Giving roadies a bad rep

[DeniseGoldberg]

I appear to be in the minority here because I usually do come to a full stop. I will admit that there are times when I don't put a foot down - that is, I do a kind of rolling stop - but that is only when it's a totally flat and clear intersection. I wish I could say that I never go through a red light - but there is one intersection on my travels that is always green for one of the roads unless a car approaches on the cross street. And I do mean a car - my bike will not trigger the light to change. If I come up to that intersection I come to a complete stop. I do cross on the red, but only when there are no vehicles in sight coming from either direction (and the speed limit there is 50 mph, so I don't head across unless there are no vehicles in sight!). Unfortunately, I believe that if I didn't do that I would be standing there waiting to cross until a car came up to cross the intersection...

Bicycles are considered vehicles (in the US, that is - per the motor vehicle code of all 50 states), and I believe that we need to be following the rules of the road.

I find for the most part that I am treated with respect by motor vehicles. Yes, there are the idiots out there who come to close, but I'd say there are more drivers who are respectful than not. And although I do not work (or ride) in a big city, the roads I take on my way to work are pretty heavy commuter roads. There is a section that I avoid because that section is driven as 4 lanes, the 4 lanes are tight with just the cars, and there is a curb rather than a shoulder. I prefer to avoid that section of road at rush hour, so I ride a couple of extra miles to get to the office.

--- Denise