In six years of frequent bicycle trips on area roads, my family and I have learned to wear bright colors and to ride side by side, rather than single file, for our own safety.
Please note, Indiana State law allows bicyclist to ride two abreast on public roads. When we rode single file, cars tended to pass us without moving out of their driving lane and without slowing down, resulting in some narrow misses. Things can and do go wrong quickly when motorists pass bicyclists at highway speed.
For a car, passing a bicycle is no more hardship than having to pass a tractor or other slow-moving vehicle. We all have a right to be on the road. With more trails being built, such as the new Lake City Greenway, the number of bicyclists and pedestrians traveling to or from trails on area streets will be greater and greater.
Please slow down when you see bicyclists and help make Kosciusko County and surrounding areas bicycle friendly. Remember, the faster your car is going, the more loose stones that are thrown up in the air, which can cause serious injury to a bicyclist or to a pedestrian.
The delay is short if you encounter a bicyclist, and passing carefully is like saying "we care for others." Parents, remember the law also requires bike safety helmets for all children riding bicycles who are under age 18.
