Why Cyclists?

I also wanted to respond to the letter from Ms. Walker. So sorry for her and Darrel Smith whom I have ridden with on his way to work. I have been riding the path since day one, and there are a lot of nice considerate drivers out there, then there are some not so.

Yes, I have to stop and get off my bike a lot, but I'd rather do that than have someone hit me or someone complain. Sometimes it is even embarrassing when someone stops to let me go through and I have already gotten off the bike, because it takes me a while to get the thing going again. I will bet that these people driving cars and complaining about us bikers also sometimes have to walk where there is traffic. Think about it. Bet they hate it when the vehicle will not stop to let them by.

I also drive a car, and yes, I do stop and motion a pedestrian (even if not in a crosswalk) to pass in front of me. I do not have a stop sign in front of me either.

One other thing that I am puzzled about is when the button is pushed for a biker to cross U.S. 27 and traffic has a green light to turn onto U.S. 27, some of these people turn right in front of the biker. There is only a certain amount of time for that biker to cross.

Okay, the only other thing I deal with is a school bus driver who stops at the stop sign when I am going back across Brunns Road. She has been at the stop sign (and has done this three times to me) and pulled out right in front of me. The last time it happened, either I had to stop, get off the bike, or get hit. So I opted to turn on the street she was coming out of and went around the bus.

I hope we can all share the road and stay alive.

Liz Blood
Sebring