Blog Action Day: Cycle (safely) instead of driving!

I am a little late for Blog Action Day, but better late than never.

I thought I'd share about saving the environment by cycling instead of driving.

This bicycle safety video was done by the San Francisco Police Department and the SF Bicycle Coalition, to help make SF cops more aware of a cyclist's rights and responsibilities. Note that while the laws cited in the video apply to San Francisco and not to Singapore, the safety issues mentioned are very relevant to cycling here. And also note that they drive on the right side of the road while we drive on the left.

So if you see me riding in the middle of the left-most lane where there are cars parked along the left side of the street, you now understand why. Getting "doored" by a parked car is bloody dangerous for a cyclist.

It was also cool to see the kinds of roads and legal protection they set up for cyclists there.

Also interesting, this piece by Brian Sorrell entitled: Bicycling Is Not Dangerous: What I've Learned As A Bicycle Commuter. In this article, he debunks some of the myths surrounding commuting by bike.

Excerpt:

When I tell people that I ride a bicycle to work, many suggest that bicycling is dangerous. Riding on the wrong side of the street, on sidewalks, weaving in and out of cars, chatting on the cell phone: these activities make bicycling appear dangerous. Just as you would not expect a safe car ride on the sidewalk, or against traffic, or while chatting on the phone, you should not expect a safe bicycle ride under similar conditions.