in the lane where his left tire is, he immediately understands that he has three choices: he can slow down behind me, he can merge or pass me if it is safe to do so, or he can choose to run me down.

What he cannot do is dismiss me, or return to a non-driving distraction- like they do for bikers cowering in the gutter.

[socomcorky]

Great video! I have a bunch of videos on my channel and I have so much footage of idiot drivers being reckless. Its lawless out here. I think cyclists get blamed way too much. A lot of drivers are not just careless but completely aggressive. Your video was very informative. Thank you!

[skoockum]

@devildog99992007 I'd expect nothing less from a gyrene

[devildog99992007]

@ibarracesar10 Unless he has clips on his shoes to snap on the peddles. Like me. Can't walk on them things.

[devildog99992007]

@skoockum Yeah I think he said eight times. I ride the same way best defense is a good offense. In the city I prefer to peddle my ass off and stay in front of cars whenever possible.

[devildog99992007]

@lotsooo What does that fact that he wasn't wearing a helmet have to do with anything?

[lotsooo]

great vid, I'm a cyclist but occasionally I let fly at other cyclist while in my car. Recently a cyclist in dark clothing, no helmet abused me for cutting him off (having not seen him)... I became aggressive drove behind him and gave him a blast of my car horn. On a bike you need to be careful, responsible and courteous as you should be in your car, no one has any more rights than any one else.. ps I've been attacked for riding my bike in this manner, it won't always save you, but mostly it will

[se7ensnakes]

I have been deliberately attack: 1) Someone threw an egg at me on Halloween. 2) some guy stuck his hand out of the passenger side window and tried to push me down. 3)Some guy threw a bottle at me from a window of a moving car but missed. 4) Friday evening some guy throws an egg from a moving car, but the eggs breaks in midair. He turns the car around and throws eggs again hitting my bicycle frame. 5) Dog owner watches as dog attempts to chase and bite me.

[gorillasocks]

I was about a half second from getting left crossed. I just barely scraped through, and the car never even stopped or slowed.

[lucioscp3]

Good stuff " luvmastertx "!I´m a new bicyclist commuter and i don´t have experience yet;thanks for the video.

[skoockum]

Amazing that as timid a rider as you are, you've managed to crash 3 times in 3 years... I don't crash, yet I ride by jungle rules (you'd probably call it very aggressively) - fast and hard, trying to maintain momentum always. I regularly filter, run signs and lights, ride against traffic etc.. I do respect right of way, and I'm always aware of exactly how close to the edge I am riding -- my limits, sight distance, reaction time etc.

Mebbe you'd crash less if you demanded more from yourself.

[universalcarguy]

@socomcorky well i guess it is motorist fault after all a bike is maybe 80 pounds and 6 feet long and a car weighs 3000 plus pounds and is 6x16 or larger. get what im saying, its easier for you guys to stop and turn than us, and unlike you in a tight spot we cant just pull over and think about it or we will get hit