Okay all our motoring brethren, it’s your chance to give us some feedback. A recent article in the SouthEast Missourian discusses opposition to a proposed bike lanes, if it means eliminating on-street parking. This got me thinking about one of my pet peeves. Here’s the problem:
- motorists are annoyed by slow moving bicycles and want cyclists to keep out of their way
- most cyclists try to accommodate motorists, whenever conditions allow, by riding in the breakdown lane
- motorists frequently park in break-down lanes
Therein lies the problem. Cyclists who take the lane seem to annoy drivers. Motorists parking in break-down lanes force cyclists to take the lane. The reality is our roads are a limited resource and need to be shared. In my mind, this means cyclists should stay out of the way of vehicles when they can, riding in clean break-down lanes is a perfect example of doing just this. But it also means, motorists need to stay out of the way of cyclists when they can. How? If you need to park your car and off street option exists, use it!
There are places where I pass the same cars, parked in the break-down lane in front of a private residence. This forces me to move out and take the one lane of travel, slowing down motorists. I for one am tired of being yelled/honked at for taking the lane, when I’m forced to do so by a parked car. Shouldn’t these motorists be annoyed with the person who is using the public roadways as their private parking lot?