Conni, let's just take a short ride from my house to Douglas Blvd along Auburn Folsom Rd. Traveling south, well into the bike lane. Oops it's thrash pick up day, trash can on the lane, check mirror, no car coming, move into traffic lane and then back to bike lane. What's that ahead, dead raccoon, look in the mirror and move into traffic lane and back again, watch for that branch sticking out into the bike lane, check mirror, onto the trffic lane and back again. Yikes, three trash cans this time, same maneuver I have been describing, wait, is that a dead deer? Yep, do the same all over again. Let's see, I have gone two miles, five to go. I wonder what else will be in the bike lane.

It seems that bike lanes are multi use lanes and that causes the cyclists to move over to the traffic lanes.

Are there inconsiderate bicycle riders? Absolutely. Are there inconsiderate auto/ truck drivers? Absolutely. What is the solution? Lighten up, learn to share (remember what your parents use to tell you when you were little) and above all use common sense and common courtesy. For those that complain about cyclists not obeying traffic laws let me offer an idea. Go to the intersection of A-F Rd and King Rd. there is a nice shady spot where you can park. Watch rhe cars when they come to the stop sign, take paper and pencil and make three columns. Column #1 Complete stop; #2 stop because of approaching traffic and #3 rolling through intersection.

Continued.- I will guarantee that the vast majority of the cars regardless of the age of the driver of make, model or type. From Porsches to pickups will roll, some barely slowing down at the intersection. The same goes for the Stop signs at Val Verde and King and just about every place that there is a stop sign and is seldom "supervised" by the CHP, Sheriff, Police or what have you.

Rather than throw stones back and forth, let's work together to reach something that is to every one's advantage. And yes, cars are much bigger, heavier and capable of inflicting much more damage than a bike. It os almost like carrying a loaded gun and should be treated with the same respect that is given to the gun, not used in a reckless manner which may imperil your felloe men and women.

In the words of that great 20th Century philosopher, Rodney King "Why can't we all just get along"

Have a great Sunday, ride and drive safely.

I don't mind holding behind a bike until they can get over. On an earlier post I mentioned waiting behind a bike as it rode through two stop signs and I stopped for them.

If a biker is worried about hitting some gravel, ride inside the white line when there are no cars, then pull into the bike lane when cars are passing. If that is too difficult for you, don't ride.

Oh, and those red octagonal signs that say "S-T-O-P", you are supposed to stop at them.

As I and my aunt were training for a 1/2 marathon, we walked a lot along multi-use trails. We always had to walk no more than two at a time, and walk off the trail if bicyclists were coming our way. Many times, the bicyclists were riding three or more wide at a fairly fast pace, coming as close to us walkers as possible, while yelling "TRAIL" (and other thoughts not printable here) as they went by us. Yes, there were a very few that would actually be nice and say good morning, but not many. It just made me see the irony of the whole car/bicycle argument. He who is bigger and/or faster must win. Also made me wonder why weekend cyclists are on the most narrow roads instead of the many miles of paved trails available to them. I ride my horse on equestrian trails only and don't expect to be able to take to the road safely, ah but that's another story...

Since the Journal's choice to print several anti-cyclist threat letters, my cycling friends and I have noticed increasing incidents of motorists' purposeful swerving into the bike lanes, near-misses-- I'm talking inches-- while passing, items thrown at riders from vehicles, drivers screaming, honking excessively at the moment they roar by, etc. We're all accomplished, professional, law abiding, ultra-safe riders riding as far to the right as possible in a single line when cars approach, but it seems that the few motorized antisocial attackers have been emboldened by the publicized road-rage inspired complaints printed by the Journal.

I guess one way to generate news in a small town is create a heightened sense of tension between motorists and cyclists, hoping that soon some psychotic driver will run down and kill several cyclists in a fit of rage inspired by Journal comments. Boy now that would be an exciting news item that would sell a lot of papers. I hope the Journal is prepared to share blame if, god forbid, some Journal hate-comment inspired motorist murders a working father or mother out for a bike ride.

All of you cites good and bad examples of cyclists versus vehicles and the inherent danger to the cyclist.

