After this week’s announcement by State Senator Andrew Rice of new bicycle legislation comes this in depth story about the reaction of state bicycle groups in the Norman Transcript:
Bicycling groups across the state said they support a new legislative package designed to protect riders and motorists. However, many cyclists are calling for the state to do more to educate residents and enforce existing laws and practices.
. . .
“I am excited to a certain point, but I’m also very leery because there is not much more you can do to regulate and put in new laws with restrictions,” said Matt Bradbury, vice president of the Ada Cycling Club. “The biggest thing really is education and awareness.”
Kevin Mussett, president of the Oklahoma Bicycling Coalition, said even if the legislative changes are small, he would still consider it a “major victory” for improving bicycle safety in the state. With the League of American Bicyclists ranking Oklahoma the 44th most friendly bicycle state, Mussett said any legislative change that clarifies laws, helps law enforcement better understand the rules or creates more attention for the issue is a big step forward.
via Groups support bike safety overhauls » Headlines » The Norman Transcript.
Of course, we all still have to wait and see exactly what the legislation says, but I’ve got high hopes. Of course, all of the legislation in the world won’t fix the hostility between cyclists and motorists out there on the roads. I was disturbed to see the following letter in the Oklahoman today:
Recently while driving in the area of Hefner Road and the Lake Hefner Parkway, an area where cyclists routinely run stoplights, two cars with bike racks passed me at a speed well over the limit. A short time later, a car in front of me with a bike rack made a left turn into the wrong lane and took off at a high rate of speed. Later that day I read the letter from Lisa Tehauno (Your Views, Aug. 14) criticizing drivers in general and drivers who endanger cyclists in particular. After these experiences, it occurred to me that a big part of the problem between motorists and cyclists might be the cyclists with a sense of entitlement whose behavior carries over to the way in which they drive their cars.
Russell Hixon, Oklahoma City
Via: NewsOK.com
I am as disturbed as anyone to see reckless cyclists on the road. They give us all bad names and make it difficult to for drivers to know how to treat cyclists on the road. However, and this is a BIG however, that is no excuse for threating another human being’s life. The only responsibility for that kind of behavior falls upon the driver and it is criminal!