Letter: Equip bicycles with mirrors for safety

As a bike rider who is often on the streets in Cedar Rapids and the roads around it, I am a firm believer that any bicycle being ridden with vehicular traffic should have a mirror. It surprises me there isn't a legal requirement for this.

Recently, a bicyclist almost hit my vehicle as I was passing him when he looked over his left shoulder to see where I was. When he swung and turned his head, his bike swerved several feet to the left, toward my truck. Had I been passing in the same lane as the bike, he would have hit me and probably been quite hurt. A mirror on his handlebar or helmet would have removed this risk. It is one of the first things I put on a bike when I get one.

Sharing the streets goes both ways, motorists and bicyclists share the responsibility for safety.

Leon Schindler

Cedar Rapids