St. Louis Post letters to the editor about "Sharing the road"

The following letter was in the March 10th edition of the St. Louis Post:

Wayward Bicyclists
Newly-erected yellow signs in the area admonish drivers to "share the road", referring to sharing it to bicyclists.

Although state law dictates that motorists must have valid licenses, be of a prescribed age, and carry liability insurance, there are no such obligations for bicyclists. They will take great risks on these thoroughfares, and will surely be the cause of, or victims of, serious accidents.

One would think that bicyclists would be reluctant to venture on weathered, pock-marked streets to be threatened by speeders, and be subject to road rage.

Bicyclists, who are themselves drivers, should certainly know how quite impractical this request to "share the road" really is.

Thomas L. Peterson Sr.
St. Louis County

Bob Foster wrote this reply:

After reading Thomas J. Peterman Sr.'s letter objecting to "share the road" signs, I think we should have another sign: "Beware enraged, intolerant motorists."

As an adult of a prescribed age, with homeowners insurance, and someone who bikes to work each day, I take his comments as a threat. When he writes: "One would think that bicyclists would be reluctant to venture on weathered, pock-marked streets, to be threatened by speeders, and to be subject to road rage."

Well, yes, cyclists don't like being threatened by speeders or subjected to road rage. Maybe if the speeders obeyed speed limits, and the enraged gained self-control, the problems would be reduced.

Fortunately, most motorists are considerate, understand that the cyclist has somewhere to go too and that the laws apply equally to everyone on the road.

But even considering these obnoxious drivers, many cyclists would rather bike than drive. In addition to the simple pleasure of riding a bike, it's satisfying to know that we're not polluting the air or water, staying fit, reducing America's dependence on oil, and not enlarging the potholes that Mr. Peterson is so concerned about.

I appreciate the "share the road" signs, because they are installed to combat exactly the problems and attitudes Mr. Peterson's letter exemplifies.

Bob Foster
Chair
St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation

You can read another response from a St. Louis-area bicyclist here.

A reply appeared in Wednesday's Post (read the complete letter here). An excerpt:

At most, a bicycle in traffic might cause a 10- or 20-second delay. Is this too much to ask?

Be the cause of serious accidents? Be subject to road rage? This is a tired blame-the-victim argument.

The law says that bicyclists have the right to ride on the road. The legal burden is on the overtaking vehicle to pass safely. Is it too much to ask that motorists have the human decency to not assault cyclists?

I would ask that Peterman and all motorists understand that everyone they see on a bike represents one less car to contribute to the traffic jam that is causing his hostility toward cyclists.

Daryl Hemenway
St. Louis

UPDATE: Three more letters appeared in Saturday's Post. Two excerpts:

"The 'share the road' signs gently remind cyclists and motorists that the road can accommodate everyone. And as fuel prices and obesity continue to rise, bicycling as transportation makes sense."

"Sharing the road would be far less impractical if all motorists would just realize the legality of bicyclists on the road, drive the speed limit and control their anger like a mature person."