Joe Blatner’s letter to The Columbian published last Sunday is so right (“Bike lanes need rethinking,” Our Readers’ Views, Nov. 21).
The bike lanes created on Columbia Street between the curb and parallel parking for automobiles are dangerous. Bicyclists must adhere to vehicle rules for safety to all: ride in the street and not on the curbs, pass slower and stopped traffic on the left, and yield the right of way by moving to the right when a faster vehicle approaches from behind.
There is nowhere for the bicyclist to go but up on the curb, or to stop, when the parked auto is loading or unloading on the passenger side. The lines of sight for cross-street traffic (pedestrian, automobile and bike traffic) are greatly impaired by cars and trucks parked in the middle of the lane.
Please, those of you with power over the street design, just put the vehicle parking back next to the curb where it belongs.
