An Open Letter

[psyche29]

Dear Bicyclists,

In this state, you are a vehicle just like any other and do not have right of way or special privileges just by virtue of being a bike. Asking if we want to suck your penis does not change the fact that you are required to follow the laws.

All the Animosity In the World,
Kim

As a side note: Man, am I glad it's Friday.

Comments

[pinesandmaples]

On the other hand...

Dear Drivers,

Please remember that you are toodling around in a 3,000+ pound death-machine and should follow the traffic laws, too. My life is on the line when you can't manage a simple task like driving in a straight line.

xoxo,
- a cyclist who likes to live

[psyche29]

In this case, it was a four-way stop where it was very clearly our turn to go. Hubby saw the bike take off and had to jerk to a stop again, and when he asked if the guy knew how a four-way stop worked, the guy pointed to the bike as though it was obviously his right to do whatever he liked. Then he propositioned hubby, which was amusing but still not the point.

So many bike-riders go through red lights and ignore the four-way stops; the ones who actually obey the traffic laws always throw us for a loop. We always watch out for bikes, but too many of them make it much harder than it should be by just doing whatever they feel they're entitled to do, then being all offended when someone calls them on their behavior.

I figure if you're a bike-rider and stopping at the lights when they're red, using your hand signals to turn, and using the bike lane when it's available, then I don't have a problem with you riding your bike at all. When the bike lane isn't available, I don't even mind if you're in the middle of the regular driving lane and making me slow down - you're within your rights to ride there, and I don't have a problem with that. But if you're in the next lane, then cut across in front of my car to turn down a side street without either signaling your intent or stopping for a light, or if you're the second one at a four-way stop and take off first just because you're a bicycle and think you're magic, then I think it's your own fault if you get run the hell over.

All that said, I feel exactly the same about other drivers, because believe me, I am not laboring under the delusion that drivers are inherently better, because they sure as hell are not! Drivers need to be very aware of what's going on around them, and that includes watching out for bike riders, law-abiding or not. Good thing we do, or that guy wouldn't have been able to offer hubby his penis this morning.