Article Contributed on: 11/1/2007 9:26:46 PM
I was driving South on Washington at about 148th at 6PM, and there was a bicyclist heading South in the dark with no lights and no shoulder.
I thought: "this guy is putting his life in danger."If theright circumstances come together, even the most experienced drivers will have a hard time avoiding him. All it takes is two wide vehicles approaching each other at the same time and in the same spacethat the bicyclists is trying to occupy. The headlights don't really spot the bicyclist in enough time to do much about it.
Most drivers faced with these circumstances will have to slam on their brakes to avoid hitting something (or pray that they can squeeze through without hitting anything). Twelve inches just isn't enough clearance at 35 or 40 mph. It's way too dangerous, and someday (especially with more and more individuals forced to use cheaper transportation methods) someone is going to get killed.
If bicycles are going to get used to get to work, then we need to find ways to safely share the roads. Roads without bike lanes are a hazard. Roads without a few street lights are a hazard. The winter months will increase night-time rush-hour driving, and some roads that have had very little attention like North Washington will be a very hazardous place for bicyclists. It's due time that North Washington got some improvements. Our cities sure seem to spend the money on the cosmetic improvements. Unfortunately not spending the money on road improvements and bike lanes, may result in someone getting killed.