Do Your Part to Avoid Road Rage

We're reprinting this recent letter to the Brattleboro Reformer, because the writer has made some valid points. Safety (and road rage, which can result from one too many cyclists flaunting one too many rules of the road) are no laughing matter.

The rules of the road are simple, and there for specific reasons. Signal your turns and stops, stop at red lights and stop signs, use a portable light at dusk.

Drivers appreciate it. Other cyclists appreciate it. Your family appreciates it when they don't have to come visit you in the hospital.

When you're in the Tour de France, you can break all the rules you want.

In the meantime, use good sense and common courtesy. Protect yourself and be considerate toward those folks you are sharing the roads with - particularly the ones driving large heavy four-wheel objects traveling at high rates of speed.

Editor of the Reformer:

Now that the warm weather has arrived we are once again facing another "bicycle season." Last night while I was on my way to Townshend on an errand I saw the start of the season up close and personal -- two of the "Team Putney" cyclist were making a left hand turn out of Grassy Brook Road onto Route 30 without a pause or a second glance to see if there was any oncoming traffic. Now mind you, this was at dusk and they had no lights on their bikes whatsoever -- I am hoping that this year we can FINALLY see some enforcement of the rules as they pertain to bicyclists.

Growing up in Brattleboro we always had an officer from either the Brattleboro Police or Windham County Sheriffs Department hold an assembly where they went over the rules of the road regarding bicycles. It was stressed that all bikes needed to be registered, you rode with the flow of traffic, used hand signals (the proper kind and not the more commonly used vulgarities that seem so common these days), obeyed street signs and lights, rode single file except on specific paths or wide shoulders, etc.

Many times over the past several years I have come close to colliding with bikers simply because they did not adhere to these common sense rules -- they seem to think that they are invincible or that the laws do not apply where they are concerned. I have seen bikers ride through walk lights and come close to hitting pedestrians without missing a beat, ride on the sidewalks downtown, continue straight through a red light in the left hand turning lane and many more violations than I have the time to list.

I, for one, would like to see a crackdown and tickets given to these people who so wantonly disregard the rules of the road not only as a punishment but also as a lesson: A driver cannot always see them when they do things such as this especially when the light is fading or if the sun is shining brightly in our eyes. If I can receive a ticket for not wearing my seatbelt, then why is it a bicyclist is not ticketed for endangering themselves? It's all the same principle.

Andrew Buttery

Williamsville, May 9

Bike Workshop May 27th

Post Oil Solutions will sponsor a bike repair workshop Sunday, May 27, from 10:00 AM to noon, at the Brattleboro Commons.

This is part of the group's support for the Curb Your Car Challenge, running from 1 May-15 June, that it is co-sponsoring with the Brattleboro chapter of the Bike/Ped Coalition and the Upper Valley Ride Share (details of Challenge at www.postoilsolutions.org orwww.bike2work-day.com ).

The workshop will be led by Eric Bye, who has worked with bikes for 38 years, including time as a pro under the tutelage of Olympic cyclist Dave Chauner at Valuga Sports, in South Burlington, Vermont. It will focus on safety and adjustments, with particular attention to brakes, derailleurs and shifters, headset, bottom bracket, and wheels.

Participants are encouraged to bring the following tools if they have them:

• general tools, such as 6" adjustable wrench, old toothbrush, Swiss Army knife or screwdriver, tire pump, chain lubricant, WD-40, and a couple of rags; and
• any specialized bike tools (Allen wrenches, spoke tool, chain rivet tool, pedal wrench, bottom bracked tool, etc.)

However, don't worry if you don't have any tools--we'll share as needed during the workshop. And if the weather cooperates, we'll take a group ride to make sure the bikes are working satisfactorily, so bring your helmets!

Workshop fee $5; pre-registration required: 802 869 2141.