Motor vehicles need to respect cyclists
I went for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day bike ride. At hour three, a truck pulled up and threw a bottle of urine at me. I lost my balance and did not get the license plate number. My helmet, my fluorescent vest, my bike, and my bag filled with snacks and my cancer biology textbook were covered in urine. I pulled off the road and found someone doing yard work to stand with me until I recovered. After getting back on the road, the truck drove toward me again, and the passenger, a teenage boy, casually yelled "sorry." But I do not think they were sorry when they thought I was just a body on a bike. I do not want to vilify drivers. I am a driver, and I do not want to be looped in with the people who attacked me. I also know that teenage boys do not represent the whole population, but after getting honked at, yelled at, and having cars intrude into my lane while biking home, I really wish all people would just respect each other on the road. Drivers should understand that cyclists are working a lot harder to transport themselves than people in cars are. Drivers should also understand that many people do not have the choice to use other modes of transportation since one in five Houstonians live below the poverty level and struggle to afford a car. Furthermore, of the people that do choose to bike, many do so for exercise, which should be encouraged in this city where almost one out of three adults are obese.Every responsible cyclist aims to follow traffic laws and remain visible. Cyclists do not want drivers to follow them for miles; they do want drivers to safely pass at a reduced speed. Drivers should realize how terrifying it is to have a 6,000 pound machine honk incessantly at you from behind while you are trying to maneuver safely through traffic. There is no reason for a driver to be in such a hurry that they feel the need to threaten a cyclist in any way. I urge people to understand that cars can be used as weapons. Drivers need to recognize cyclists as human beings and should be ashamed of using a vehicle to intimidate other people. We must recognize that road accidents can impact cyclists; about two percent of all traffic fatalities are bikers. Threatening cyclists is not a joke.It is illegal to get within three feet of a cyclist. It is illegal to threaten, harass, assault, or stalk cyclists. Witnesses need to start speaking up and calling the police. After my experience, I understand that memorizing license plate numbers is very difficult while in an emergency situation, but one of the drivers around me could have been a much-needed advocate and reported the people who dangerously assaulted me. Reporting reckless drivers that endanger cyclists should be the equivalent of reporting a drunk driver. If we work together as a community to protect the rights of cyclists, we can create a mentality in which drivers see cyclists as people and not as obstacles. Skye Kelty is a McMurtry College senior.