Week 298

Positive post Sunday, November 13, 2022- Week 298.

My thanks to Jeff Jeffrey Padgett for the inspiration for this week’s PPS. Jeff was involved in a minor cycling incident with one of our fellow cyclists a few weeks back. They ran into each other (pun intended) while riding down the street on their way to a morning ride with the guys. While visiting, they approached an intersection, one where the other rider regularly turns right and assumed Jeff would do the same. Unfortunately, Jeff was on the inside and was going straight and the other rider turned right into him. Both riders are ok. Coincidentally, or ironically, I’m sitting here writing this post while I recover from my own solo cycling accident while on mile 98 of a 104-mile ride to the beach last Saturday (that’s a whole other story).

Okay, let’s get to the positive part of this post, a safety message, or public service announcement, or just a friendly reminder on the importance of communications when we are traveling and the consequences we can face when making assumptions or becoming complacent. “Turn left, turn right, go straight?” While driving a car or riding a bike, we’re faced with this decision every time we come to an intersection. There are often many paths to get to the same place and our routes may vary depending on road and weather conditions, traffic, our plans for the day etc.

One of many things I have learned over the years of riding bikes, sometimes the hard way, is how critical it is to communicate and signal your intentions at all times. I can give countless examples of near misses and crashes that could have been prevented with simple and timely communications. A simple hand signal or yelling “stopping”, “right turn”, “car up”, “hole left” can save a lot of road rash and even prevent more serious injury.

Another safety tip I have found valuable is making sure I don’t get complacent or make assumptions on the intent of other drivers or cyclists. This is especially important when riding in a group or with others you have not ridden with before, and certainly if you are riding a new route. When you get to that intersection where you always turn right, don’t assume everyone knows you’re turning right, especially those riding on the inside of you. Also, if you have always gone straight at an intersection, and today decide to turn right, make sure to communicate and signal your intention early so others can adjust. Stay alert and communicate, your fellow cyclists are counting on you!

Although this PPS is focused on cycling safety through effective communications and signaling our intent, I can’t help but acknowledge how this applies to our everyday life. How we communicate, signal our intentions and resist relying on unvalidated assumptions has a direct impact on our personal and professional success. When we come to those intersections in our lives where we need to decide whether to turn left, turn right or go straight, we will be well served by remembering to:

– Clearly communicate our intensions

– Visibly signal our direction

– Fight complacency

– Keep an open mind

– Resist making assumptions about the intent of others

Having these tools in our saddlebags while riding through our life journeys will help prevent relationship road rash and even more serious relationship injuries.

How do you fight complacency, resist making assumptions and signal your intentions on the road and in your life?

What tools do you have in your saddlebag to help you make those critical decisions as you ride through those challenging intersections in your life?