Letter to the Editor
Share the road
Published Friday, May 30, 2008
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To the editor:
Just share. During the past few weeks, I have read the letters to the editor and the comments on the Web site about the cyclists and motorists having a hard time sharing the road. Here is a simple solution. Just think for one minute about this before you write a letter to the editor or post a bunch of comments about how I am wrong.
Motorists, if you see a bike rider riding on the white line or just over it in the roadway, do not freak out and honk and yell and give them the one-finger salute. Simply move over a foot and go by. If you have to slow for a minute to avoid cutting someone off in the other lane, it’s OK. It’s just a minute of your time. It’s not that hard if you think about it.
Now to the cyclists; the ones who have to ride over the white line and two or three side-by-side and block traffic and won’t use the sidewalk or bike path. We get it. You’re trying to prove your point that the road is yours, too. If motorists can share, so can you. Ride single-file and use the bike paths and sidewalks and stop being petty.
I walk all the time and get along with bike riders on the sidewalks just fine as well as on the bike paths. Now honestly, if you had the time to read this, you have the time to move over on the road whether you drive or ride. It’s real easy if you try, and besides, getting all worked up yelling at either the driver or rider is bad for your blood pressure. I have also read in the paper about the ongoing concerns of the energy crisis and racism. If we can’t solve this bike and car problem what chance do we have to finally stop some real issues?
Community Discussion
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I know that I would just as soon share the road as run over a bike rider, or be run over when I ride.
It is a lot easier if we all follow the same rules of the road. That way, a person doesn't always have to guess what the other person is going to do.
Two of my pet peeves, which invariably cause me to say bad words, are when a driver/rider decides to improvise on right of way rules, e.g. at a 4 way intersection. Or is driving/riding down a road and suddenly turns with little or no warning. That's what those turn signals and/or arms are for.
I have to agree with Mr. Bent. Really...there's room for everybody. Just use common sense and some courtesy and we'll all get along fine.
Follow the same rules,,, I agree totally,,, there should be a "bike" tax, the same as there is on cars, its called tags not tax, also a mileage charge, same as gas tax, and mandatory insureance and drivers license. Now we are ready to SHARE the road, and its cost... Drive careful...
This horse is dead. Can we stop beating it?
whoa! hold the phone! wroooong! If one operates a wheeled vehicle on public streets/roads, then one needs A: INSURANCE, B: REGISTRATION, w/license plate, C:TRAINING, D:LICENSING E:A SAFE, ROADWORTHY VEHICLE... Fair is fair, folks...As a legal, licensed, insured and registered motor vehicle operator, I am REQUIRED BY LAW to meet these conditions to drive legally...These laws should apply to ALL WHEELED VEHICLES on our roads...despite their flimsy arguments to the contrary, cyclists know they shouldnt be on the road with multi-ton vehicles traveling at cyclist-splattering speed...common sense dictates that...at least mine does...
The letter writer says: "If you have to slow for a minute to avoid cutting someone off in the other lane, it’s OK. It’s just a minute of your time. It’s not that hard if you think about it."
What he calls "just a minute of your time" is unreasonable. Why, just last night I was in a rush to get home and offer my profound comments on the News-Miner's web page when I had to slow down for nearly seven seconds in order to yield to a cyclist who thought he had the right to be on MY highway. Seven seconds! Can you believe that? This is unacceptable! This is an outrage! This is un-American!
I'll tell you one thing, if I miss out on posting the 200th comment on Scott McCrea's "Why I Love Fairbanks" blog and don't get his paycheck because some commie-loving, terrorist-supporting bicyclist slows me down on my way home, the whole town of Fairbanks is gonna hear about it!
Geez! No wonder some of you people hate cyclists so much.
OK...Bugger and Kingfisher are excused from using courtesy and common sense. The rest of us will still be fine.
RK - smiles and drinks her coffee...
Nice letter Mr. Bent!
Bugger and Kingfisher, why don't you write a polite letter to your state legislators and get them to fix the deficiencies and disparities that you see in the law. Your repetitive vindictive only serve to reinforce our opinion of your intelligence.
Gosh I too was delayed yesterday, I lost a precious 5 seconds on my bike ride home allowing a car to pass so that I could make a legal left turn with out that car having to slow down. It takes time to be legal and respectful. I also lost a few seconds to stop and educate some kids that were riding erratically and going from side to side on the road.
*grin* to AK Curmudgeon...okay, that made me smile...(and I rode my bicycle to work today.)
"These laws should apply to ALL WHEELED VEHICLES on our roads..."
Does that include baby strollers or my kid's little red wagon?
Mr. Bent has a Good out look on this situation. I would assume from it that he doesn't always drive his car to the store or where ever he is headed. Kudos to you for that sir. My problem with most Cyclist are not from the adult riders, You know the ones with mirrors on there helmets and the little flashing beacon on there backpack. Nope those guys and gals are great. I can see them plan to move over so I don't scare them as my mirror rushes past there head. Nopers there all good, I hate to say it but its the kids most likely teen and preteen that are out running amuck in the town. Now I am not saying that all of them are bad. I think the saying goes "it only takes one bad apple to spoil the whole bunch." The teens I am refering to cross the street against the light cut out into traffic causing myself and other to slam on our brakes without warning to avoid them, Or the ones that ride down the middle of the dirt roads 2 or 3 wide and wont move over.
