To the editor,

You gave good advice to local bicyclists (Our View, Thursday, Oct
27) when you said "take care to ride legally and predictably."
I usually add "visibly" to make it a helpful triad.

If we could get moms in the valley to warn their kids to ride
"visibly, predictably and legally" (VPL) instead of to "watch out
for cars" then both cyclists and motorists would be better off.

A VPL cyclist is just another user of the roadway, presenting
no surprises or special challenges for motorists.  A VPL cyclist
knows that every roadway is a "bike facility" suitable for
getting to a destination.

A VPL cyclist knows that motorists are just fellow travelers,
also on their way someplace, with no more than an equal claim to
use the public right-of-way.

A VPL cyclist knows that following the rules of the road is the
safest way to ride, using the lane position appropriate for her
speed and destination.

A VPL cyclist knows that a trail system will never get him to
all the places he wants to go on a bike, but the existing road
network will.

A VPL cyclist knows that a bicycle friendly community is the
result of friendly, cooperative, respectful people, not friendly
painted pavement.

So, to combat congestion and pollution, and to promote personal
health and well-being, we don't just need more cyclists, you are
right that we need more VPL cyclists.

Bob Bayn
North Logan