By Ginni Stern
I am not a cyclist. I am more then happy to share the road with cyclists… but very often this summer, while driving in my car, I have come upon cyclists, riding 2 or even 3 abreast on a road that is rural curvy and one lane each way with a double yellow line down the middle of most of it.
Many times, I have actually had to come to a stop because the cyclists riding 2 or 3 abreast do not ride friendly or safe and do not go single lane when they hear a car coming. I have patiently refrained from honking my horn, but have to admit, as the summer goes along, I am more and more irritated by cyclists. There I said it!
I understand cars are more powerful then bicycles and understand some drivers are aggressive to cyclists, but it is time for a truce.
Let’s all make an effort to respect each other. Cyclists hug the edge of the road. Drivers, slow down and give the cyclists safe space. We’ll all be better for it. Enjoy the rest of the summertime – EVERYONE.
Ginni Stern spends her time in Vermont and Orcas Island and finds similar cycling-driving challenges in both places.
I toot my horn. They always pull over. Remember, most tourists whether in car or on bike are lulled by the general slow pace of the island as witnessed by people standing in the street in Eastsound. Living with tourists is a Zen experience for me. I feel your pain. Again, a couple of polite toots will remind them there are drivers here.
It is an amazing statistic that in a place where: 1. There are no designated surfaces for bicycle use, 2. Cars and bicycles share an already too narrow roadway, 3. Too many bicycle riders are novice and never anticipated the difficult terrain for their level of expertise, 4. Not all auto drivers have experience dodging bicycle riders on a regular basis and 5. Bicycling is a major activity, that there so very few incidents of car/bicycle collision.
Incidentally, people who do safety professionally will tell you that “tooting ones horn” at bicycles is a bad piece of advice. Particularly children, more often than not, will dart into your path as they turn to see what is coming.