Readers React: Wheyn cyclists and motorists collide

To the editor: It’s good to see the dialogue taking place on how to manage the sharing of the road between bicyclists and motorists. While no one is likely to be satisfied all the time, we can hope it will lead to sharing with minimal conflict. (“The law is on cyclists’ side, readers say,” Readers React, Sept. 19)

As this discussion continues, I’m not likely to forget what my father told me when I first began riding a bicycle: “It doesn’t matter whether the rock hits the vase or the vase hits the rock — the vase loses.” I feel this is something every bicyclist should keep in mind when tempted to challenge a motorist for his or her rights.

John Snyder, Newbury Park

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To the editor: I don’t regard my letter as pro-cyclist or pro-driver, just what seems to me to be common sense. My advice:

First, cyclists should try to travel on back streets rather than major boulevards when possible. In my many years of bike commuting, I found the quiet residential streets much more pleasant than fighting traffic on the main arteries.

Second, both cyclists and drivers must obey traffic laws, especially in matters of right-of-way. As I bicyclist, I was often frustrated by drivers stopping to let me pass when I was facing a stop sign and they had no stop sign in front of them. This leads to confusion, frustration or even a traffic violation if the cyclist were to proceed without stopping.

Given the choice of passing in front of or behind a couple of tons of mobile metal, especially with a driver acting erratically, I would always choose behind.

Alan Harris, La Cañada Flintridge

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