Bicycling

I am not a serious bicyclist, but I do like to ride for fun and for errands.

My concern for bicyclists is when I am driving my car and observe frequent and flagrant violations of laws applying to cyclists. It becomes scary indeed to have to watch out for the safety of these scofflaws, who may be wobbling down the street with three on the bike, possibly on the wrong side of the street, darting around parked vehicles, ignoring traffic lights, etc.

It seems to me to be a result of a lack of education about these laws when youngsters are given their first bikes, and this lack continues into adulthood, as adults are just as guilty of being scofflaws. Erratic bike riding can cause serious accidents, and I become very dismayed when I see young parents riding with a toddler perched precariously on the handlebars, much the same as seeing them drive with unbelted youngsters in cars and pickups.

If schools through their PTAs could launch bike education with the support of the police and sheriff’s departments, and push bike licensing, things might improve. Also, cities should recognize the importance of bike lanes on busy thoroughfares for the simple reason that sidewalk riding is illegal.

Perhaps bike lanes should be situated between the curb and a parking lane for vehicles in order to avoid bikes having to swerve into traffic to go around the parked cars. This would take about four extra feet and would create a safety zone, perhaps encouraging more bike riding.

NANCY M. BRUBAKER

Arcadia