Letter to the Editor in the Gazette:
Designated cycling lanes in Poolesville? Really? It’s obvious by your statement you’ve never ridden a bike into or out of Poolesville. Other than on White’s Ferry Road for a short distance, or most of Montgomery County, there are very few designated bike lanes. Mr. Klein, why don’t you come for a ride with me? Then you’ll understand what it’s like to be beeped at by a 4000 pound weapon, grossly exceeding the speed limit, as you’re trying to hug the white line and keep a good pace, and make it home to hug your wife and kids. Much of the “designated” bike lanes throughout Montgomery County we ride are filled with debris and trash that our tax dollars are supposed to keep clean. Before you judge why we’re riding in the road or just to the left of the white line, walk a little in our shoes.
Pay road tax? For what? Why don’t we meet over a beer or coffee and you can explain why I should pay a road tax. I own two vehicles and pay tax on them in Montgomery County and can’t get a budget balanced. Your premise is without forethought and lacks credibility as there is no way a legitimate worthwhile tax could be generated from your “all cyclists” from D.C. reasoning. Instead of thinking of new ways to generate revenue, why don’t you get after those people responsible for making the bike lanes and roads safer for all (DOT, sheriff, governor).
By the way, I’m an Army veteran who rides in Poolesville every weekend. Along with my cycling friends, we drop a significant amount of money at the Chevron gas station, Bob’s Bikes, and the local gym kitty corner from the Chevron. My group is riding as we ramp up to ride from Pittsburgh back to Gaithersburg in October to raise money for wounded Soldiers, Airmen, Seamen, and Marines. I’ve been hit by a car in Poolesville with no investigation done by the police (even given suspect description, partial plate, make and model of car). Tell your diesel truck friends in Poolesville to pass us without blasting diesel smoke in our faces. Maryland law allows for riders to ride two abreast providing they’re not impeding traffic. Likewise, drivers are to pass bicyclists with 3 feet of separation. So you’ve never flipped someone off who passed you too close or blew through a stop sign or beeped at you?
And blasting through stop signs? You’re worried about cyclists on bikes not stopping? Do they impede your driving ability that much or are you watching us from your porch? On Sunday, while sitting at the Poolesville Chevron, cooling off and resting, I counted 30 vehicles who didn’t stop fully for the stop sign at that intersection going in every direction. One was a huge Ford with a horse trailer. He just rolled through. So a cyclist on a bike is more dangerous than a 5000-pound truck with a 2000-pound trailer? Hello pot, my name’s kettle. Nice to meet you.
Kevin Bookman, Chantilly, Va.
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https://www.gazette.net/article/20110817/OPINION/708179755/-1/drivers-are-dangerous-disrespectful-of-bikers&template=gazetteoldId.20110818165148319
Biking in Baltimore