Roads and highways are public infrastructure. Technically, all individuals and businesses in the United States have a right to use that infrastructure as long as they comply with relevant laws. Motor vehicles like pickup trucks, cars and SUVs dominate modern roads.
However, the law very clearly requires that motor vehicles share the road with human-powered vehicles. Cyclists ride with the flow of traffic. They need to communicate their intention to turn or stop by using illuminated signals or hand gestures. They need to follow traffic signs and lights just like anyone else on the road.
Unfortunately, even when cyclists do everything in their power to safely share the road with motor vehicles, they may find that drivers do not extend them the same courtesy. Why do so many motorists struggle to share the road with cyclists?
Difficulty noticing bicycles in traffic
One of the most common reasons that bicycle collisions occur is that drivers don’t watch for cyclists. They may experience intentional blindness in traffic. Basically, their brains only focus on safety-critical information.
Smaller objects, including bicycles, may not attract the conscious awareness of those in larger vehicles. Even when cyclists wear visibility gear and add lights to their bicycles, drivers can easily overlook them. Drivers who don’t notice cyclists may fail to yield to them at intersections or may merge into the lane they have already occupied.
Resentment of slower-moving vehicles
Many motorists struggle to control their emotions in traffic. Road rage incidents do not always involve two people in motor vehicles. Sometimes, drivers become infuriated by the presence of joggers and cyclists on the road.
Drivers may view slower-moving objects as an obstacle interfering with their use of the road. They may resent cyclists for forcing them to share the road. Some drivers become intentionally aggressive toward cyclists. They may cut them off, swerve into their lane of traffic or flash their brights to blind them.
In situations where unsafe and aggressive driver behavior leads to a bicycle crash, the injured cyclist may need to take action. Seeking compensation from a driver who failed to notice the cyclist or broke the law after noticing them can help cyclists cover medical expenses, lost wages and property damage costs after a preventable crash.