With the ever-increasing price of gas pushing more and more people to get out of their cars and onto their bikes and scooters, the numbers of these new commuters seems to be increasing everyday. This is a great thing, and a definite upside to the situation. However, as an experienced cyclist, I am seeing a few things that have me concerned, and I would like to share them with my fellow riders.
First: Wear a helmet! No matter how bad your helmet hair may look, it’s far better than brain damage. Even if you’re hard headed, automobiles and pavement are harder!
Second: Obey the rules of the road! It may be tempting to run that stop sign or cruise up the wrong side of the road, but drivers are not looking out for you. It’s not only the law; it is the best way to survive in a world still dominated by cars.
Third: Leave the earphones and iPod’s in your bag! Once again, since drivers and emergency vehicles aren’t necessarily looking out for you, being able to hear them approach can make the difference between disaster and living to ride another day.
Following these simple rules will mean peaceful coexistence between bikes and cars, fewer accidents, and more bikes and less cars on the road!
John Byfield, Bend
This article appears in Jul 10-16, 2008.
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
for those that don’t know it the right side of the road is the right side of the road. that’s with the flow of traffic.
Two by two is not cool as you cruise down NE 8th St or Newport or worse, 3rd St. Come on people, use a little common sense. My kids had bike lessons in 5th grade. Maybe we could have them for adults?