The good, the bad and the ugly. Association between car colour and bicycle passing space.

OBJECTIVE

Because anecdotal evidence indicates that the behaviour of cars (and their drivers) with respect to bicycles is highly variable, this study was undertaken to determine whether car colour correlates with the space allowed by the driver for passing a bicycle.

DESIGN

Randomized recollection.

SETTING

The streets of Vancouver and Burnaby, BC.

PARTICIPANTS

The author, her bike, lots of cars and a few transit buses.

METHODS

For a 10-day period in the summer of 1998, the investigator attempted, while cycling, to remember car colours and associated behaviours until she reached her various destinations. Data were eventually recorded in a tattered spiral-bound notebook saved from university days.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Numbers of cars in 2 categories: "good" (those that gave extra space to cyclists) and "bad" (those that didn't).

RESULTS

Read the article to find out.

CONCLUSION

Although there was a slightly greater chance that a passing car would give a cyclist extra space, riders should be especially cautious when they catch sight of white and maroon vehicles.