Is it possible for bikes and cars to coexist on the road?

Coexistence between cars and bikes is not proving easy. We outline the 5 problems this road relationship is facing.

There is more and more traffic on our roads, and the number of cyclists is considerably higher than a few years ago. In many cases, coexistence between cars and cyclists is not proving easy. In recent months, several controversial episodes have fuelled tensions, which has led us to reflect on the main obstacles this road relationship is facing. These are the 5 problems we consider most important:

1. Large differences in speed and safety between bicycles and other vehicles on the road.

This represents a significant risk factor for cyclists, as they run the danger of being struck or destabilised by vehicles travelling at much higher speeds. To overtake a bicycle, a distance of 1.5 metres must be respected, but what happens if a cyclist is riding through a sharp bend (with no visibility on entry) and a car reaches their position at a much higher speed? On the other hand, in heavy traffic, a group of cyclists can considerably slow down other road users behind them. Take, for example, a mountain pass without hard shoulders.

2. Perceived impunity of cyclists

All vehicles are governed by the same regulatory framework, but there is a widespread feeling among motorists that cyclists are not fined as often as everyone else.

3. Low sensitivity towards cyclists

Cyclists are the most vulnerable road users and suffer the greatest consequences from the reckless actions of other vehicles on the road. A mistake against them can be fatal, whereas in the opposite case (motorists) it may end up as a mere scare. For this reason, cyclists call for greater empathy towards them.

4. Poor control of our emotions behind the wheel

On many occasions, we vent our frustrations behind the wheel, and we must not forget that we share a public road where everyone has the same rights. Emotions such as anger are commonplace on our roads, and they do not contribute to healthy coexistence among users (including cars and cyclists).

5. Low infrastructure to promote safe cycling mobility (bike lanes)

The reality is that although our country has improved greatly in recent years, the infrastructure that separates cyclists from other road users (bike lanes) is still insufficient, something that is not the case in other European Union countries.

Share The Road: the initiative by Ford to improve coexistence between cars and cyclists

It is important to highlight that some manufacturers take the problem between cars and cyclists very seriously. This is the case of Ford, which recently presented a smart jacket for cyclists and has now launched the “Share The Road” campaign, an initiative designed to improve road safety for everyone. To this end, it has created the “WheelSwap” virtual reality experience, an action that allows users to put themselves in the shoes of cyclists and motorists when unexpected situations arise on the road. Below we can see the experience from both points of view:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfnDrv0a2xM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3AIwgmajUM

The aim of WheelSwap is simple: to raise awareness among users, both motorists and cyclists, so that they make some changes to their driving habits.

The Wheel Swap experience was carried out in 5 countries with more than 1,200 participants, achieving the following results, according to Ford:

• 70% of participants became more empathetic after the experience
• 60% changed their behaviour
• Cyclists are 10% more empathetic than drivers
• The Generation Z (post-millennial) shows the highest levels of empathy and displays more cautious behaviour than the rest of the participants
• Women have changed their behaviour to a greater extent than men.