Solo Drivers should be appreciative of buses, bicyclists, pedestrians and carpoolers -not resentful

[GiaGiovanni]

86. There is also a lack of responsibility on the part of some cyclists in this thread

Some cyclists want motorists to take all kinds of precautions, but they don't want to be responsible for following traffic laws. This means that a motorist heading towards an intersection with a green light needs to look out for bikes that may be racing in the opposite direction through the red light, no matter what the posted speed limit is. That, of course, is a recipe for chaos and fatal collisions.

Meanwhile, the cyclists want to take no responsibility for the fact that they hit pedestrians. A Hunter College study on irresponsible cyclists sending pedestrians to the hospital is here.

I have no problem with cyclists who use the marked bikes lanes, signal properly, have a headlight and reflectors for night cycling, and who are aware of the traffic around them. That is, cyclists who do what they are legally required to do and bike defensively deserve respect.

The problem is that some cyclists want to avoid all responsibility. They want the cars to watch out for them, even when they do highly foolish things like dart out from between parked cars, cross the road before getting to an intersection (the equivalent of jay walking), ride around at night without lights or reflectors, and even weave in and out of traffic. If you're a cyclist who rides in this fashion, you create danger for everyone including yourself. You will have no one but yourself to blame if you end up in the hospital or graveyard because you've created conditions in which the most careful motorist can hit you, truly accidentally. However, your behavior and the confusion its sows may also cause cars to collide, resulting in the injuries or deaths of others. Because cyclists do not have bike insurance, there is no way to recoop injuries from a highly irresponsible cyclist.

I think it's time for cyclists who wish to ride on any road over 35 miles an hour to get a bike license after a full fledged Biker's Ed course. Along with this license, they should also be required to purchase bike insurance, not just for possible collisions, but for the pedestrians they might also injure. Bikes on roads over 35mph should also have license plates.