There is a lot of discussion inactive transportation circles about who is responsible for safety. How many lights, how much reflective gear is enough for vehicles to see us? At what point is it the responsibility of people designing and driving vehicles with poor sight lines and all sorts of distracting gadgets to avoid vulnerable road (and bike lane and sidewalk) users?
I still remember the boating rules I learned many years ago: the bigger and faster the boat, the more the onus is on them to avoid smaller watercraft. Ships must avoid motor boats, which must avoid canoes, which must avoid swimmers. Obviously, if you are a swimmer (or even a boater) it is also really wise to stay out of major shipping lanes.
I think the same principles should apply on land, too. People driving cars and trucks have primary responsibility for avoiding collisions with cyclists and pedestrians, just as people on bikes need to avoid runners and walkers. In the workplace, this is known as the hierarchy of controls.
Unfortunately, these principles don’t always work perfectly, which is why I advocate for infrastructure that minimizes the opportunities for interactions. Things like separate bike lanes, smooth sidewalks, narrow streets and intersections with separate lights for each kind of user and no beg buttons.
My friend Florence and I are on opposite ends of the spectrum with regard to the solution most often offered in so-called public safety campaigns: make yourself more visible.
Florence comes from a very different cycling background than me. She grew up in France and uses her bicycle all year round. She doesn’t even own a car. She has good front and back lights, but that’s it.
In contrast, I learned to bike in small Ontario towns where the car (and pickup truck) was king. I have commuted by bike for 20 years, but last year was the first time I was brave enough to ride through the winter. My winter bike is lit up like a landing strip. I wear a reflective orange construction vest. And this week I bought a silver reflective jacket that is almost blinding when the light hits it.
I acknowledge that the things within my direct control are the ones least likely to keep me safe. And that the ability to buy lights, reflective gear and bright clothing just for riding reflect my financial privilege. Wearing everyday clothes normalizes cycling (and walking or rolling) as a way of moving around the city. Promoting and normalizing active transit is a vital part of addressing climate change.
And yet… I see so much victim blaming: What was she wearing? Was she paying attention to her surroundings or was she listening to music? Why was she put there in the dark? It sounds so much like the victim blaming that happens after an assault.
I will rage against the blame, take reluctant advantage of my privilege, and dress like a pylon, if only so that when I get hit, no-one can reasonably claim that they didn’t see me.