What Approaches Might Improve Street Safety?

From the past few posts, we have analyzed the fact there is indeed a problem with safe driving, for both cyclists and car drivers. Additionally, we have talked about how street signs are being improved to educate drivers, traffic safety campaigns are being held along the West Coast, and new laws are being created. But is this enough?

I don't think so.

Robert Cialdini's research regarding persuasion was particularly inspirational to me. The way he analyzed how we process and act towards certain situations is completely cognitive in a way that doesn't involve reason per se, but unspoken social rules. Cyclists do not have an unspoken social rule over the road just yet. Although they do hold a legal right to be on the road, as the DMV and MVA manuals explained, their "rightful place" on the road has not yet been socially accepted. It is still something new that individuals are not yet accustomed to.

In order to change this social rule that cars are superior to bikers - including above the law and in terms of safety - I think social change needs to occur and be backed by scientific evidence, like what was suggested from the White Papers about creating qualitative data supporting a theme. To do this, I think biking needs to be viewed as a service to the environment, not a high-class leisure activity or everyday workout. Although, yes, riding a bike can be for leisure or exercise, it is also a huge service to the environment.

The United States is one of the world's largest contributors to carbon dioxide emission and, therefore, destruction of the ozone layer. The United States accounts for a minor percentage of the world's population, but an enormous percentage of the world's pollution. These statistics should be frightening to most as the results of a depleted ozone layer can result in a catastrophic ice age, resource depletion, and the end of biodiversity as we know it.

The largest source of CO2 emissions comes from motor vehicles, by using a bike as a primary source of transportation, it is an extremely positive contribution to helping the Earth. Environmentalism is a social science as much as it is a hard science. Environmental issues stem more from just lazy Americans who love to drive cars, it comes from capitalism and our need for mass consumption, social hierarchies that place poorer individuals in places with extreme toxins, and even relates to feminist rhetoric as our society views nature as something to be dominated - much like how they view women. These concepts are all social, the problem facing bike safety is also a social one. My theory is to pair the two social problems together and create a mass biking for the environment movement.

Once biking is seen more as a call to action used to help protect the Earth, how can you view cyclists as selfish, disobedient people? Instead, it makes drivers appear as "the bad guys," and cyclists as "the good guys." Thus, more respect is granted toward cyclists and, maybe, they would become more common than cars.

Now, I understand my thoughts on creating a safe environment between bikers and drivers seems far-fetched, even like a fictitious utopian ideal; however, I think there is value to what I have said. Social problems account for a lot of anger, as illustrated in my first few posts when an angry anti-cyclist placed hundreds of thumbtacks on the road in an attempt to hurt cyclists. To change this anger, a social change does need to occur and I think it should heavily involve environmental concern as well as individual concern. But I understand that does not happen overnight.

In the short term, I agree that explicit signage needs to be implemented on the roads to remind drivers and cyclists of the rules governing the streets. Although most are tested on street adequate regarding cyclists, it is easy to forget information and new laws are hard to keep track of. I also think an open conversation needs to be held between cyclists and drivers, one that is moderated by the government. There needs to be a conversation amongst riders and drivers in order to understand each point of view and to create compromise. Although a blog post does enable many to do this, what is said behind a computer screen is often more vulgar and negative than an in-person conversation. This is also why education is important. Traffic safety campaigns must remain in action and they need to be active across the country, not just the West Coast. Education is the key to reducing ignorance and hate. But for these campaigns to be effective in educating individuals, there needs to be a consistent, qualitative manner in evaluating these campaigns. Once this is achieved, research can be conducted, open forums have a scientific basis for their opinions, and we can learn how to most effectively educated individuals.

Open communication, proper signs with explicit direction, and education are the key to creating improved street conditions.