I ride about six miles to work sometimes seven or eight if I take the winding back roads. I ride on paths, and alley ways, suburban streets and busy city streets filled with buses, trucks, and crazy drivers. The most dangerous part of my ride is not the crowded heavy traffic streets, but going through a parking lot.
There is one parking lot that saves me about a half mile and another that gets me past a busy and dangerous intercession, and my final destination is a shopping center where I work with a big parking lot. I have had more near misses with cars in parking lots than on streets.
WHY ARE PARKING LOTS DANGEROUS?
You would think that since we always say, "Speed Kills," that the fast moving traffic is more dangerous, (it is dangerous!) but the parking lot has more going on.
MY ADVICE:
Avoid Parking lots at all cost. If there is no other way then proceed with the greatest caution. Watch where you are and have a 360 view at all times. If you have a bell or horn don't be afraid about using it. Allow yourself extra time to be safe, and slow down.
JUST REMEMBER:
Going through a parking lot may save a few minutes, offer variety, and have fewer cars but it is still a place to take VERY seriously.
There is one parking lot that saves me about a half mile and another that gets me past a busy and dangerous intercession, and my final destination is a shopping center where I work with a big parking lot. I have had more near misses with cars in parking lots than on streets.
WHY ARE PARKING LOTS DANGEROUS?
You would think that since we always say, "Speed Kills," that the fast moving traffic is more dangerous, (it is dangerous!) but the parking lot has more going on.
- The cars are backing out without looking far up the lanes.
- Drivers look around before they get in their car but don't look again before they get moving.
- There is a lot more turning corners and coming around.
- There is generally a lot of confusion about who is where.
- Drivers are arriving with the "I'm here now let's relax." attitude and stop watching out.
- Kids running between cars can knock you down or get knocked down.
- Some lots have speed bumps that throw you off your bike.
- On a road the cars are coming only from one direction, in a parking lot they come from everywhere.
- A bicyclist is the last thing the driver is thinking about when they arrive at a parking lot.
- Parking lots are never a "go straight through" they have a lot of turns and twists.
- There is an attitude that rules do not apply in parking lots.
MY ADVICE:
Avoid Parking lots at all cost. If there is no other way then proceed with the greatest caution. Watch where you are and have a 360 view at all times. If you have a bell or horn don't be afraid about using it. Allow yourself extra time to be safe, and slow down.
JUST REMEMBER:
Going through a parking lot may save a few minutes, offer variety, and have fewer cars but it is still a place to take VERY seriously.
