Bikes Cars and Fundraising

As a cyclist or bicyclist on the roadway, nothing scares me more than a fast approaching car, unwilling to change lanes to give me space and more peace of mind. As a motorist, I could say the same thing. A bike rider on the road in front of me and no way to manuever around them is frustrating and challenging. However, I am trying to get away, around and past them without terrorizing them or myself.

Cyclists as I call them and myself, ride for many reasons. The obvious one is love of the sport. Bike rides support many causes, charities such as MS, cancer and heart disease to name a few. Someone you resent for being on your roadway may be raising money for an organization that may find a cure for a relatives disease or your own. They may be training for a 20 mile or a 100 mile ride. So if you are "riding" them a bit close, and they suddenly wobble in front of your car, reaction time may not be what you expected to avoid a collision. And there's always those hefty side mirrors to watch too. We veer off the side for many reasons such as broken glass, water, the pothole or drainage ditch, or a dead animal all of which could throw us off the bike. A person on a bike is someone's grandparent, child or your doctor, neighbor or vet. They matter to someone. I prefer to ride in group rides for this reason. The safety of police escorts and rest stops are great.

I was not suddenly able to ride 50 miles in a weekend without training though. So at any given day or time, a cyclist could be racing through your neighborhood or work route blocking your way. Get on the sidewalk?- well many of us can ride 20 or 25 mph which is speeding in a school zone. Do you really want someone passing you while walking your dog or have a small child tottering along going that speed- on a sidewalk? Serious cyclists wear helmets, reflective gear and have lights on at dusk. However, we have all seen the crazy person pedaling along in the dark, no helmet, light or even reflective shoes. Or the brilliant parent teaching their child to ride with a safety helmet on but nothing on their heads to emulate safety. We see the men in suits on mountain bikes and people of all ages riding for all kinds of reasons. They have no car or a wrecked one, loss of driving privileges, low income or can't afford gas and car expenses. Whatever the reason, more and more folks will be showing up on our streets and roads. Will you share the road with them?