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Give cyclists a fair share of the road

By Danielle Hall

I am a bicycle rider. If given a choice of taking my car or my bike the 10 miles down the road to my destination, I will pick my bike any time.

In this time of high gasoline prices, it just makes sense to me to use the free energy of my own power over the high-priced gas my car will consume.

Many times I encounter uneducated motorists who feel it necessary to crowd me, honk at me and yell out their windows at me, thus ruining my relaxing ride. To these people I say, listen up -- learn and follow the rules of the road. Just because you have four wheels under your seat to my two doesn't mean I have no right to be there.

First, the state and local laws state that bicycle riders have the same rights and responsibilities of motor vehicle drivers. Bicycles are part of the normal traffic flow. Bicycles must travel with the flow of traffic and should ride as near the right side of the road as practical. In addition, with proper hand signals a bicycle rider may make lane changes to make a left turn with traffic.

We have the right to be in a driving lane. We don't want to ride the shoulder of the road any more than you do. Bicycle tires are more delicate than car tires; we are more likely to have a blowout from debris on the shoulder than anywhere else on the road. In addition, the shoulder was not made for driving.

We all know what it feels like to be on the torn-up roads in this area after work crews rip them up and then take forever to re-surface them. Take that experience and multiply it by 10. Now you know how a bike rider forced to the shoulder feels.

On busy roads and intersections it is loud and the traffic is moving very fast. It is difficult for even an experienced rider to keep track of the cars barreling down on them and avoid pitfalls ahead. For Pete's sake don't yell out your window at us or honk your horn unless our life is in immediate danger, or it soon will be by your thoughtlessness.

Bike riders on occasion need to turn left to reach their destination. This is one of the trickiest things a bike rider needs to do. If done safely, the only effect this should have on the driver of a car is that they actually slow down before making their own turn. Often it is not practical (for safety reasons) for the bike rider to stop and wait for traffic to clear up before making their lane change. Are you in that much of a hurry that you cannot yield a little of your speed to let me pass?

Finally, when faced with a right-turn-only lane and the rider intends to go straight, the rider should continue straight along the dashed line of the straight and turn lanes. This causes the most comment from the drivers who pass me. There is no hand signal for "straight," and since the car coming up behind is usually traveling at three times my speed I don't know the driver's intention until I am already in the way. Have some patience, please!

Cars and bicycles can share the road peacefully if everyone is aware of the rules and we give each other a little common courtesy. For some people, their bicycle is their only means of transportation and they will find themselves in high-traffic situations. Please be aware of them and give them the same respect you would give any other vehicle operator.
Danielle Hall is a Vestal resident.
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