If you guys are concerned about the new bill that will allow bicyclist to impede traffic with even more impunity, you can e-mail Senator Greg Brophy at: greg@gregbrophy.net
or his phone#: (303) 866-6360
or call or fax Gov. Ritter at:
Ph: (303) 866-2471
Fax: (303) 866-2003
Here's what I wrote:
Senator Brophy,
As a current resident of Boulder, and of Colorado for the last 6 years, I am greatly concerned about this new bicyclist bill. I see the current arrogance and attitudes of the typical militant bicyclist, and am appalled. This bill can only make things worse. They are at best an impediment to traffic, at worst a hazard to not only themselves but all motorists. I see them blatantly hugging the white line, though there is plenty of bicycle lane to use farther from traffic. I see them blowing through red lights and stop signs with impunity, just to prevent them from having to actually come to a complete stop which, by law, they as we are required to do. I see them cutting across multiple lanes of traffic with no signal, forcing drivers and motorcyclists to take evasive action. I see pairs and groups of them riding side-by-side, impeding traffic just so they can chat. If there are no bicycle lanes I see them using the middle of the lane, blocking traffic and forcing vehicles to cross double-yellow lines to avoid them. It’s even worse in the canyons where a long line of cars can be stuck behind them for miles. Sometimes, even though there in fact are pedestrian and bicycle paths that we paid for, for their use, they shun them because they don’t want to have to slow down to avoid the joggers. If this bill passes, it will only let them act with more arrogance, entitlement, and impunity. This behavior has to stop.
When I rode bicycles and skateboards all over as a kid in Boulder from ’75 to ’80 when I lived here before, I rode as far off to the side as possible because it was instilled in me by my parents and society that we did not have the right to impede traffic. That we were the vulnerable ones who would be the losers in any vehicle/pedestrian accident, and therefore developed a healthy sense of self-preservation. Sadly, these lessons seem to have been lost on this new generation of bicyclists. Instead, they have instilled in themselves a sense of entitlement allowing this reprehensible and irresponsible behavior. That the roads are theirs, and not ours.
I believe that as the majority of the road funding comes from motor vehicle taxes, and the fact that most people and the goods and services that sustain our society are transported by motorized vehicles, that their needs should take precedence. I would hope that as I’m sure I’m only one of many, if not in fact the majority of Coloradans that feel this way, that this bill will be dropped or defeated. I know if I had the chance to vote on it, I would vote against it. It’s time to take our roads back.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss this further.
Best regards,
Frank S. Schiavone
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Originally Posted by FZRguy
