Cyclist harassment law in Missouri town

[Thorn]

Photo--don't read the comments....it will only depress you...and if it depresses you, you won't ride...if you stop riding, they've won by bullying you. Ride/Drive safe. Share the road.

If you have to read them, then remember to read responses like the following (sorry for the long URL)...

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-7...o-bicycle-tour

Motorists who say it is too dangerous for bicyclists to be on the public roads as they are likely to be hit by a car, are simply roadway bullies exactly like the playground bully who says, "This is my playground and I am bigger than you, and if you get hurt it is your own fault." They are simply blaming the victim.

[TrekTheKaty]

My answer to this is two-fold and we've covered them before:

The law says I have the right to ride my bicycle on the road.

My tax dollars go towards the upkeep of the roads--so no one has a right to tell me I can't use them how I want--within the law.

SO BITE ME (sorry)

I see improvements in attitude towards bicycles in my town--with more people riding bicycles or stopping to ask me questions about my bike. However, I visit Michigan and Colorado and realize we are SO behind the times.

How quickly people forget about the gas crunch........

[TrekTheKaty]

OK, this was interesting. I'm in Colorado with a friend who owns a house out here. We rode up a country road outside Breckenridge that goes up to Boreas pass ON MOUNTAIN BIKES. As we cruise up the middle of the road, pulling over for the few vehicles that come by, I begin to tell her about the law in Columbia and the front page of the KC Star (she has family there).

She says (on a mountain bike, pedaling up the middle of the country road), "I hate bicyclists. They think they own the road. They ride out on Hwy T and I have to slow down to go around them on the windy road--and it takes me longer to get to the feed store."

Huh?

I politely explained the cyclists that were hurt or killed, minding their own business. When this doesn't sink in, I explain the red-neck on a country road that almost clipped my DH last weekend--not because he was taking up the road, but simply for sport.

She argued, "I wouldn't ride on the road." I told her, "I do." So hopefully, next time she passes cyclists she will look closer and realize they are a person with family and friends--maybe one of her friends.

She finally settled with a "I guess there are two sides to the story." So talk to your "non-cycling" friends about this. Be prepared to give a gentle explanation to the rights and dangers of cycling.

[Photoflygirl]

Thanks for the words, Thorn. I know I can't give up, I love this sport and I will do everything I can to educate motorists on the law, and in a polite way. And I won't stop riding on the road. It is still my goal to commute to work someday soon. It's just disappointing to see how many rude and inconsiderate people there are out there...

[MartianDestiny]

So talk to your "non-cycling" friends about this. Be prepared to give a gentle explanation to the rights and dangers of cycling.

Agreed, one person at a time. My dad smoked his tires once and cut it way too close passing a cyclist (in a bike lane) then cut him off to make a right turn.

My response was: "would you have just done that if it were me on that bike?"
dad: "of course not"
Me: "well it very well could have been me, so think about that"

He's much better about cyclists when I'm with him now; hopefully he's careful when I'm not in the car too...

[tctrek]

What I've noticed is the difference between how drivers act around cyclists in affluent communities vs. in lower class areas. Today we rode through mountain country with very narrow roads, no shouler, switchback climbs/descents. High-priced area, lakes and million dollar homes. We had some very polite Mercedes, Lexus and Volvos come up behind us and ride super slow, hesitant to pass us too close. We had to wave them past us and then they took a really wide berth!!! Big difference from riding near our home where the Bubba's in Ford pickups yell at us to use the sidewalk.

I think there are all kinds of drivers out there - some love us, some hate us and some are afraid of being sued if they hit us ... and we just have to be as alert as possible to try to protect ourselves from the crazies.