Please don't run me over

Some days, it seems, I inadvertently don a neon "HIT ME" sign along with my helmet, brightly-colored shirt and cycling shorts. It never ceases to amaze me how impatient some drivers can be when it comes to dealing with cyclists.

Earlier this week, within a span of less than two minutes, a driver carelessly backed out right in front of me, despite the fact I had the right-of-way. At a four-way stop a few feet later, I stopped and signaled that I would be turning left. The car on the opposite side decided to ignore my signals and proceed to cut me off, even though it was not their turn to go.

Unfortunately, when cyclists hit the road, they are treated as demi-vehicles, despite the fact that they are under the same laws motorized vehicles are, such as obeying traffic control devices and signaling before turning.

Although bicycles are considered to be vehicles, those driving motorized vehicles become annoyed or even agitated when it comes to dealing with cyclists.

Their irritation is justified, because a few bad apples have spoiled the whole bunch.

While driving around town the past few weeks, I have observed numerous cyclists zipping through stop signs, riding on the wrong side of the road, mindlessly cutting in front of traffic, and wearing dark clothing while biking after dark, without lights or flashing devices to make themselves more visible to cars.

I recently came across an interesting letter, "I Am a Cyclist: an Open Letter to Car Drivers Everywhere," which made the point that when it comes to sharing the road, cyclists always lose.

Whether a mistake is a driver's or cyclist's fault, the cyclist always pays, either with scrapes and a damaged bike, or, in more extreme cases, his or her life.

With Storm Lake pursuing avenues to make the town more bike and pedestrian friendly, it is important we all take care to slow down and watch out for others.

Cyclists, ride responsibly by obeying traffic control devices, indicating turns and stops and choosing to wear brightly-colored clothing and a helmet while biking.

Drivers, slow down, give proper right-of-way and allocate space on the road when encountering someone riding a bicycle.

* Ashley Miller is a member of the Pilot-Tribune news staff. Reach the columnist at amiller@stormlakepilottribune.com