Being a frequent bicyclist, I\u2019m used to prolonged horn-honking, profanities, aggressive passing, howling turbo chargers, and even trucks rolling coal in my face. <\/p>\n
This past Saturday, while riding in the barely visible bicycle lane on Pitkin Avenue in Glenwood Springs, a young man in an old, small pickup slowly passed me and said something through open windows as he extended his right arm holding his cell phone. I didn\u2019t hear him and replied, \u201cwhat?\u201d He repeated, again undecipherable and extending his arm to the right, cell phone in hand. <\/p>\n
So I checked my rear pocket to verify my cell phone was still there. After he drove off, I figured out he was motioning with his cell phone telling me to use the sidewalk.<\/p>\n
This particular motorist was not rude, which is a rarity. Rude or not, I\u2019ve noticed a huge percentage of motorists do not understand bicyclist rights. I encourage everyone, bicyclist or motorist, to visit http:\/\/www.bicyclecolorado.org<\/a>, hover over \u201cRide Colorado\u201d at the top and select \u201cRules of the Road\u201d from the drop-down menu. <\/p>\n On the Rules of the Road Page you\u2019ll immediately be informed that \u201cin Colorado, bicyclists and motorists have the same rights and responsibilities when using public roads.\u201d <\/p>\n There are three important take-aways in the Driving a Motor Vehicle section (scroll way down) to understand: 1. \u201cBe courteous, share the road and obey all traffic laws, signs and signals\u201d (which applies to bicyclists as well); 2. \u201cWhen passing a bicyclist, allow at least three feet of space\u2026\u201d; 3. \u201cIt is often illegal for bicyclists to ride on sidewalks. They should be riding with traffic, not against it.\u201d<\/p>\n BTW, if you\u2019re a bicyclist interested in really experiencing hostile motorists, ride U.S. 6 between Rifle and Silt. That\u2019s a stretch frequented by a certain class of pickup drivers who will never accept bicyclist rights, law or not.<\/p>\n