The song comes from one of our most popular TV and radio campaigns in 1995, a catchy tune to reach cyclists and raise their awareness of safe bicycle riding behaviors. These behaviors are indispensable for the protection of their own and other people's lives.
There are some who wonder whether the subject is important enough to merit such effort. Let us assess current traffic safety in this area.
With the mass production of the automobile, it seemed that the glory days of bicycles had come to an end... only to be used for a short ride or sports. However, there are more and more people riding bicycles each day. Bicycles were always vehicles appreciated for their low cost, but in the last years, with the development of ecology awareness, they have been rediscovered and revalued because they do not pollute the environment and provide healthy exercise.
In the small towns of our provinces they were always seen on the streets, even after the advertising explosion of mopeds.
In some province schools, the patio is filled with bicycles at rest, safely waiting for their little owners to end their classes for the day.
Adults and children ride bicycles. Even in big cities, there are more every day, dangerously coexisting with cars, trucks, trains.
Some use them for the weekend or free time, as a healthy exercise or just to go on a ride. For others, they are the only option to walking to school or factory.
Bicycle wheels turn, and the accident counter turns at the same time...
Accidents
There are no known figures about the present number of bicycles in the country, and only partial figures on "two wheel, no motor" victims.
It is estimated that approximately 1,600 cyclists die in traffic accidents in our country each year, and 13,000 suffer serious injuries. Causes vary:
Some accidents are caused by front or side crashes with vehicles; these occur at street intersections in the city, or route intersections, where cyclists usually ride against the flow of traffic. Sometimes cyclists are thrown out of their way by a vehicle that shares the lane with them. And other one-vehicle accidents happen when the cyclist loses his balance and falls due to a wrong maneuver upon an obstacle on the road. These last cases are often not recorded by police, since people do not report what has happened, but instead, go directly to a private medical facility or a public hospital. Thus, the traffic accident is not recorded for a variety of reasons.
Their own rules
One of the problems that occurs on public ways day after day is that cyclists follow their own rules for riding. For example:
They often ride against the flow of traffic, thinking that they are safer because they can see vehicles coming, and forget about street intersections and cars that do not expect to see them coming.
They do not respect traffic lights or pedestrian priority.
They ride like ghosts at night or dusk, without reflector lights that would make them visible to other drivers and pedestrians.
They carry heavy loads, sometimes "human loads", in front of them, which forces them to keep a very precarious balance.
Cyclists do not seem to be aware of what their role is (both rights and obligations) in the traffic system. This could be explained by considering how this riding on two wheels began...
It is a children's thing
Most people start riding bikes when they are very young. It is very common to start off holding a parent's hand, in some park or public walk, or even on the sidewalk, with that bicycle that was probably a birthday present, or was borrowed or rented from someone else.
So, a bicycle is an exciting new toy that allows you to experience the pleasure of moving and covering distances independently and with little effort, faster than your legs would run, feeling that you are the winner of an imaginary race that takes you to a fantasy land. What a beautiful sensation, unforgettable for those of us who have been children and have experienced it at some time.
But children grow up, and without realizing it, begin to move away from their first fantasies; they go down to the street, and a bicycle is the vehicle that takes them to a definite place: a friend's home; school; a shop; etc.
Unconsciously, children become part of the traffic system as "vehicle drivers", on a healthy and fun vehicle... that is also fragile, unstable and has no exterior cover to protect them. Suddenly they are immersed in a system where they must have a driver's perspective. They know very little about the working rules of that system, but believe that they can move with total freedom and independence, like others, on public ways. It is common to see them dodging traffic, going against the traffic, or ignoring traffic lights, etc.
And that is how accident and fatality figures grow.
Bicycles are vehicles
The new National Traffic Law is very explicit in that sense. It includes bicycles among transportation vehicles and it states that:
The new National Traffic Law is very explicit in that sense. It includes bicycles among transportation vehicles and it states that:
- bicycles must be furnished with reflective materials on pedals and wheels, for added visibility at night;It is vital for the population at large to realize that bicycles are a means of transportation. When riding on streets or routes, cyclists must be aware of the traffic system they are part of, where they must ride in harmony and coordination with other drivers and pedestrians, knowing and respecting traffic rules.
The increased use of a healthy, environmentally friendly vehicle is positive; but we must use it safely in order for it to fulfill its ecological purpose. Traffic safety education has a very important role to play in this: it must create awareness and educate for safe bike riding.
