When I was little, I didn’t even know what a bike lane was. I couldn’t imagine having a separate road just for bikes, free from the stress of cars. It was the ’90s, and bike riding in Romania, at least in urban areas, was still regarded as something extravagant.
As time went by, more and more people started to embrace bikes as a means of transportation, and the first bike lanes started to appear. I remember feeling somewhat strange when I first rode my bike on one.
I eventually got used to the feeling, and even enjoyed it. I could see the benefits: a safer, faster and more enjoyable ride. This meant that more and more people could ride their bikes without having to worry about cars.
Although I enjoy riding on that separate part of the road, growing up without bike lanes has made me realise that there are some advantages of not having them. And that I’m a better cyclists because of this.
Before you start pointing out the obvious benefits of bike lanes (and I agree with you on that), let’s see the other side of the coin.
1. You are more cautious
Having to worry about cars and pedestrians all the time is actually a good thing. It makes you more aware of what’s happening around you. You’re able to avoid an imminent accident easier.
2. You develop better reflexes
Being aware of your surroundings makes you more agile. The more you go through risky situations in your everyday commute, the more prepared you’ll be to avoid an accident when it will really matter. When I was about ten years old, I remember riding on a busy street with a friend. The street had a moderate slope. We would climb the street up to the top, and race to the bottom while trying to avoid pedestrians. It didn’t always work out very well, but it helped us improve our reaction time in emergency situations.
3. You increase drivers’ awareness of cyclists
Riding on the street forces drivers to adapt their driving style to other slower, one-man powered vehicles. From my experience, I’ve noticed that drivers tend to be less aggressive when there’s a bike around. Moreover, having more cyclists on the road forces drivers to treat us as vehicles with the same rights and obligations as them.
4. You show other people that it’s not that risky
If haven’t read any studies on this topic, but from what I’ve heard from friends, the number one issue that prevents them from riding their bikes is safety. „That’s why we need more bike lanes”, some people would argue. True, but instead of waiting for the authorities to do something, we should focus on what we can do now. And that’s proving that riding on the street is not such a bad thing after all.
5. You become more inventive
You only have two options: the sidewalk or the street. I prefer switching between them, and going for the one that’s less crowded. However, there are times when both are packed with people and cars. In that case, I use the tram rail. I don’t know if it’s illegal (why would it be?), but it’s as good as a bike lane – there are no cars (not even bikes), you can ride as fast as you want, and you also get a nice view of the road.