Cyclists are not equals on the road

[This is so outrageous!]

Let's get something straight: travelling our streets by bicycle or motor vehicle is not a right but a privilege, according to the state. We motorists and motorcyclists pay heavily for that privilege in the form of vehicle registrations and required insurance.

Our self-righteous pedallers will argue that they are reducing emissions by having one less car on the street. They neglect that the hundreds of motor vehicles they impede burn far more fuel following them in first or second gear than they would in fourth or fifth gear if the bikes were absent. Let them ride public transportation, which would certainly benefit from more fares.

Bicyclists trumpet their "rights" and "equality" while paying no heed to traffic laws and especially those red lights that must only be for motorists.

It's true that our roads are not set up for both motor and bicycle traffic. If bicyclists want to travel by their preferred mode, let them be licensed, taxed and insured so the state can provide them with proper lanes and trails that they have paid for, just as we motorists have.

Jack Conahan, Baltimore

Send your comments to talkback@baltimoresun.com.

<a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/letters/bal-bicycleletter0810,0,5957289.story">http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/letters/bal-bicycleletter0810,0,5957289.story</a>;

Comments (1)


Baltimore Spokes
https://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20090811115648372