Alternate Route

Mar 25, 2008 - Rock Beats Scissors

I used to marvel at the Tour de France and those who could ride 1000 miles on those tiny saddles at amazing speeds. Not so much any more.

We're in a university town and every year it seems to get worse as groups of cyclists seem to think the roads are their to do with as they please without regard to traffic laws or their own safety.

The other day I ran into a perfect example. I was on some side streets, but they are main thoroughfares that you use to actually get to places. Two lane roads, no passing permitted, with the very occassional left turning lanes at intersections. I'm coming down a hill, approaching an intersection where I have to turn right, and in the distance I see three bikes riding in the road. Not kids, grown adults all decked out in their bright yellow riding outfits. Completely geared up.

They make the right turn as do several cars behind them and proceed to ride three wide at their own pace as the traffic backs up behind them. They were having a grand old time laughing and ignoring the fact that they're supposed to ride single file and not impede traffic.

Throw in the folks who ride the wrong way, swerve suddenly off of sidewalks, and generally don't use the network of bike paths that my tax dollars went to and you can see how a bit of animosity towards cyclists can grow.

They have the same issues in Santa Cruz, CA

The Community Traffic Safety Coalition of Santa Cruz County has launched a program similar to the traffic schools motorists attend to prevent points from going on their record that allows cyclists to attend traffic school for $35. Attending the two-hour class allows bikers to escape paying a ticket, which can run $100 to $200.

"We're a university town with a lot of bikes on the road and a lot of injuries," said Corinne Hyland of the county health department. "We want to capture that audience and give them some education."

Educating the riders is a noble idea. You would think that they'd understand that, just like rock beats scissors, car beats bike. Every time.

Read the entire article at MercuryNews.com

4:07 am | Categories: bicycles, traffic Permalink | Alert Administrator

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