I hate to say it, but motorists do have some valid complaints when it comes to some cyclists.
I was in my car over the weekend, waiting to turn right at a red light. As a gap opened up and I was just starting to roll, a cyclists came flying by me on the right. He didn’t slow at all for the red light, proceeded through the turn at full speed, and in the process of the turn moved out into the travel lane. Had I not noticed movement in my peripheral vision, this cyclists could have been seriously hurt.
As far as I’m concerned, this cyclists should have waited his turn to make a right. Instead, he needlessly placed himself at risk of being hit. I believe cyclists should have the right to move through traffic jams, but only when it is safe to do so. As a cyclist, it’s our responsibility to ensure that motorists are aware of our presence and not needlessly delay motorists when they reach an intersection first. If we can’t safely do so, then we must wait just like other vehicles on the roadway.
I’m all for cyclists rights and even legally advancing the mode of transportation in ways that naturally benefit the cyclists’ ability to move around effectively. However, I’m also a firm believer that cyclists must show other roadway users respect and this cyclist clearly didn’t do so. This was a very clear example of how one cyclist can sour one or more motorists to our healthy, efficient mode of transportation. Had I not been as observent, I could have easily collided with this careless cyclist.