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Community Corner

Letter: 'Every Lane is a Bike Lane' Redux

Culver City Chamber of Commerce President Steve Rose calls for greater responsibility on the part of cyclists.

With the push of the unelected Los Angeles METRO Board to encourage cyclists to travel on streets as a right, I question responsibility that should go with those rights.

In many cases, responsibility is being forced on vehicle owners and not on bicyclists. I'm not going to argue the point of “rights” since that is interpreted as the law. I'm concerned with my rights and responsibilities as unlicensed bicyclists enter the public right of way of the street.

 Here are a few points I would like to ask about bicyclist's responsibility:

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  • Insurance in case of an accident. Is my uninsured motorist insurance going to be raised because of bicyclists’ rights?
  • Motorcyclists are required to wear helmets. Are all bicyclists?
  • Why can a bicyclist ride in the street and then on the sidewalk and then back on to pedestrian walkways?
  • Bicyclists should not only have lights on the front and rear of their bikes, but lights that can be seen from a legal distance.
  • Should bicyclists be allowed to straddle the white line and then stop in front of vehicles at a red light?
  • Why do bicyclists not stop at stop signs, as vehicles legally must do?
  • How do we tax bicyclists for maintenance of the right of way, as motor vehicle owners have to do?

Just a few thoughts as the rights of bicyclists may become more important than motorists.

Steven J. Rose, ACE

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President/CEO

Culver City Chamber of Commerce 

Editor’s note: Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity. These views are also the personal reflections of Steven J. Rose and not those of the Chamber of Commerce.

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