And if bicyclists actually obeyed traffic laws, they wouldn’t get plastered so often. Don’t even try to deny this, I work on a transportation choke point that is very popular with bicyclists. I see them blowing through red lights, stop signs, blocking traffic by riding 3-4 abreast, ignoring signs directly giving them instructions, etc... One of the greatest days I had at work was when a bicycle club was doing a ride with hundreds of militant spandex clad two wheeled fudds. A county Sheriff’s deputy was returning to town from a call and got blocked by militant two wheelers in a curvy road. He waited until a safe stretch and cited every one of them for impeding traffic. The schadenfreude was delicious listening to those metrosexual he/she’s whine about being cited.
99% of bicyclists give the others a bad name. How many stop signs and red lights do you blow through because of your clip shoes? They should have GPS trackers and be charged by the lane mile to maintain their access to roads funded by dedicated gas taxes.
True, if you are talking about the spandex wearing exhibitionists who ride in packs.
Not true, if you are talking about the occasional single rider just trying to get from point A to point B safely. Been there, done that. Too many motorists treat us all like the pack jerks even if we obey the rules of the road, ride single file and don't crowd the center line. Worst offense is that that they try to run us off the road even when there is plenty of room to pass.
1st. I used to ride a bike year-round, but I don’t anymore.
2nd As a bicyclist, the only road rule I did break was not coming to a full stop, at a stop sign. I would slow down to a near stop until I ascertained that it was completely safe to continue. I did stop for all red lights, and any other traffic situation.
3rd.I cannot tell you, as a bicyclist, how often people drove without due care and attention. Even though I routinely rode near the curb, people would still drive past me with only a few inches to spare. They would also stop without reason or make right-hand turns without notice.
There are some bad bicyclists, sure. But experience has taught me that there are a lot more bad drivers out there, then bicyclists.
I have no problem with paying to help maintain the roads, as long as I get to have an entire full-sized lane to myself, just like any other vehicle. :)