Regarding the Sept. 18 letter, “Require cyclists to have a license plate“: Why not pedestrians also? That way they can be ID’d next time they walk into your path.
As a cyclist, I think cars tend to aggravate people riding bikes, and because the bike came before the car, they should have first rights to all roads — the first paving of roads was for bikes (1860s), not cars. The advent of cars didn’t happen for almost 30 years after the bike. In fact, it was the bike that led to the development of the car and paving of roads.
The letter says, “First: Cyclists should be required to yield to cars making right hand turns…” Fact: cyclists are always made to yield to cars making right hand turns! Cars make them yield every time they speed up just to get ahead of the bike so they can make that right-hand turn ahead of them! This is coming from a cyclist that has made a few “trips” over the hood of that car making that right-hand turn just after being passed by them.
“Second: Cyclists should be required to license their bikes … It will help pay for the restriping…” Did you know? Gasoline tax and car license fees goes directly to the state for the upkeep and building of “state” highways — not local city/county roads and streets. City streets, county roads and all other roadways are paid for with city/county “property” taxes! All of us pay property tax in one way or the other if we own/rent a home and that has nothing to do with whether we drive a car or not!
Let’s share the road, but remember if a car and a semi truck tangle — the semi is always going to win!
All cyclists, along with car drivers, should know and follow the rules of the road, being as they are both vehicles.
Ted Hoefer
Camano Island
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