Our community’s pernicious motor-centric bias is on display along U.S. Highway 36 between Lyons and Estes Park.
As we drove that route Monday to Rocky Mountain National Park for some hiking, I couldn’t help but notice the road signs that singled bicyclists out for special attention. Bicycling was “not recommended,” the signs said, and cyclists were advised that they did so “at their own risk.”
Some questions
- When do cyclists ever not ride at their own risk?
- Were we driving our car at someone else’s risk?
- Are motorists less inclined to be careful and polite around cyclists when they see such warnings?
By telling the community that some roads are unsafe for non-motorized travel, and telling all road users who can read that cyclists really shouldn’t be around, our transportation officials reinforce the notion that roads are just for cars and trucks. They make the roads more dangerous for bicycling.
Tell them they need to stop doing that.
Colorado Citizen’s Advocate for Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation
Share the road
Having bicycled up Highway 36 to Estes Park a couple of summers ago, I’m not really eager to do it again, but that’s beside the point.
Whenever you see someone on a bicycle, people, pass with care.
That’s what “share the road” means.
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