Last weekend I watched a man on a bike weave around cars stopped at a red light. He was shirtless, helmet-less, and talking at pedestrians on lower State Street as he attempted to keep his beach cruiser in motion. He appeared to be having a great time. While I winced at this poster boy for "reckless cycling," I also started thinking about perspective.
How did the drivers around the man view him? Did they worry about maintaining an appropriate distance? Were they concerned about safety? Did they notice him at all?
Taking the perspective of another traveler on the road can be difficult. There’s a huge amount of information to take in, process, and react to. In the face of a constantly changing road scape, considering another’s view becomes extremely difficult. But, considering the perspective of fellow travelers can increase understanding and safety for all road users.