RIDE: Not fond of traffic woes

The Press called the Coeur d’Fondo a grand ride for all. Well, not if you were in a car on Highway 97 that day. When cyclists talked about chatting with other riders that generally meant they were side by side, often four or five of them taking up the entire traffic lane. Highway 97 is nearly all solid yellow lines with no shoulders to speak of but even when there were paved pullouts, riders seldom used them to get out of the way of vehicles. And many of the cyclists were not in shape for the ride and would weave back and forth going up hill at an unbelievably slow pace that barely had them still upright.

Some riders were very considerate and would stay single file and wave motorists past them on blind corners where the cyclist could see the road was clear. To the organizers of the ride I want to say please let us know in advance that you will be there by posting signs at Wolf Lodge Bay and St. Maries at least two weeks ahead of time. Other groups do it and it’s really helpful. We don’t want to be there with the cyclists and will try to arrange to avoid it if we can.

And to the cyclists I would like to remind you that in a bike/car accident the cyclist usually doesn’t come out too well. Please be more careful.

DARLA FINNEY

Harrison