Education is solution to car, bike sharing
Dear Editor:
In response to a recent letter to the editor entitled “Car, bike riders should show respect.” First off, let me say for the thousandth time, driving a car or riding a bicycle on a public road is a privilege, not a right. Please understand that!
As for the frequency of the articles, I wish there were 10 a day. I am in no way joking, because a 20-pound bicycle with a 175-pound rider is no match for a 3,000-pound vehicle.
I have been riding seriously for almost three years now and I have been run down on a three-lane highway in Townsend, cursed at, had articles thrown at me, and buzzed several times. I am not classifying all motorists as being like that, but there are several.
Just watching out for each other is not enough; we (motorists and cyclists) need to be educated on different aspects of sharing the road, because it seems we are both going to be moving on public roads and highways.
I know it was said there are safer areas to ride, but do motorists avoid or bypass Alcoa Highway because it’s a dangerous road? I think not, so telling cyclists to stay in certain areas or on certain roads is not an option. That would be like telling a motorist to stay home today because it’s raining.
Throwing the blame on either side will not fix the problem, yes I said it, and there is a problem. We can address it or we can continue to wreck and hurt each other. I will close, saying we have to make this work, because we will be sharing the road for a long time and that is the way it is. Thank you.
Frank Woody
2921 Morganton Road
Maryville, TN 37801
