Bicycle Driver (1973)

[Music] [Music] okay I've been asked to introduce this film because I really am an advisor to a junior high bike club and I really do teach traffic safety education full-time so I see the safety education problem from both viewpoints bicycles an autos can safely share the same roads but the drivers of each must know and follow the same rules of the road except the same driving responsibility and respect each other's rights that's what this film is all about most of the film is self-explanatory where it isn't I'll explain as we go along notice the stop signs [Music] I see your operator's license today sir license since when do I have to have a license to drive a bicycle well it's not required that you have an operator's license but I do need some form of identification what did I do mr. Jones were you aware of the stop sign back at 15th Northeast and 135th I saw the stop sign but that's for motor vehicles not bicycles well it's also for bicycles bicycles are construed as being vehicular traffic and you have to comply with the laws whether you write a bicycle or drive a vehicle you mean you're putting a moving violation on my driving record no I'm not going to issue you a moving violation but had you caused the vehicle to swerve or stop I would issue you a moving violation but I'm going to give you a verbal warning and write a warning citation mr. Jones I'd like to remind you to possibly review your driving habits again bicycles are vehicular traffic and you must comply with the rules of the road just as other vehicles do thank you [Music] thank goodness I didn't really have quite this go back this boys 14 years old today he's too grown up for toy bikes too young for driver's license first birthday he gets to pick a ten-speed as it stands this is a daylight machine how's it legal to sell a bike without lights and reflectors most of our customers will be running this thing strictly in the daytime for those who want to ride at night we have a wide selection Jim can you guarantee me you're not going to ride this bike at night yeah except for basketball practice I might get caught coming home in the dark it gets dark so early she knows about bicycles at night they can be invisible 30 feet from a car peddle pleasures help a big reflector helps more this 3-inch or far outshines a taillight more help a white jacket and a leg play better yet reflective cloth strips common sense says the more the better well then I don't want you to bring it home until you have lights on it okay can I help you here I'm interested in a bike first I'm touring and from going around town school stuff like that it's a right birthday okay follow me over here a bike should fit standing flat-footed astride this bikes too small this too big dangerously so this just right an inch of clearance gear shifts in a crash these could spear you here there okay here safe enough but exposed to breakage a bike that will carry things gets more use rear mounted carriers don't upset the steering and balance how's this set yeah those will do yeah that's a night all right okay I'm off like gear shifts move down here okay and then a three inch rear reflector and then a rear carrier all stop okay should be able to house before you tomorrow afternoon okay it's like when the shops finished with Jim's new bike is prepared for the kind of views it's driver has in mind but who's prepared its driver where would a common sense bicyclist go for this knowledge where motorists go of course kill them I'll help you today yes I'd like to apply for learner's permit all right have you studied our driving manual yes I have all right I'd be a $2.00 feet in an identification no state lets people drive cars without preparation there's the money yes by smallest layer of letters that you can read clearly they have to meet minimum physical requirements they take driver's knowledge test with electronic scoring having passed this is your instruction permit I'd like to point out that it is valid for six months also that you must be accompanied by a licensed Washington driver with a minimum of five years experience while operating a vehicle [Music] yes sir may I help you yes do you have a booklet has rules laronette yeah driver's ganster a bicycle driver learns it himself or goes without hey you are sharing very much probably because he risked no life but his own now at this next Street turn right but examiner's make sure that motorist qualified before the state issues licenses to drive alone in traffic [Music] young bicyclist must rely on zone common sense as to whether or not to write in rush-hour traffic this is put in the car and let me go someplace we ride it okay [Music] [Music] hey Jim what are you doing I'm just going over my hand signals I'm like go for my driver's license next year might as well start learning about him just you have so you use them on your bike too are you doing for just driver's ed you can learn how to drive on a bike some as well start now wait letter not follow me sure [Music] [Music] the hen signals have been standard since the early days of the automobile it takes a little practice to steer in balance while using one hand to signal that wasn't too bad we're too far away from the curb let's try it again just follow me here [Music] for some reason and this isn't unusual Jim sets his mind on developing an adult skill driving in traffic on these quiet streets he used to play with a high-rise bike now he works on good execution [Music] [Applause] now he's working on left turns critical maneuvers for all drivers in light traffic he handles his bike just as alt were in auto here's the type of left turn that works where there's a lot of oncoming traffic notice how he stays on the right that's part one of his left turn part two he makes as a pedestrian this way he avoids stopping in the middle of a busy intersection once across he takes to the street and proceeds planning a left turn at rush hour he takes to the sidewalk riding if it's legal pushing if it's not the idea is to cross two sides of the intersection as a pedestrian he avoids riding through on the right because a lot of cars are making right turns he completes his left turn without ever getting out in the middle of dense traffic we call this defensive driving when riding in a car he begins to see driving behavior with new eyes that guy looking it's called whiskey pretending to the guy on the King Carter child he pretending oh maybe the driver know that he's a nine on it being bugging the peasants watch out there there's been a small children out there drum couple drum majors leading a parade it's not legal what they're doing Luther no that's not legal they can't block traffic they can ride single file but not to aggress look at that biker wonder what he's pretending to be he's passing on the right there thanks to the ghost the world is big enough for him and it's hard too now he's pretending of those stupid ideas the other guy's fault right now Wow what you trying to do kill me [Music] look out I see them but I just don't believe them they're just pretending pretending they're what mosquitoes look a pro windshield Jim's learning the question is is he learning the things that will help him survive let's see [Music] hey Dean did you ever wonder how far the average driver can go without making a mistake oh ken block's maybe 20 if he's real good four or five below average Jim has the green light why the slow signal say that kids quite a defensive driver here's wine right through the red right in front please go down to the next intersection and turn right stop I'm just fed up with these crazy kids in their bikes anyway sir you better be thankful that kids a first-class defensive driver otherwise he'd be on his way to the hospital and you'd have more to be concerned about than this traffic citation well since when does a bike have the right away anyway according to the traffic code bicycle riders have the same rights and responsibilities as a motor vehicle operator hundred v SL a five five five three seven okay James if we need you we'll call you okay by the way how did you know he was going to pull out stuff I was watching him and my son bout to churn I pulled in he's got it well take it from a guy who's seen it all you're some kind of a driver he's what see you later so she's some kind of driver sure when he's by himself but in unguarded moments he can forget it all just like well he said it himself mosquitos looking for a windshield we didn't come on Jim but hurry up we'll never get the part in the middle of an arterial think it over Jim are you going to use them for an alibi stay a kid playing in the street whether on a bike or in a car to become a first-class driver you either drive alone or you seek out company with the same interest okay hey here's Jim look like he's got a new bike here buddy hi Jim today's that's your new bike huh yeah hey that really looks nice what shetty to ladygina-kohts well it's it's too late for the trip that we have scheduled here oh look at you've got to know the rules enrolled and we also have to have your parents consent I'm really sorry but hey look at how about next week we've got a 25-mile trip planned and why don't you see me Monday and I bet you we can come up with something okay okay all right hey take care of that new bike okay it's one thing to study for yourself it's another when you know you'll be tested and you'll be riding with people who really know the book [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] alright hey hold it down look at guys it's getting time to go Jim our new members are going to recite what are the rules of the road promote safe an orderly flow of our traffic on our roads why should you follow the rules of the road because if I don't I can expect anybody else to oh you mean we always follow the rules of the road we try but it isn't easy [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music]