E121 Ian Brisbin Cycling Safety and Protecting Cyclists
Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 121
Date: May 21, 2014
Participants: John Webster, Elise Seifert, Cameron Earnshaw and Sheila Webster
Guest: Ian Brisbin
Start Times and Segments:
[0:00:15] What’s On Your Mind: We talk about a quote Elise came across by Osho – “To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it.” It has them thinking in different directions.
[0:08:53] Expanding Minds Interview: [Physical, Social and Mental Wellness] We interview Ian Brisbin, an avid cyclist. We chat about safety. Biking is a social and physical outlet and one of the best ways Ian knows to ensure that he’s staying emotionally centred. His “Rule 1” for biking safety is very simple: You do what you need to do to get home safely. Biking safety is multi-faceted. There’s a lot to keep track of. The best you can do is to keep your head on a swivel and look out for yourself. It’s important to be assertive and be clear about what your intentions are – be very deliberate showing where you’re headed. There’s safety equipment, such as helmets, but more than anything else it’s a matter of being aware of your surroundings and communicating yourself as clearly as you can. He talks about hidden dangers, like dooring, large potholes and the “right hook”. Rule 1 applies to interactions with law enforcement and drivers. If you’re in a situation where you feel that you’re being unfairly ticketed by law enforcement, then take the ticket, go home and deal with it later. If you’re in a confrontation with a driver, then you’re not going to win. You might lose, but you won’t win. Just leave. Your goal is to get home safe and to your families.
[0:27:35] Adventures of the Starving Artist: Cameron needs to use his car every day, so car trouble spells stress. I took time go figure out what was wrong and get it fixed, then after dropping some serious coin he had another surprise.
[0:31:52] Move That Body: – Julie recounts experiences as a coxswain for 8-person rowing teams while at university.
[0:37:47] Running Popup: A great lesson from exercise is that it shows us that we can do hard things, and it feels good to know that.
[0:40:02] Flipside of the Coin: Sheila and John’s impressions when they learned they will be first-time grandparents.
Quotes and Take-Aways:
Ian – Cycling is a social outlet. It’s a physical outlet. Bike people tend to be good people.
Ian – Biking is one of the best ways I know to ensure that I’m staying emotionally centred. The mental health piece is significant given the work that I do. All told, movement is medicine. I find that a day that I don’t move is a day that doesn’t tend to go very well.
Ian – Biking is accessible. It’s easy. There’s lots of people who want to do it. If you want to do it solo – great. If you want to do it in a group, there won’t be any shortage of people to do it with.
Ian – I find biking is accommodating and a good way to immerse yourself in your community and to derive benefit from it.
Ian – Cycling represents freedom when we’re young. In my generation we got away from it in high school and university. It was often young families that brought us back.
Ian – My rule for cycling safety is very simple. I refer to it as “Rule 1” and it’s very simple: You do what you need to do to get home safely.
Ian – Cycling safety is multi-faceted. There’s a lot to keep track of. The best you can do is to look out for yourself. Be assertive and be clear about what your intentions are.
Ian – As a cyclist be very deliberate saying where you’re headed. Communicate just as you would with a car’s turn signal.
Ian – There’s safety equipment, such as helmets, but more than anything else it’s a matter of being aware of your surroundings and communicating yourself as clearly as you can.
Ian – Give way to the more vulnerable road user. If you’re a cyclist then you give way to a pedestrian. As a car driver you do that as well.
Ian – If you’re in a situation where you feel that you’re being unfairly ticketed by law enforcement, then take the ticket, go home and deal with it later. That’s not the place to argue. You’re not going to change hearts and minds. Same thing with a driver. If you’re in a confrontation, then you’re not going to win. You might lose, but you won’t win. Take the draw and just go home. It’s difficult, because passions flame and everything else, but Rule 1 applies everywhere. Your goal is to get home safe and to your families.
Ian – It’s the reverse Golden Rule. You want to treat yourself in the way you would treat others. Treat yourself with the kindness with which you would treat others. None of us do it. We are quick to help our friends, but we don’t do it for ourselves.
Bulletin Board Quote brought to you by John: I was dumbfounded. I didn’t know what to think or say.
Guest Information: Ian Brisbin is recognized by his peers since 2020 as one of Canada’s “Best Lawyers” practicing personal law. For over 20 years, he’s served the Hamilton and Halton area, and clients across Ontario. He's represented people from all walks of life on claims arising from motor vehicle collisions or dangerous properties, including passengers, injured cyclists and pedestrians. He also helps people who were denied long-term disability insurance benefits, and does much more. Ian is particularly passionate about Velolaw.ca. Velolaw is Ian’s rapidly expanding practice area through which he expresses his love of cycling, his determination to represent injured cyclists and his joy derived from advocating for active transportation in the public interest. He has a long record of service to his communities, particularly through chairing numerous non-for-profit boards of directors. Ian fancies himself a passionate cyclist for all seasons. He’s competed in many cycling races, an Ironman and six marathons (including two Bostons). He’s currently training for an upcoming Ironman 70.3. Ian lives in Hamilton with his family and Willow the Bernese Mountain Dog.
Ian Brisbin work bio: Ian Brisbin - Martin & Hillyer
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Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-) Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila, Elise, Isabelle, Noura and Julie