Bicylists and the Rules of the Road

NPR posted a story recently with the headline, "Cyclists at Center of Bitter Debate Over Bike Lanes."

The article said bike lanes are running into opposition in places like New York because some motorists just don't like bicyclists.

The reason? The drivers say bicyclists don't obey the traffic laws.

That got me thinking about my own bike-riding habits. I'll be honest: I cut corners sometimes.

If I come to a stop sign with no cars in sight, I'll roll through it. If I see cars coming, I'll stop. The busier the traffic, more more law-abiding I become. If I'm in a car, I won't roll through a stop sign unless it's on a deserted country road.

As a car driver, I've been stuck behind bicylists on a busy two-way street, unable to pass and forced to move at the two-wheelers' pace. I don't mind much because I've been in that rider's shoes, but I can understand how a non-bike riding motorist might not be so understanding.

I talked to a few bicycle riders in Decatur and asked if they always followed the traffic laws.

Joey Schoenfeld, an employee of , seemed to have a typical attitude.

"If it's a red light and I don't see anybody coming I'll roll through it," he said. "If it's a busy intersection, I'll stop and wait my turn."

Diego Egana said he commutes from Buckhead to the bike shop via bicycle and Marta. He "sidewalk surfs" occasionally when traffic on the street becomes too thick.

"Part of the fun of cycling is that you're not a car," he said.

Mark Scarbrough of Decatur Bike said motorists are just at least as bad as bicyclists at breaking traffic laws. And they don't respect bicyclists.

"The reason it started is that drivers were used to having the road to themselves," he said.

Readers, what have been your experiences on the road? Bicyclists, do you follow the letter of the traffic laws? Car drivers, do you do the same?