LETTER: Stow the prejudice and share the road

I am so tired of hearing about the “problem” presented by bicycles on the roadway. Let’s set aside the well-established issue of “rights” to the road and examine some practical ones.

Think of this: You wait far longer at one traffic light than you ever will to get around a bicycle on the road; you wait many, many times longer at construction delays. And yet you never suggest that these be removed.

Now let’s examine the issue of speed. I often hear “you are too slow.” On a road where you wish to be traveling at 40, 50 or 60 mph a rider is probably going about 15 mph. The differential is not that great. A car that passes me at 55 mph 10 miles from town will arrive 15 minutes sooner. If your arrival time is that sensitive, you should invest in lights and a siren. So please stow the prejudice and share the road. Thanks.

—Mitch Linne, Whitefish