A few years ago, before surrendering to age and sloth, I used to climb on a bike fairly regularly. When I rode, I always wore a helmet, for the reasons stated so eloquently above. I always looked like a total dweeb in that brain bucket. So what? Dweebs rock.
John Cole of Baltimore, a self-described "Lycra-clad cyclist," wrote that he wanted to give me a piece of his mind after reading the comments about cyclists - but couldn't.
It pains me more than you can know to admit that some - and the number is really very low - of my fellow cyclists exhibit the rude and inconsiderate behavior you described. ...
Unfortunately, a minority of cyclists seem to think that riding a bike bestows upon them some sort of ecological and moral sainthood. They are usually the first people to complain about the dangerous and boorish behavior of motorists, which I have also frequently witnessed, but they seem to think that the "Share the Road" signs mean they can do whatever they please.
Thank you for supporting the 3-foot rule.
Actually, John, most of my encounters with cyclists are extremely pleasant, and I don't begrudge them a few seconds' delay.
Brenda Blackburn of Joppa brings us back to the main point - the need for a 3-foot buffer law. She said my column brought back memories of Vernal R. Blackburn.
He was an avid cyclist, belonged to the Baltimore Bicycle Club. All his life, he was involved in sports, from baseball, racquetball, golf but got to the point that he didn't want to compete anymore.
On a very straight country road in Harford County, he was killed by a young woman who claimed not to have seen him, then said a car was coming in the opposite direction, but she hit the bicycle and he died.
He was just 46 years old, had 2 daughters and a son and was my ex-husband. I want [state legislators] to vote "yes." Thank you for bringing it to the attention of your readers.
The legislation passed the state Senate 45-2. It's under consideration by the House of Delegates.
