Testing motorists’ awareness

4 comments to “Testing motorists’ awareness”

Keith, March 13th, 2008 at 12:15 pm:

• The commercial is hilarious (it’s got a moonwalking bear after all), and it makes a good point, but I wouldn’t really consider it a good test.

ken, March 13th, 2008 at 7:29 pm:

• Agree w Keith. I’m not even sure it makes a good awareness message for motorists. Seems more effective as a message for cyclists: Make yourself obvious. Be as much a part of the traffic picture as possible, etc. Don’t be the moonwalking bear.

gwadzilla, March 14th, 2008 at 10:00 am:

• I think it gets people talking
  hopefully it gets people thinking

  I see it for the car driver
  even the car driving cyclist

  I like being a moonwalking bear
  why should I change?

SteveG, March 14th, 2008 at 7:24 pm:

• I agree with the other commenters. It’s funny, it illustrates a point, but it’s not a good test in itself. Even careful drivers will miss seeing cyclists on occasion.

  The horrible truth is, drivers are people, and they make mistakes, or they’re momentarily distracted. Cyclists are on the road, or at the side of the road, virtually unprotected, with cars passing them at high speeds. Accidents are going to happen, and cyclists are going to pay the price.

  I cycle with a guy on occasion, a serious roadie, who can’t seem to shoulder check without moving his bike three feet to the left. I have cringed as I’ve seen him do this when he’s ahead of me on a narrow road, with narrow shoulders. I don’t want to see him get hit, but I’m just waiting for an accident to happen.

  On the other hand, some drivers are so freaking reckless I itch to chase them down and beat them senseless with my bike lock.