bicycle...bicycle...

Let me start out by saying that overall I have no issue with cyclists as a whole. I have more than a handful of friends who are avid cyclists who I am more than happy to share the road with them as they follow the rules and are respectful of others. However, there are those cyclists who are just so rude and disrespectful - especially on the east side - that make sharing the road with them a pain in the ass.

Some tips for those "select" cyclists:

A bicycle is technically considered a vehicle. Thus, a vehicle should be ridden on the road...NOT the sidewalk. I cannot tell you how many times I have had to move yield to a cyclist riding down the middle of the sidewalk as they are oblivious to their surroundings. In fact, I (and Cayenne as well) have come damn close to being hit. I'm injury-prone, and thus quite capable of getting injured without assitance, thank you very much.

Road signs are not optional. Seriously...that stop sign applies to you too. And that "One Way" sign on North Frederick....yeah, that's another one. In my daily two mile afternoon walk with Caye yesterday, I witnessed three cyclists run stop signs and one traveling the wrong way on Frederick...along with the daily dodging of sidewalk cyclists.

Cyclists, in fact, do not own the road. I understand that cars are parked along the street, however that does not mean cycling down the middle of the road is acceptable. This is especially true when there is a line of cars behind said cyclists. Common courtesy would dictate staying as far right as feasible possible (to avoid rearview mirrors) so that all can travel effectively and efficiently. Drivers are willing to share the road, but only if cyclists are willing to do the same.

I'm all for cyclists and their legal right to be on the road. However, those who pick and choose the rules they wish to abide by to make their life easier makes it that much more difficult for the general population.

I'll give cyclists a brake, so long they give the rest of us one too.