The bikes of Minneapolis

"If we cannot find our courtesy, bad things will continue to happen. How bad? Ghost bike bad..."

We seem to be developing some kind of new road rage. Not between two out of control drivers. That still exists, but this is a new dimension. It is rage between bikes and cars. Who owns the roads. Who owes who a courtesy. Right now, it is a mess.

When my wife and I are out and about, we see all kinds of bad driving. And it is not limited to cars. We see motorcycles driving like they are in some kind of two wheeled Grand Prix. We see cars taking all kinds of chances on the road. We see cars and motorcycles in such a hurry, they often tailgate less than one car length from the car in front. And yes, while driving in the core of the city, we see plenty of young people riding bikes acting like they own the joint.

Motorcycle deaths in Minnesota have been high this year. Almost double last year. One was the son of a friend of ours. In Sturgis, there have been 12 deaths for this year's 75th Anniversary. Motorcycles are particularly vulnerable. Even if the rider is wearing a helmet, concrete, asphalt, or a car are very unforgiving at 60 mph.

But lets get back to the bikes of Minneapolis. Many of the young people who live and work in Minneapolis have decided to make a bike their primary source of transportation. And they have done their politics well. There are now bike paths on many of the roads. Minneapolis has hired a "Bike-Ped" Coordinator (no, I am not kidding). There are bikes zipping through busy intersections in all four seasons, both during daytime and not.

This past week we had another case of some jackass taking his bike frustration out on bikers by assaulting them. Putting at least one in the hospital. I could read the stitches on that one before it came over the plate. It was only a matter of time before some short tempered, butt headed driver had enough. And then did someone did something stupid.

What is our future? More of the same if common courtesies cannot come back in the picture. Bikers need to realize that all traffic laws apply to them also. Period. Drivers need to remember that even if bikers misbehave badly while riding in city traffic. A car can weigh over a ton. A car is no match for a bike weighing 30 pounds. 

And as much as I hate to say it, we need better traffic enforcement. Drivers putting others in danger by passing on yellow lines. By tailgating. I don't want to sound too "square", but we have traffic regulations for reasons. For safety reasons. To eschew those rules, to ignore them, would be at our own peril.