Run, Bike, Run

Dangerous Courtesy

It’s nice to know I’m not the only rider with this problem.
From the Corvallis Gazette Times Opinions story-

Roses ‘n’ Raspberries (Feb. 20)

ROSE (roz) n. One of the most beautiful of all flowers, a symbol of fragrance and loveliness. Often given as a sign of appreciation.

RASPBERRY (raz’ber’e) n. A sharp, scornful comment, criticism or rebuke; a derisive, splatting noise, often called the Bronx cheer.

We hereby deliver:

One young woman who rides her bicycle to work is pleading with drivers to “treat bicyclists (at intersections) the way you treat cars, which is the law.”

In other words, don’t “give” bicyclists the right-of-way through an intersection when a bicyclist is waiting (as is legal) with the rest of the vehicular traffic for all lanes to clear before proceeding across.

One vehicle stopping creates confusion among the other motorists who have the right-of-way.

No sane bicyclist is going to cross into an intersection where one car is stopped — only to risk being run over by the motorists in the other lanes of traffic who are cruising through the intersection at the speed limit.

It’s simple: Bicyclists and motorists need to know and obey traffic laws to avoid collisions.

• RASPBERRIES — again — to a common — but misplaced — act of motorist “courtesy” that routinely puts bicyclists in danger.