If you want to see an area of a critical problem take a trip up to Lake Tahoe and drive Hwy 89 or Hwy 28; you will always find cyclists three abreast in the car lane. Forget that there is a paved off-highway bike path pretty much surrounding the Lake. This is a big issue in the Tahoe basin, and every years a few cyclists get squashed by a car. Having recently driven at Tahoe I encountered these wanna-be Lance Armstrong’s all decked out in their goofy bicycle regalia riding down the middle of a busy state highway completely oblivious to the fact that motorists are backing-up in queue behind them in an effort to safely pass.

Again, there is a paved bike path off the highway…………use it!

Where there is a bike lane in the Auburn area…………..use it! Otherwise, prepare for the danger that you might find yourself looking face up at the bottom on my Dodge Ram Diesel’s transmission. I win!

Thanks Rabidog for proving my point, that there are plenty of half-witted morons in this area who take encouragement to murder someone for simply riding a bicycle from the Journal's decision to print threat letters. I hope the rest of you are proud of your compatriot Rabidog here.

laughwithu: Are you so dim-witted that you do not understand that bike lanes do not have cars and trucks driving down them? There is an appropriate place for biike riders.........so light-up all you 7 1/4 watt brain and think about it.

laughwithpoo,

I don't often agree with Y_S, but the fact that cyclists rarely stop at STOP signs is more than a little annoying and it's abundantly obvious without anecdotal examples.

Anyone who reads the Sacramento Bee on a regular basis probably has read about the cyclist problem they're having in Folsom. Apparently there were a small group of women who would meet for coffee at the same place on Saturday mornings, have a bit of coffee, and then go for a nice leisurely ride around town. Now there are scores of riders who participate each week and they include a high number of men.

The ride has transformed from a nice, quiet ride around Folsom, to a nearly all-out race environment that breaks just about every traffic law in the book.

Riders will enter an intersection, come to a complete stop in the middle of it, and sit there as their biker friends stream through without so much as a glance in either direction. It's great for the cyclists to streak around town without any interruptions, but what they're doing is not only illegal, it's annoying as hell to otherwise law abiding motorists and pedestrians.

Cycling is great exercise, and it's accessible to nearly anyone who has a few bucks to plunk down and purchase a suitable bike. And, yes, cyclists have every right to use the streets and roads, just like motorized vehicles. Motorists need to look out for them and give them the consideration they deserve.

But, it's hard to be gracious and patient when these folks are blatantly ignoring even the "common sense" rules of the road.

Recently, I wrote a letter to the editor which addressed some of the rude, un-safe, and illegal bicycle behavior exhibited by some of the cyclists during the Tour De Lincoln Charity Bicycle ride. I need to clarify what my original letter attempted to explain. A very dangerous situation was created by one of the cyclists when she maneuvered to pass another cyclist without looking behind her. In her attempt to pass the other cyclist, she darted out in front of my daughter and I in a pickup towing a loaded livestock trailer weighing in at over twenty-five thousand pounds. Because there was oncoming traffic of bicyclists and cars, I could not take evasive action to the left. I thank God I was only going 30 MPH and able to slow my vehicle enough to avoid hitting her, other cyclists, and a minivan loaded with kids traveling in the other direction.

Because I am a very passionate person, I wrote a lengthy letter that contained some very bold statements to help illustrate my point. Because of the letters length, the Auburn Journal edited out the heart of the letter. In doing so it left me sounding like a maniacal anti-cyclist out to run them down. The statement in question was “Don’t make me choose between my family’s safety and yours because you will lose!” This statement was not intended as a threat. If I had to choose between hitting a minivan loaded with kids head-on or forcing a few adult cyclists off the road with my livestock trailer, the kids win and adult …

Continued...

the kids win and the adult cyclists lose.

O.K...first off, I can't stop laughing at what loomisresident wrote...It is so true referring how one has to ride around obstacles along the road side. In addition to the obstacles you listed..which you described perfectly thus it made me laugh, I had to actually dodge a shattered 6=pack once...a tennis shoe and a baseball bat not to mention the countless fast food bags people threw out their car window. Hey, lets talk about littering shall we?

I ride...it's what I love to do...Gardening? Knitting? Snowboarding? Cooking? Old cars? New cars? For me it's riding. Riding makes me feel lighthearted just as it did when I was a kid riding my bike over to Michelle's house. I really work hard at being safe. I top it off by saying a prayer when I get on my bike that I will get off my bike in one piece. Most drivers get it, although I have experienced a few drivers that are obviously visually and verbally haters of cyclist. There ARE good and bad drivers, cyclists and singers. (however one can't help it if they can't carry a tune.) Really, all I can say about all of this is what loomisresident wrote, "Why can't we all just get along?" There are soooo many other things, bigger things, more important things to be concerned about. Can't both sides try a little harder to make it safe for everyone?

