It hadn't been thirty minutes since my much-anticipated return to Austin when I was reminded of something that frustrates me to no end. No, it was not a mindless Obamaniac or even a ticket-crazy PTS officer (although the two rank very high on my list of annoyances).
Rather, the cause of my aggravation was a cyclist who carelessly cruised through a red light.
Even worse, it was one of those cyclists who had donned the whole cyclist uniform. You know the type, from the matching gear down to the super cool goggles - the type that screams, "I'm a serious biker, take me seriously!"
I didn't have to slam on my breaks to avoid a collision, but I kind of wished that I would have had to take some sort of desperate measure to keep from hitting him. Maybe the screech of my tires would have made him reconsider breaking the law the next time he approached a red light.
Without the opportunity to give him a friendly scare, I hurriedly rolled down my window and released what was, in my opinion, a beautiful jeer, mentioning something about his cute spandex and advising him to take up a real sport. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I imparted no wisdom whatsoever. He simply waved his middle finger at me to show his appreciation for my concern.
This situation, while not unique, is distressing. Had I been driving at a faster speed or been even slightly distracted, I might have struck the cyclist and, trust me, there is nothing I would hate more than actually being involved in an accident with a cyclist.
It is extremely unfair for cyclists to behave without regard to the law. Although I will confess to disapproving of their right to share the road, I respect it. So the least they can do is bend to the rules of the road which every other driver must follow.
Bicycles are not toys - I would imagine that my biker friend would resent me referring to his bicycle as a child's plaything. Bicycles are legally considered to be vehicles and cyclists, as the Texas Transportation Code states, "have the rights and duties of other vehicle operators." These duties include, but are not limited to, stopping at all stop signs and red lights.
I'm not saying that bikers are a problem or that bikers are the only ones that do not follow the law - as a driver, I know I don't always observe speed limits. But it's paramount that all bikers should take rules of the road more seriously simply because they are at an extreme disadvantage where size is concerned. Even the smallest of compact sedans stands an exponentially greater chance against my truck than a bike.
Like most arguments, this battle can easily turn into into an "us vs. them" squabble. However, because few of us are exclusively drivers or cyclists, we should all be able to understand where the other side is coming from.
The bottom line is that everyone should be more aware, more respectful and more conscientious of traffic laws. Only our cognizance will prevent accidents from happening. This issue is anything but trivial, especially when flagrant disregard for the law plants itself straight into the side of my truck.
Earnest is a business junior.
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