If your city doesn’t have bike lanes, it’s up to every car that passes you on your bike to determine how much space to give you. Toronto cyclist Warren Huska solved this by strapping a pool noodle to his bike.
Daily commutes used to be tough for Warren Huska, who cycles 18 kilometres from his home to his office almost every day.
“People get really insulated inside a vehicle,” Huska told to the Toronto Star. “They don’t really know where the edges of their vehicle are.”
But, for the past year, drivers have given Huska a wider berth. Now, when he mounts his trusty two-wheeled steed, Huska is protected by a pool noodle. Strapped to his bike’s frame with bungee cords, the floppy foam cylinder is a reminder to drivers not to get too close.
“The edge of the noodle (helps them) gauge space instead of them trying to judge where my elbow was,” said Huska. “Suddenly all the cars are changing lanes to go around me.”
Huska estimated he has biked 8,000 km, in all seasons, with his noodle in tow. It’s an added measure of safety in a city where cycling in traffic can be a dangerous undertaking.
Huska said drivers have reeled down their car windows to congratulate him on the usefulness of the noodle. But, so far, he has heard of only one other cyclist rolling with their own noodle.
“I’m unconcerned about looking good,” Huska said. “I’m concerned about my safety most.”
