To the Editor:                                             28-Sep-1994

Imagine the confusion on our streets if new drivers had no training about the
rules of the road.  Our streets would be hazardous or gridlocked.  It's hard
to imagine that such a situation would be allowed to exist.  

Now imagine the confusion in a college town if bicyclists had no training
about the rules of the road.  That's not so hard to imagine; we can just look
around us.

Without a common foundation of education and training, each cyclist makes up
a separate set of rules to follow.  Some remember Mom's long ago warning to
"look out for cars".  They scoot along the curb and around parked cars like
a mouse scoots around the edge of the kitchen floor.  

Some think pedalling is just faster walking.  They ride on the left side
where they were once told to walk but where other vehicle operators do not
expect to see traffic.

Some learned their cycling skills on mountain trails.  They treat pedestrians
and other vehicles like sagebrush and rock obstacles to be avoided with a
minimum of clearance.  

Some believe the law neither requires anything of them nor protects them. 
Arrival at their destination is their only measure of success.

Cycling is promoted for personal and environmental health.  It is becoming a
popular and fashionable pastime.  It can provide economical short distance
transportation for commuting, errands and social interactions.

But it also offers confusion and chaos on the public right of way if a
minimum educational standard is not readily available to potential and novice
bicycle travellers.  Is there a minimum educational standard for cyclists
hidden in our local laws?  Where should this education come from?  

We do not educate new motorists by citing them when they break hidden laws. 
We do not wait for an accident to teach guilty motorists of their errors.

We have an education program to prepare new motorists;  we need an education
and awareness program for cyclists on public streets.  Cyclists need a common
minimum understanding of position on the road, intersection maneuvers,
signals, interaction with pedestrians, use of sidewalks, right-of-way, night
lighting and visibility and use of safety equipment (helmets and mirrors).

How can we teach new cyclists and re-train existing cyclists so that we
reduce the confusing variety of cycling techniques on our streets and roads?

Bob Bayn
Office of Computer Services
797-2396 (w)