Safe bicycling

The only way to stop cyclists from being killed is to get them off the roadways where the cars are. Smart cyclists, who will live to old age, bike elsewhere.

Pam Richardson
Stilwell, Kan.

Comments

[Eric Rogers]

Let's consider current state law in Missouri and Kansas. It is completely legal for bicyclists to ride on the roads and streets. Cyclists have every right to ride there, and are required by law to follow the same traffic laws and regulations as motorists. In business districts it is actually illegal to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk.

This may surprise Ms. Anderson, but available contradicts her assertion that bicyclists are safer off of the street. National statistics show that sidewalks and trails are often *more* dangerous than the street - because you become invisible to motorists.

[swooth]

With more bikers on the road, we need more bike lanes. Until then, become aware of the bikers and drive with caution!

[T. Hanson]

Just require 5 mph bumpers on all bikes.

[Femmecine]

I agree with CRD and am remembering Clay Chastain's plans for bike paths all through the city, which were really quite forward thinking.

[jack]

There are irresponsible people in the world? Must be Clinton's fault. Everything else is.

[CRD]

You know, I go to other cities where there are bike lanes galore. Perhaps the city needs to do a bit more planning when expanding its roads.

However, the roads are there for both cars and bikes, and the latter increasingly so as more people use them to commute and for recreation. Just slow down a bit, lady. A few seconds delay won't kill you -- but you might kill someone else if you don't slow down.

[sffleague]

Good grief, here we go again.

This is really the only way to keep cyclists from getting killed? I'd nominate one other way: cyclists obey the rules of the road and motorists do the same. That way, we all get to where we're going. And we all live.

Of course, the downside to this solution is it requires some measure of responsbility on everyone's part. That could be a deal-breaker.