BIKER: Ticket was deserved

I have to agree with the police with issuing the citation to the bicyclist hit by a car at Interstate 90 and U.S. 95. While riding a bicycle has its rules of the road and are not strictly enforced this case did warrant a citation. In this congested area the bicyclist was clearly the person most responsible for the accident. She had the best opportunity to avoid the unfortunate results.

Recently I encountered two young boys, early teen and pre-teen, riding the wrong way on Government Way between Dalton and Hanley. I thought to myself, didn't your parents teach you the rules? I then realized they were in the safest area for them. The older boy was not riding safely as he was riding within 2 feet of the road when he could easily been on the paved area farther from the car lane. The west side of the street is clearly the more dangerous area to ride.

Last fall, again on Government Way, I had another encounter with a bicyclist. It was night time and raining, as I left a business I pulled up to the sidewalk, looked both ways and started to pull out when a blur caught my eye. I hit the brakes, received a verbal string of obscenities and a one finger salute. Clearly this rider would be at fault. Riding on the sidewalk, against traffic, high speed, in the rain and NO LIGHTS. I was upset in the close encounter even after I got home. What if I had hit and injured this guy?

I ride my bike and don't always follow the rules but I know I have to look for the unexpected. The rider has the best observation of the dangers of riding.

JOHN HENSLEY

Coeur d'Alene