Missouri Bicycle News

Think of cyclists

Steve Eddy, in a recent guest column in the Neighborhood News, asked why bicyclists ride in the road rather than the shoulder. The answer is that most cyclists will use the shoulder if it is continuous, clean and smooth, but very few in the metropolitan area are.

Now I've got a question for Mr. Eddy: Why do motorists insist on roaring around blind curves, speeding over blind hills, over-driving visibility on winding two-lane roads and in the rain and fog, over- driving their headlights at night, passing unsafely, speeding through residential areas in order to save eight seconds, failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, and driving within inches of bicyclists and pedestrians who are operating legally--when all of this is clearly against the law?

And why do our law enforcement personnel not enforce the law, and elected officials insist that it be enforced?

Most motorists drive safely, courteously and legally, but the 5 or 10 percent who do not make the roads dangerous for everyone.

Brent Hugh
Raytown