Bicycles on the Highway -- Whose Crazy Idea was That?
I think allowing bicycles on state highways is the dumbest idea in the world. And before you get all up in the air at me, I realize that some people use bicycles as transportation, but still it's a very dangerous situation. Most of my encounters are with those people dressed in their spandex, so I doubt they're on their way to the office or doctor. Well, not intentionally anyway. My primary complaint is with people who ride for recreation or exercise and choose to ride on the highways around here.
Here in Mississippi, a law was recently passed which requires that drivers give a bicycle rider a three-foot barrier. Okay, scenario: I'm driving the speed limit of 55 mph and top a hill where I see a bicycle in my lane approximately 20 feet ahead. Where exactly am I supposed to find that three-foot barrier? I don't think the car coming at me doing 55 mph is going to give it to me. And trust me, the bicycle is definitely not doing 55, so it's a pretty touchy situation to say the least.
My point is, though, that logically there's no reason for bicycles to be allowed on the highway in the first place. Skateboards aren't allowed, and I've seen some boogers on those things whizzing by pretty fast. At least a skateboarder has a better chance of jumping out of the way of my 2,000 pound automobile and surviving than the bike rider.
And before you tell me bicycles have the same rights to the road as I do, when is the last time you saw a registration tag on the back of one? My car tag helps pay costs for state highways. In addition, a four-year-old can legally ride a bicycle. Do we want him out there? Before I'm allowed to legally drive my car on Mississippi highways, I'm required to buy a tag, have a drivers license and maintain insurance.
But then again, the law isn't always logical, is it? I mean, the law allows motorcycles to travel on the highway, but not four-wheelers or lawn mowers. They're both motorized vehicles. Anyone who thinks a four-wheeler can't go fast has never seen a kid on a gravel road in rural Mississippi.
Who are these bicycle people that have such strong advocates in the legal system? Does this come from some old law when bicycles were first used where the only competition for road space was a horse and wagon? It may be some antiquated law that just hasn't caught up yet. That may be it, because I can remember a time not too far back when you couldn't buy anything plastic on a Sunday around here.
The little town where I live has a sign at the line calling itself a bicycle friendly community. There are bike lanes along many major thoroughfares where riders can ride safely. I definitely don't have a problem with that. But do they always ride in them? No!
I just think in this day when it's difficult enough to deal with cell phone users, cars with videos in them and people eating while driving, anything that will help car drivers get from Point A to Point B needs to be in place.
Here in Mississippi, a law was recently passed which requires that drivers give a bicycle rider a three-foot barrier. Okay, scenario: I'm driving the speed limit of 55 mph and top a hill where I see a bicycle in my lane approximately 20 feet ahead. Where exactly am I supposed to find that three-foot barrier? I don't think the car coming at me doing 55 mph is going to give it to me. And trust me, the bicycle is definitely not doing 55, so it's a pretty touchy situation to say the least.
My point is, though, that logically there's no reason for bicycles to be allowed on the highway in the first place. Skateboards aren't allowed, and I've seen some boogers on those things whizzing by pretty fast. At least a skateboarder has a better chance of jumping out of the way of my 2,000 pound automobile and surviving than the bike rider.
And before you tell me bicycles have the same rights to the road as I do, when is the last time you saw a registration tag on the back of one? My car tag helps pay costs for state highways. In addition, a four-year-old can legally ride a bicycle. Do we want him out there? Before I'm allowed to legally drive my car on Mississippi highways, I'm required to buy a tag, have a drivers license and maintain insurance.
But then again, the law isn't always logical, is it? I mean, the law allows motorcycles to travel on the highway, but not four-wheelers or lawn mowers. They're both motorized vehicles. Anyone who thinks a four-wheeler can't go fast has never seen a kid on a gravel road in rural Mississippi.
Who are these bicycle people that have such strong advocates in the legal system? Does this come from some old law when bicycles were first used where the only competition for road space was a horse and wagon? It may be some antiquated law that just hasn't caught up yet. That may be it, because I can remember a time not too far back when you couldn't buy anything plastic on a Sunday around here.
The little town where I live has a sign at the line calling itself a bicycle friendly community. There are bike lanes along many major thoroughfares where riders can ride safely. I definitely don't have a problem with that. But do they always ride in them? No!
I just think in this day when it's difficult enough to deal with cell phone users, cars with videos in them and people eating while driving, anything that will help car drivers get from Point A to Point B needs to be in place.
Published by Pattie Byrd
Pattie Byrd is a freelance writer specializing in humor commentary, reviews and news articles. She has been published in magazines and several internet sites. Growing up in the South, she maintains her lov... View profile
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10 Comments
Post a CommentAfter getting into a feud with my former marathon friends last year, I decided to buy a bike and take up bike riding, so far I have completed one organized ride, which did not include highway riding, but most due and it doesn't appeal to me unless the highway is closed:)
well written - thank you
You're right about the license and registration thing. If they're going to ride on highways, they should have to pay. As a bicycle rider, a highway is the LAST place I want to be! I know people are using them for transportation, but we have to be reasonable here. I realize they don't want bikes on busy sidewalks, but in residential neighborhoods, I don't think that's such a big deal. And like you said, if you're swerving to avoid a biker, then the guy coming in the other direction has to swerve to avoid YOU! It's just crazy!
We do have bicycle registration requirements here, but I have not seen license plates on them. I think the reason has to do with bike thefts. I think people nutty risking their lives riding motorcycles on highways. The only way I would ride a regular bicycle on a highway is if there was a barrier creating a separate bike lane. I do approve of allowing those who choose to do so to cycle to work on highways, but can be troublesome for regular vehicle drivers.
You would just love Long Beach. We not only have bike lanes, we have bike lane traffic signals as if the bike riders could not see the regular traffic light. I am not talking about the other bike lanes, between sidewalks and car lanes; the car lanes are now bike lanes. Makes sense to me, to slow down traffic on a very busy street by forcing vehicles to form big lines behind a bicyclist, including the city bus that can not try to pass them in the left lane. Also makes sense to me for a city having budget woes, to repaint streets, install the biker lights and some places little concrete barriers while closing elementary schools and laying off teachers.
It's even dangerous for bikers on twisty, hilly walking trails! We've had bikers hurt on local trail because they were going too fast to make some of the turns (even with signs warning of the turns). Pedestrians, bikers, and automobiles should be safely separated.
My husband and I ride our bikes on roads, but they aren't very busy here in rural Ohio and the land is very flat. Cars can easily get over for us. If we see two cars coming from different directions, we move off the road, sometimes stopping so we can get into the ditch. We are very careful. Our neighbors down the road walk their miniature ponies on the road too. I can understand it being a problem on hilly or busy roads, though.
good points
Pattie, this is the first that we've had power, Internet, heat or cell phones for over 3 days since the wicked snow storm hit us in the Northeast! We couldn't even get gasoline as all the stations were closed. If I had a bike that would have gone thru the snow - I probably would have been on the road! LOL cheers
That's why so many bicyclists are hit by cars:)