Last night we received some tough news. A friend had been killed in a cycling accident in Virginia, having been hit by a dirt hauling truck while it was making a right turn. To say that I was close to Bonnie Tinker would be a stretch, but I knew her as part of the Quaker community in Portland. She was at my wedding, signed the marriage certificate, had known my wife for nearly two decades. I had given her advice about how to change and improve the Love Makes a Family website.
Every death involving a bike commuter is scary, but knowing the person who died in the accident makes you evaluate how you look out for yourself when you’re on two wheels. Today I found myself being far more defensive, noticing how few drivers actually look for bikes or even signal a turn, realizing how I behave when I’m near a car in a shared lane. These small things make me want to yell at the drivers and cyclists who fail to respect each other and follow traffic laws.
But having known Bonnie means I can’t let fear or anger rule my cycling behavior. She was never one to lie down and let fear and complacency run her life. So it’s not a time to stop riding, and it’s not a time to start yelling at people. It’s a time to stay on my bike, be a good citizen, and lead by example. It’s the least I can do.