Don’t have same ‘rights’ as cars

Many bicyclists like to play bicycle bingo with cars. These bicyclists think they not only have the same “rights” as cars, they actually want to dispute the center space on the roads that motor vehicles use.

Bicyclists do not have the same “rights” as cars to the road.

To quote from state law (RCW 46.61.770):

“(1) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place shall ride as near to the right side of the right through lane as is safe except as may be appropriate while preparing to make or while making turning movements, or while overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction. …”

I have been bicycling for 50 years. The other day, I rode 13 miles around Lynnwood and Edmonds. I have never had a dispute with a car, and I have never had a driver flip me off or even honk at me.

The reason is that, when available, I ride on the sidewalks. There is almost never anyone on the sidewalks, and if there is, I just slow down, they move over, and we are both fine.

When and if I ride on the highway, I ride as far to the right as possible. When motorists see me do this, they know I am trying to cooperate with them.

Yes, it is legal to ride on the sidewalks in Washington — following the same rules as pedestrians.

Bicyclists who have an attitude and believe that they have the same rights as motor vehicles are not only wrong — they are likely to end up dead wrong.

Kenneth W. Weigel

Edmonds