Last week I attended the memorial where a ghost bike was placed in honor of Jen Futrell, the cyclist who was hit by a minivan on Bardstown Road and who died on October 4. I didn’t know her personally but as someone who lives and bikes in the Highlands and who has an interest in the general betterment of this city I had an interest in showing up to show support for the biking community of Louisville. It was an incredibly hearbreaking evening. By all accounts Futrell did nothing wrong. She was just biking down the street and a minivan hit her. This is devastating.

I have been both an impatient motorist and a bicyclist afraid for my safety. I have both driven faster than I should down Bardstown Road and come far too close to getting hit by a driver swerving dangerously close while passing me on my bike. I want to point out that I see both sides of the many car vs. bike issues before I give my impassioned, if cliched, plea both to cyclists and motorists: Follow the Rules and Share the Freaking Road. Yes, That Goes for Both of You.

If I’m going to implore everyone to follow the rules it’s important to try and make sure everyone knows the rules. So I’m I’m going to do my part to share the rules and laws concerning bicycles and cars on our city streets. The more we know the more aware we are. The more aware we are the more cautious and safe we are. That’s my hope anyway.

Much, much more after the jump

I know some of you say “bicycles should stay off the road” while some others of you say “down with cars!” but neither of those is a realistic or compassionate sentiment. I hope, for the sake of our city, that we can start/continue/participate in a realistic and compassionate movement that makes Louisville’s streets safer for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Bicycles and cars are both vehicles and both have rights and responsibilities on the road.  Since there are more motorist than there are bicyclists let’s start with the motorists rules.

Motorists MUST:

• Share the road with bicyclists.
• Before passing a cyclist:
• Look to see if there is something in the right lane (debris, parked
  cars, drainage grates, etc.) that might cause the cyclist to divert
  their course to the left.
• Pass only when you can allow at least three feet between yourself
  (as measured from the extent of your rear-view mirrors) and the cyclist.
• Return to your lane only when completely clear of the cyclist.
• If you turn right after passing a cyclist, only do so if you leave enough room that his forward path is not obstructed.
• When opening your car door, look for cyclists in your rear-view mirror.

The information in the “Rules for Motorists Concerning Bicycles” section comes from the Kentucky Drivers Manual.

That’s all pretty straight forward. Neither the state of Kentucky nor bicyclists are asking you for anything crazy. If your commute is extended by 2 minutes and 35 seconds because you safely passed a couple bicyclists I think that’s ok and I hope you do too. I know commuting sucks and you want to get to where you’re going as quickly and efficiently as possible but as “quickly and efficiently as possible” also includes as safely as possible for both you and all the other vehicles you encounter. And remember, bicycles are vehicles so their safety counts. I reemphasize that I have been an impatient motorist, frustrated at a bike in front of me slowing me down on whatever very important trip I was taking at the time but if I’m honest with myself I can’t think of any time a bike has impeded my journey so much as to make me miss an appointment. That reminds me that both being more patient and planning my journeys to account for common variables like bicyclists are my responsbilities and mine alone.

Now, onto cyclists. This is a combination of Kentucky State regulations and Louisville city regulations.

• You MUST use a front light when riding at night or whenever it is darker than usual (i.e. when it is heavily overcast). 
• You MUST use a red rear reflector or light on yourself or your bicycle whenever riding on a highway or shoulder
• At night or when overcast you MUST use a steady or flashing red rear light.
• You MUST shout or sound a bell or horn when approaching a pedestrian or other bicycle.
• It is illegal to carry more passengers than the bicycle was designed to accommodate.
• You may not carry a package which prevents you from keeping at least one hand on the handlebars.
• It is illegal to attach yourself or your bicycle to another vehicle.
• Bicycles shall be operated the same as a motor vehicle EXCEPT for the following:
• A bicycle MAY be operated on the shoulder of a highway.
• If a bicycle lane is provided, it MUST be used whenever feasible.
• Not more than TWO bicycles may ride side-by-side in single highway lane
• No person over 11 years old shall operate a bicycle on any
  sidewalk in Louisville Metro, and nobody of any age shall ride on the
  sidewalk downtown.
• You must stop at all stop signs and red lights as must other vehicles.
• You must pass on the left and make turns from the appropriate lane.
• However you are encouraged to remain in an on-road bicycle lane
  even if it means you will pass some stopped traffic on the right.
• You must signal, using your hands (scroll down the page on this link for images of hand signals at work), lamps, or mechanical devices.  The signal must be given
  intermittently for the last fifty feet before the turn.
• All slow moving vehicles must bear as far right in their lane as is safe and practical, including bicycles. 
• If there is on-road parking, a particularly narrow street, debris,
  or other hazards, you are allowed to claim as much of the lane as
  necessary to ride safely.

Because they were clearly reading my mind the city has put together a public service ad featuring police Chief White talking about the rights and responsibilities of cyclists and sharing the road.