Riding Your Bicycle and Sharing the Road
People are starting to get interested in using the bicycle for transportation. Gasoline prices are soaring which makes alternative means of transportation viable. The bicycle is a no-cost alternative to fuel consuming vehicles, but sharing the roads with cars and trucks can be rather harrowing.
The first thing you should know about riding your bicycle on streets that are shared with vehicles is that you are bound by the same laws that other vehicles must follow. Bicyclists want to be respected when they choose to use the same roads as cars and trucks, but they also must respect the laws that everyone else must follow.
Unfortunately, and particularly in many parts of United States, bicyclists are not particularly welcome by vehicles drivers on the roads. Many roads do not have wide shoulders to ride on much less bicycle lanes.
However, there are times that drivers have a reason to be upset with bicyclists. The most egregious activity that cyclists do is ride abreast with a fellow cyclist. Many time cyclists will ride in a pack and not bother getting over for a vehicle. This is unacceptable behavior. This says to drivers that they as cyclists own the road. Cyclists have a motto called "Share the Road". It has to go both ways.
Conversely, drivers have a responsibility to respect the right of the cyclist to ride their bicycle on the road. Drivers find it inconvenient to have to slow down to maneuver around a bicyclist. People in vehicles are typically in a hurry and tend to be irritated, if not irate, if they must slow down to get get around a cyclist. It takes very little effort to slow down, drive safely around a bicyclist and then accelerate again. The effort is certainly nothing to get upset over. Many time bicyclists have to endure things thrown at them or profanities yelled at them simply because they are riding a bicycle.
Drivers should be encouraging of more people riding their bicycles. It could reduce demand for gasoline which would help lower the price for those who still choose to drive. Ever get stuck by a slow moving vehicle you could not get around for whatever reason? You should always be able to get around a bicyclist. Bicycles do not pollute. Bicyclists are typically in shape which helps keep everybody's health care costs down.
High gasoline prices are here to stay. People will be turning to alternative means of transportation to avoid paying the high energy costs. Bicycles will be showing up on the roads in ever increasing numbers. Cyclists need to remember that the same laws that pertained to them in their vehicle has to be followed on their bicycle. Vehicle drivers need to be aware and more tolerant of bicyclists using the roads both to save on fuel costs and for their recreation.