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"Drivers must realize bicycles and motorcycles are "extremely vulnerable and they have as much right to the roadway as you do in your car," Devennish said. "

When I see a license plate on a bicycle which proves they paid as much ad valorum tax (road use) as my car, then I'll agree they have "as much right" as I do to be there.

The problem I've seen is they won't get their little spandex asses out of the road, and they DO slow down traffic. It appears that they are "daring" people to get close to them.

If they are not going to pay their fair share of road use taxes (and paying for their car doesn't carry over to their bike, anymore than paying for one car doesn't cover all their cars), then I'll concede that they have the "same rights".

Then he did something that apparently infuriated the men: He touched the car to steady himself on his bike.

I've got 10 bucks that says he touched the car with a clenched fist traveling downward at high velocity.

That's probably what got him the a**-kicking.

“Drivers must realize bicycles and motorcycles are “extremely vulnerable and they have as much right to the roadway as you do in your car,” Devennish said.”

That may be, but common sense should tell all cyclists that since they are extremely vulnerable and will always lose in any collision with a car or truck, the burden of exercising greater caution falls on them, rights or no rights. Unless you or your surviving relatives win the insurance/lawsuit lottery, your “rights” as a cyclist aren’t going to mean much when you are lying in a grave or in the hospital with multiple fractures, or spending the rest of your life maimed or crippled.

One thing we run into here in the mountains is that the bikes are on two lane roads. At times, we haul a 20’ stock trailer loaded. The speed limit is 55. When we come around a curve and see a bunch of bikes, we can’t slow down fast enough. We need to go into the on coming traffic lane to miss them. Luckly, we haven’t run into anyone. They should only be allowed where there are bike lanes.

"...When I see a license plate on a bicycle which proves they paid as much ad valorum tax (road use) as my car, then I'll agree they have "as much right" as I do to be there..."

Absolutely. I am not anti-bicycle by any means, and occasionally ride a mountain bike around my neighborhood for exercise. And aggression behind the wheel is wrong, no matter whom is targeted.

But for years, I've been telling my "cyclist" friends the same thing. If I have to pay taxes to use my car (and my motorcycle) on public streets, why shouldn't they? Just because most of mine come in the form of fuel taxes doesn't exempt them from at least some obligation.

And let's not forget insurance. I hate having to have it cover myself from litigation-happy lawyers, but why should I have to use my coverage if an uninsured cyclist causes an accident? I'm not even sure if it's covered. They should be insured.

And, lastly, what about licensing? I (and all other motorists) had to demonstrate at least some cursory level of operational competence and traffic code knowledge before being allowed to (legally) operate a motor vehicle.

If they are going to mix it up w/5,000 lb. vehicles on the open street/road, they should have to play by the same rules. Or at least stop whining about their "rights". Driving is not a right. Oh yeah... could they please give up the flourescent Spandex as well. Is that really asking too much?

I used to live about 7 miles outside the city, and had to travel some rolling hills to get to work each day.

Many times I would crest a ridge only to find a group of those spandex-wearing jack@sses riding three to four abreast right down the center of the lane.

There were a number of times I had to slam on the brakes or jerk my car into the oncoming lane to avoid hitting them - and they would look at me as if I were the problem.

When I see you obey the traffic lasws as much as I have to on my two wheel 18-speed, then I’ll say you have a gripe, but when you pass me on the left and cut me off in a right turn when we both arrive at a stop sign simultaneously, you deserve to be yanked out of your cage and beaten with rods.