Why do motorists hate cyclists?

As a cyclist, I regularly see reasons motorists don't like us. Too many cyclists either have no idea about the rules they should follow or just choose not to. Bicycles are vehicles and need to follow traffic laws if they are on public streets or roads. I take the center of a lane at four-way stops and follow the standard rules of right of way. I signal turns. I do not ride on sidewalks in town. I saw a group of a dozen bikes blow thru a stop sign in NewBo recently. When I mentioned it, they just laughed and shrugged at me. The group was all adults in their 30s at my estimate, not small children that might not know better. As long as we have people with no respect for others riding bicycles, the entire group loses respect.

I also strongly advocate mirrors for any bike that will be on public roads, streets, or even the trails. Of course, I'm still waiting for a lot more courtesy on the local trails, too, so sometimes my hopes are pretty out there.

Leon Schindler

Cedar Rapids