[B’ Spokes: Shameful letters in the Sun, Bicyclists don’t kill people in Maryland as drivers of cars do, it really is as simple as that. I find it interesting turning to licencing rather then more traffic law enforcement that would actually catch these cyclists not knowing the law as well as the drivers, whoops a lot more drivers are going to get ticketed, so lets try and bend this so only cyclists are inconvenienced.]
********************************************************************************************************************************************
Michael Dresser’s "Driver’s ed redux? Motorists need to get up to speed" (April 4) focuses on motorists’ knowledge of the traffic laws applicable to bicycles. But what about bicyclists’ knowledge of the traffic laws applicable to motorists?
To legally drive an automobile, a person must be a certain age, take a driver’s education course and pass a written exam and driving test. Not so with riding a bicycle. All you have to do is get on and start riding. No training, no testing. How does that help promote safety for bicycle riders and promote road-sharing with motorists?
Motorists should have confidence that bicyclists know the traffic laws. There is a big difference between riding a bicycle on neighborhood sidewalks and riding on the streets and mixing with cars, trucks, buses and trains.
The solution is simple: Require licensing for all bicycle riders that use public roads. The licensing requirements would include a safety course for riding on city, state and federal highways. And there would be an added benefit: Gov. Martin O’Malley and the state legislators could have another revenue-generating licensing fee.
Ron Wirsing, Havre de Grace
********************************************************************************************************************************************
I agree with Ron Wirsing’s April 6 letter that bicyclists should be licensed.
A day does not pass that I do not witness a bicyclist violate the 3-foot law by weaving through stopped traffic at an intersection, then run a red light or fail to even slow down, much less stop, at a stop sign.
I have seen bicyclists ignore a school bus with flashing red lights and breeze by the flagman on a road crew. I have seen bicyclists riding at night with no headlights or taillights.
Mr. Wirsing is right: The only solution is to require licensing and a safety course.
https://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-04-05/news/bs-ed-bicycles-letter-20110405_1_bicyclists-traffic-laws-licensing-requirements
https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-bicycle-menace-20110412,0,6419089.storyoldId.20110414082828850