...O.K. going on a bike ride now... :)

If you are driving a towing rig that weighs more than a regular auto you have a MUCH longer stopping distance to bring the greater mass of your vehicle and trailer to a stop, and are obligated to SLOW DOWN in situations that may require you to maintain proper clearance and distance to the next vehicle(s).

Thank God you were "only" going 30 mph ? You are irresponsible as all get out if you DON'T slow down and your trailer sideswipes or the air wash knocks a bicycle over just by going by too fast. That could be SOMEBODY ELSE'S KID you kill who is riding a bicycle.

Hauler hogs like you give truck drivers a bad reputation- the objective is to arrive safely, not demonstrate who can be the bigger idiot out on the roads.

CanyonRat,

The cyclist broke the law in pulling out to pass without checking behind. But you had to have something intelligent to say, and for once you did. For your information the speed limit is 40 MPH on the section of road in question so I was being cautious.

laughwithu, just one comment. I ride a bike, I do it for exercise as well as because I enjoy it, I also do as much kayaking as I can. I try to get along with everyone although sometimes it seems that some people go out of their way to irritate others.

Your letters are inflammatory, you point the finger at others but never at yourself (cyclists), everyone is wrong except the cyclists, you call people that disagree with your everything from moron on up. Do you really believe that you are getting your point accross or do you realize that you are further turning these people against all cyclists, those that use courtesy and common sense as well as those that don't.

Your inflammatory rhetoric does nothing to further your cause, it hurts it and I resent it since it also impacts me in a very negative manner. Fire away buddy, I think everyone is expecting it.

Check out easyriders post, that one makes sense, tells a story and it neither insults or demeans anyone.

Born here, you said your problem was you needed to "get to my destination in a timely manner". That doesn't give you the right to try and enforce your version of retaliation. By passing the cyclist you gained what a half of minute and endangered the lives of children, riders and your passengers. There was no reason to pass other than road rage. The cyclist earned the right to be mown down because you needed to "get to my destination in a timely manner". The cyclist that pulled in front of you was the real hero by stopping you from trying to pass in an unsafe situation.

BTW issuing threats against cyclist will be an indictment if there is an incident.

ChuxxR,

There was no road rage or retaliation on my end at all. Had the cyclist(s) in question followed the law there would have been no reason for me to complain. Since bicycles are vehicles like cars, anytime there are more than 5 in a line they are breaking the law when they don't pull over and let traffic by. But you clearly know the laws better than I, and were able to acertain that "I was the one that put all those other people in danger" by following the law. If cyclists took the time to learn the laws, there would be a lot less complaints like mine.

California Vehicle Codes clearly state:

21656. On a two-lane highway where passing is unsafe because of

traffic in the opposite direction or other conditions, a slow-moving

vehicle, including a passenger vehicle, behind which five or more

vehicles are formed in line, shall turn off the roadway at the

nearest place designated as a turnout by signs erected by the

authority having jurisdiction over the highway, or wherever

sufficient area for a safe turnout exists, in order to permit the

vehicles following it to proceed. As used in this section a

slow-moving vehicle is one which is proceeding at a rate of speed

less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and

place.

Come on people. There are rude cyclists and rude drivers. If everyone would just use common courtesy, it would all work out. I have friends that ride and have told me stories about cars coming so close, even when they are riding way over. He has agreed that there are many rude riders as well. There really is no debate here. Everyone is just pointing to the extreme. The majority of riders are respectful, and the majority of drivers are, too. When Born here wrote his original letter, he was just making a point about who would lose if the rider caused an accident. He wasn’t making a threat as some would like us to believe.

Thank you Patrick50! I agree enough said.

No not enough said, Your threat is in print so be careful around cyclist.

So the cyclist didn't obey the law and you felt you needed to take your aggression out all people using the road.

You cannot do something dangerous even if you have the right of way. You must yield!

You cannot pass if it is dangerous. You feel that because of the law you don't have to use common sense. Who knows if there was enough room for the riders to SAFELY move over. Apparently you took the law into your own hands. That's vigilante style right?

Get a clue before you injure someone. What you did was stupid.