Traffic Safety Education Program for Cyclists
Luchemos por la Vida has developed a "Traffic Safety Education Program for Cyclists" which was introduced to the authorities of the Government of the city of Buenos Aires in 1997. It is a theoretical-practical program, to train cyclists ages 12 and up in safe riding habits.
This program would be added to the massive awareness campaigns for cyclists that the Association has been producing since 1992 on radio and TV, and the "Schools for Life" program, of traffic safety teaching in elementary and high schools that, since 1994, includes "Safe bicycle riding" as one of its four segments, for students of the third cycle.
The plan can be applied within all of Argentina and available to any municipality that would request it.
Lic. María Cristina Isoba
Director, Traffic Safety Education and Research,
Luchemos por la Vida
Research
Bicycle riding on public ways
On streets and avenues of Buenos Aires and Greater Buenos Aires - August 1998
A survey taken on 1,032 bicycles observed the following percentages:
Riding against the flow of traffic 41%
Do not respect pedestrian priority 85%
Do not lower speed at corners 75%
Do not signal with their hands on maneuvering 98%
Do not wear protective helmet 84%
Do not carry lights 69%
Do not carry reflective materials 40%
Do not respect traffic lights 72%
Children under 18 riding 64% (1995)
Some variations observed in different age groups
Children and teenagers (15 years old or younger)
These are the ones who have the worst equipment: 92% have no lights and 44% have no reflective materials.
Youth (15 - 25 years old)
These have the highest percentage of riding against traffic: 56% and the ones that least respect pedestrian priority: 95%.
Adults (26 - 40 years old)
These have the highest percentage of helmet use: 23%.
Helmet: one way to save lives
One out of three people injured in a bicycle accident suffers head injuries. In fact, 90% of all fatalities occurring after a bike accident are a direct result of head injuries.
Arm and leg injuries can be treated with success, but there is not repair for a damaged brain.
For this reason, laws regarding compulsory helmet use for cyclists and people who ride with them have been increasingly adopted in developed countries.
Bike Lanes
Lanes that are reserved for exclusive use of cyclists are becoming more and more common. They are a vital contribution to traffic safety and order in the traffic system.
In the picture, a "bike lane" in the city of Río Tercero, province of Córdoba, first in extension of kilometers reserved for cyclists' use.
Attention, municipalities! Each peso invested on improving the road system is recovered four or five times over with the savings from accident-related expenses. Building a "bike lane" is much less expensive than making a street: bikes are really light.
The ABC of safe riding on a bicycle
1. Go on the sidewalk following the direction of traffic; never against it.
2. Ride on your right.
3. Maneuver to turn left or right, or to stop.
4. Make yourself visible; wear light colored clothes and reflective materials (vests or stripes for your clothing, plaques for wheels, pedals and handles). Carry the lights stated by law: white in front, red in the rear.
5. Always wear a helmet.
6. Do not drink and ride.
7. Do not carry heavy or voluminous loads. Do not carry people.
8. Do not zigzag or move in a way that causes you to lose stability.
9. Do not hang on to other vehicles on the street.
10. Do not wear a "walkman"; it will prevent you from hearing well.
11. Watch road conditions to avoid holes, depressions, oil stains, etc.
12. Lower your speed and use brakes wisely when riding on wet pavement.
13. Keep a safe distance from other vehicles.
Signal to turn left Signal to turn right
Children write:
A story: "Joaquín the puppeteer"
On a day just like the others, Joaquín left home for work. He was carrying his backpack and was riding his bicycle fast, while listening to the music from his walkman.
Joaquín was very loved in the neighborhood, and rightly so: he was the public square puppeteer. He was 20 years old and a really nice guy. He had won the attention and love of all the children that played in the square.
It was a Friday, and Joaquín had finished his work day. He was very tired. His favorite song was playing on the radio, and he did not hear a truck honking while it crossed the intersection. CRASH! A terrible accident. Tina and José (Joaquín's greatest fans) called his parents, but it was too late. The children were left without their puppeteer.
After that incident, all the children that used to watch Joaquín's puppets learned to be more careful when crossing streets and riding on their bikes.
The End
Written at a "Luchemos..." Traffic Safety Class as a part of the National Traffic Safety Education Plan. Authors: Campos, Greco, Boneu, Bermolén and Isa, 7th grade students at Claret School.
(This article appeared originally on "Luchemos por la Vida" magazine, No. 5 - 1995).