I’m not defending this cyclist’s move, but I think the behavior of the drivers will and do affect the behavior of cyclists. She was wrong for being in a tunnel. Tunnels have limited visibility and width; if she didn’t have lights and bright clothing I’m sure you would have hit her. However, could it be possible she was riding in your blind spot and that you didn’t check your blind spot adequately before changing lanes? Could it be possible that you were distracted by a cell phone call or something?

It takes two to cause an accident; I believe one is usually more at fault than the other. If I see a nutso in my car pulling a move like that cyclist I usually hold my lane and slow down. When they’re gone then I proceed to change lanes. It takes a few seconds longer, but I’d rather arrive in one piece.

However, a week or so ago, I nearly killed a girl on her bike while I was in my car. It was in the morning and not very bright, I was driving down a main artery – 16th Street towards the White House – traffic was dense and I was in the left-hand lane. I passed a girl on her bike who was riding on the dashed line between the two lanes. A good bit after passing her I was going underneeth one of DC’s circles through a tunnel. I began to merge to the right with relatively little room – it was rush hour – and I hear a scream “hey you fucking asshole mother fucker, etc…….” I see the girl on the bike whiz around me screaming and shaking her fist. Basically she was shooting between cars in a dark tunnel with traffic moving at a good pace.

As a cyclist, I would never pull the move she did. I would pick a lane and follow a car. Nobody would agree that a motorcycle has a right to pull such a move. Neither does a bike. I would have felt bad had I run her over.. But since I didn’t, I feel that she was very irresponsible.

The only time I cut through traffic like that is if everybody is stopped at a red light. And, in my years of riding here in DC, I have come to know that many drivers – especially cabbies- would be perfectly happy to run such a cyclist into the ground.

In response to J.: TN just passed a law saying motorcyclists can run a red light if during the night if NO oncoming traffic is present. I believe this applies to cyclists as well, but I’m no legal authority so don’t hold me to it. I still prefer not to do it b/c situations can and do change without me realizing it. I usually just make a right turn and proceed through an alternate route. It takes longer, but in the long run it’s safer.

To Lorna: I’m truly sorry that someone hit your child; that’s absolutely awful. I wish I could help you change your mind about cyclists. There’s no excuse for what that person did, and I hope your daughter recovers speedily.

Due care and caution are the best mottos. When debating you can speak your minds, but please remember other people read your comments. Cursing does not enhance your argument it only diminishes what your trying to say. I admit I swear like a sailor, but it hasn’t made me many friends in life. I know we all have opinions and this debate does affect all of us. Just remember your words have more power if you choose them wisely.

I agree that bicycles are different to cars. I find that it often feels more frustrating to sit at a red light on a bike than in a car. My gut feeling is that in this situation, on my bike I have a better feel for if the cross road is clear that when in my car.

What I don’t agree with is that this gives us the right to decide what laws do and do not apply to us. However, don’t get too stressed about it on my account. There are plenty of other things in the world that concern me far more. I’m not going to get too worked up about cyclists running red lights. I’m not going to yell abuse or run you off the road for it. I’m just going to maintain a slightly different perspective on the issue.

a Roll-through, when approaching a stop sign (not light), a vehicle slows to check for other traffic and proceeds through (if there is no other vehicles), without actually coming to a complete stop.

As far as the law, I think bicycles should (have to) follow modified vehicle laws.
1. there is no way to sustain a high rate of speed for any large amount of time.

2. There is no way a bicycle/cyclist can produce 100+ horsepower.

3. Bicycles/cyclist don’t way anything Near the average weight of a motor vehicle.