Month: August 2008

Regarding a handful of letters about what bicyclists should do, should wear for safety, how they should behave on roads, licenses they should get and even what taxes they should pay, I respectfully submit the following: Get your own automotive house in order before demanding the cycling-should-do list!
That being said, let’s review the list of things drivers should and shouldn’t do. You should stop at all red lights and stop signs. You should yield to pedestrians who wish to cross the street. You shouldn’t get all liquored up and go out driving only to crash into other parked cars, vans carrying families, pedestrians, trees or large bodies of water.
You should remind yourselves that motor vehicle accidents still top most lists as the leading cause of accidental death. You should pay more attention to the road and stop applying makeup, eating, texting, reading, fiddling with the radio or reaching into the backseat. Perhaps if you were watching the road, checking your blind spots, scanning for hazards, anticipating problems and generally being a truly responsible motor vehicle operator, then those pesky, difficult-to-see cyclists would be more visible.
You should behave so that the term "road-rage" will never be applied to you. As you sit alone in traffic, you should consider car-pooling, taking the bus, a shorter commute or even riding a bike. Perhaps you should investigate the true costs of driving, such as the social costs associated with sprawl-type development, the medical costs of soaring childhood obesity rates and the cost of military spending in oil-rich regions of the world.
Continue reading “Drivers should get off their high horse”

High gas prices and growing environmental concerns are making more home buyers interested in bicycle-friendly neighborhoods. Seeing a market, some real-estate agents have traded their suits for spandex and are leading clients from house to house on two wheels instead of four.
Continue reading “A Different Kind of Bike Tour”

[From Bike Forums:]
While riding thru a downtown area, with very light traffic. I was in the right hand lane of a 4 lane street, about 4′ off the car doors. A young (considering my 62) woman came roaring up behind me, layed on the horn, and yelled something profane at me as she passed. I almost yelled back, but she went by too quickly.
The really cool part, was that she failed to recognize the bicycle cop next to her in the other lane, waiting to turn left….
He flipped on his go fast lights, and siren, (color me surprised!)and pulled her over about a block down the street, when she caught the next red – and then stopped me too as I rode by. He just wanted my name and phone number as a witness, to add to her summons for aggressive driving…..
We do have a fair sized contingent of bicycle cops in the town where I frequently ride, see them on the trails, parks, and downtown areas frequently. They always wave, and exchange pleasantries.
That had to be the coolest thing I ever saw happen!!!!!!!
I sure hope I get to go to court!!!!!!!
Continue reading “I had a really neat one today.”