Natural law rewards the taken risks with more liberty. The urban rider must often travel an unusual route to best maximize momentum, time, safety, and even comfort. Because of the natural small weight and size of a bike, the rider has the freedom to squeeze in a tight place, to go on the sidewalk, or to ride up over a parked car if needed.

 

We enjoy the reward of tolerance. Artificial traffic laws are often enforced less on the human powered vehicle. As it should be. Those laws were written only favoring the automobile or the pedestrian. Vehicle laws are not currently written to include the bicycle. Now really, on a busy city street with a line of cars backed up from the light; is the bicyclist really supposed to stop and wait at the back of the line of stopped cars as the law dictates? Often the most efficient and safest route is against the rules.

 

Hand signals are not to be expected from urban bicyclists. It is dangerous out there. We need both hands to stabilize our body, to maintain balance, and to operate the brakes. These functions are especially critical when approaching a turn or a stop. If you want to know what direction I will be turning, pay attention, watch my shoulders, they will tell you.

 

Traffic laws were not written to help bicyclists, and bicyclists expect the respect to not be harassed with motor vehicle law infractions. Issuing tickets to big city bicyclists for not completely stopping at signs or lights, or for temporary sidewalk use, does not engender obedience or respect for the law; it merely adds another hazard to our ride. Now we must also anticipate the predator.

 

Normal people have tolerance for the passing bicycle. It is imprudent to have prohibitive laws over bicycling; it is as if licensing pedestrians based on shoe type. (That one with running shoes may run too fast. That runner might crash into that old man. She should be restricted by laws).

 

The street biker additionally enjoys the reward of nearly cost free propulsion. While we aren’t required to buy fuel, we do pay for the food, which makes our energy which powers our vehicles. The resulting air pollution is less also.

 

Fundamentally for urban pedestrians, bicyclists, and motor vehicles, good manners and common sense really do make all of the quick encounters more fast and safe for everyone.

 

As street bicyclists, we will continue to demand our right of way. We will continue to go through the red light or stop sign when necessary. We will continue to expect tolerance in these cases. We will continue to go as fast as we possibly can.

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