I guess all I mean to say is cars and cycles and pedestrians can share if we all know what to expect from the other. So think of it this way whether the cyclist is 6 or 60 they are all someones kid and someone would miss them
At the rate fuel prices are increasing, it's just a matter of time before that guy heading up to Chena Ridge in the 10-cylinder diesel dually truck with 750 gallons of water becomes extinct. Hang in there cyclists! The two wheeled, human powered meek shall inherit the earth.
Have you ever been stopped at a trafffic light and a cyclist approaches you, same direction, and instead of stopping and putting their foot on the road, ... they reach over and support themselves on your car? Happened to me today. Irritating, really irritating.
Parents, get off your butts and get on your bikes and teach your kids how to ride. Duh!
Good letter Tony common sense.
Stopdrivingak
Diesel pickups don’t have 10-cylinders.
Do you know the size of the tank to carry 750 gallons?
0cents: It's called hyperbole. Look it up.
Non_Lemming!!! The Horror, the horror....LOL
Tony good letter common sense will save lives.
Sdoownek
I’m sorry but I’m not smart enough to work my computer. Will you please just post the meaning of that big word.
Do you know the answer to the tank size? I would like to carry 750 gallons to save on fuel and I don't know if it will fit in my pickup.
We should share the road BUT if any of you had an experiance like myself, with a biker, you know the rage i'm talking about! Last summer I was heading to the dentist and the biker on one of the reclined bikes came up to a stop sign and didn't stop. Luckily I saw him in his bright yellow and red spandex gear before he tuned in my lane about 100 yards in front od me. That pissed me off so I stepped on it and whipped around him shooting diesel exhaust on him. Was it mean, yes but I firmly believe in an eye for an eye. ANd yes it was called for.
tank83: If you saw a pick-up truck come up to a stop sign, not stop, and turn into your lane 100 yards in front of you, would you do the same thing that you did to the bicyclist?
If so, then your rage might have been about failing to stop.
If not, then I don't think that the rage was about failing to stop; was it the red spandex?
Apparently, I'm doomed to make Fairbanks mad no matter what I do. I ride my bike on a semi-regular basis (was more regular before I got a car last fall). I drive at the speed limit in my car (even when I'm in the left lane). My job is driving a tour bus. Everyone is mad at me.
No Mr Blazer.
This horse is never dead. Not as long as bicyclists think they can use a 55 MPH road at 10 MPH. Either you travel at the speed limit or get on the million dollar bike path. A forty pound bike is no match for a 2000 pound car. Why can't you realize that? It's a noble fight you fight...but an unwinable one. RIDE SAFE!!!
40 pounds?
Wow.
@sdoownek
Are you forgetting it's called hyperbole. Look it up
Ifreeman, I see where you are coming from. As I stated above I did it because it was a stupid move on his part. Maybe next he wants to try it he will think twice before turning onto a 55 mph road going 10 mph. I hate stupid people!
Hook.
Line.
Sinker.
tank, I sort of agree with your sentiment, I hate it when people do stupid things. I try not to take it personally and try to not hate the person.
I think that this discussion horse is dead, have a good weekend all.
YouMustBeConfused!!!
Yes, it is a horror. I'll defend a cyclists rights to be on the road, but that cyclists better follow the rules of the road. That cyclists should have been full stopped, foot down, in plain view of coming and incoming traffice, not leaning up against my car. Don't put your damn hand on my car! What if your shirt, or hand got caught in my window or grill, then I accelerated at the green? My fault right? Wrong
I state again, irritating, very irritating.
Yup
HEADLINE Fairbanks Daily News Miner April 1, 2009
ALASKA LEGISLATURE RESTRICTS BICYLISTS ONLY TO BIKE PATHS, SIDEWALKS, AND SECONDARY STREETS IN ALASKA.
Gives you a feeling kinda like the first time you had Sex..doesn't it???? Heaven on earth.
I rode my bike today, a red schwinn.
As a bicycle commuter of 5 years, it's frustrating to hear so many angry drivers who want bicycles off of the road or out of their way. As mentioned above, there are problems with some cyclists disobeying the street rules and causing problems on the street. Is it fair though to be angry at all cyclists because of their decision to commute by two wheels? Not really. There are many good commuters in town despite some sour ones. If you think it is fair to label us as a whole, then I should be allowed to dislike and label all pick-up truck drivers for cutting me off of the road (when i drive in), especially in the winter when roads are slick, even though only a few have done so. But that wouldn't be fair to the responsible truck drivers, would it? What happened to the relaxed atmosphere of Fairbanks? Please slow down, life won't pass you by within that time you need to keep the streets safe for all travelers.
For the bicyclists out there who follow the laws of the road - a sincere thank you. I have a lot of respect for those of you who ride all year, even in brutal cold - as long as you do it SAFELY.
For the rest of you - take the bus!
We almost had a biker ride right smack into the side of our F350 Crew Cab. He ran a stop sign, had no lights/reflectors on, and made a left without any signal. When my husband asked him what the hell he was thinking, the young man replied, "I didn't see you." Um - if you can't see an F350 Crew Cab that you came within INCHES of hitting, you don't need to be on a bike. Add that to the fact that the little snot was breaking the law...
A few summers ago, we saw an entire family ou