Bikers Need to Follow Rules of Road, Too

This guy should not be riding a bike. Photo: Rex Features

As a bicyclist in the D.C. area there is nothing that ticks me off more than fellow bikers who carelessly defy the rules of the road. These cyclists run red lights, weave through traffic, bike the wrong way, bike on the sidewalk, don't wear a helmet and don't use reflective gear and lights at night.

I understand the frustration many drivers feel about these dangerous idiots on two wheels. The biking community expects drivers to share the road and obey the rules. But it is our community that needs to educate people about bike laws, reinforce positive behavior and work with local law enforcement agencies in enforcing laws.

What we have right now is anarchy on the roads and it is not acceptable. Bikers who run red lights make it harder for bikers such as myself who try to follow the rules of the road. New York City has even started a "Don't Be a Jerk" campaign to encourage better manners amongst bikers in the city.

If bikers want to turn American cities into Copenhagens with more bike lanes, bike parking, complete street designs and traffic calming measures, then we as a community need to stop blaming aggressive drivers and car-dependent politicians and start looking inward at the bad behavior amongst our fellow cyclists.