To the Editor:                                         23-Apr-1997
Melisa Ann Wilson brought out one of the many bikes this spring, rode to
school and complained in the "Statesman Soapbox" (April 23) about the
dangers and lack of respect she perceived on the road.  Let me offer you
a different view.

I have been using a bike to get around the Logan area for about 25 years
now.  I do not find it dangerous or risky.  Why does Melisa think it's
dangerous and I don't? 

Think about the situation that is the biggest danger to you on a bike. 
Are you thinking about it?  From Melisa's soapbox remark, "Here [in a
bike lane], a rider follows the rules of the road without as great of a
fear of being crunched" I'm concluding that she fears the overtaking
vehicle.  And I'm going to suggest that her fears (and yours?) are
misplaced.

The Cross-Fisher study in 1975 showed that only a few percent of
car/bike accidents occurred in overtaking situations.  Most occur
at intersections with left turns, right turns, failures to yield.
A bike lane doesn't give you any protection in these situations of
greater risk.  In fact, a bike lane may place you out of the position
where motorists look for oncoming traffic, increasing yielding mistakes
that are a danger to cyclists.  

Bike lanes also encourage the uninformed bike rider to make mistakes
like passing on the right or left turning from the right side, both
significant causes of bike/car collisions.  Add in wrong side riding, no
lights at night and riding from sidewalks into crosswalks and you've
covered most of the real reasons that Logan bike riders get clobbered by
cars.

Nope, bicycling need not be considered dangerous on Logan's spacious
streets if the bike rider is visible, predictable and legal.  Utah law
says bicyclists have all the rights and duties of the operator of any
other vehicle.  Bike lanes do not give bike riders superior rights or
any real protection from real dangers.  We don't need bike lanes and
law abiding cyclists do not need more respect.  We need more of our
cyclists to learn, understand and follow the agreed upon rules of the
road for all travellers.  

--
Bob Bayn