Jeff Dacus’ letter, “Pandering to cyclists” (Our Readers’ Views, Jan. 11), struck me as angry and vindictive. I’m a longtime cyclist who also drives a car. My cycling experience is that, most (but not all) drivers in Vancouver are courteous toward cyclists. Dacus’ letter misses the point, however. First, let’s be clear: a bicycle is a legal vehicle and has a right to use a city street or highway. As a cyclist, I stay aware of my surroundings. As a driver, I always give a cyclist extra space or slow down and stay behind the cyclist until I can.
Dacus apparently believes that cyclists should be put at risk of being hit and maybe killed rather than remove parking spaces for a bike lane.
Yes, some cyclists are rude and discourteous, the same as some drivers. An equal number use personal example to show drivers that they understand and follow the rules of the road when cycling. I can’t educate every cyclist on what they should and shouldn’t do. Likewise, I don’t expect Dacus to educate every rude and inconsiderate driver about cycling.
Cycling is viable transportation. If it isn’t, why are millions of people in Washington and across America riding their bikes?
