The militant attitude of some cyclists contributes to the attitude that some drivers have. Most US roads were not designed for bicycles, but cyclists — backed by local laws — expect drivers to treat the cyclists as equal users of a road. But on a road not designed for bicycles, that means that the driver must often slow to the cyclist’s speed, or veer (illegally) into the oncoming lane to pass them safely.

One time I was driving in DC and a cyclist went out into the lane in front of me. I honked my horn — he had not even looked: he just expected whoever might be coming to “make way”, as the article above says. They cyclist then rode up alongside me. My driver’s window was open and he screamed obscenities at me.

I can understand why: cycling in a high density city that was not designed for bikes must be unnerving and create an continuously elevated level of cortisol (quite unhealthy). After all, one is in constant danger of being hit by a multi-ton hunk of metal, and that would make anyone tense.

Cyclists need to realize that many roads were not designed for them. We need to fix that; but in the meantime, cyclists need to stop thinking that they are equal partners on the road: they are not. They often inconvenience drivers, who then have a line of honking horns behind them, adding to the overall stress.

We need sidewalks and bike lanes on both sides of every road, separated from each other by a curb. That’s what Copenhagen has. But when a road does not have that, the cyclist should be rational: realize that they are in mortal danger, and be extremely wary — and humble. Don’t tug on Superman’s cape, and don’t act militant with multi-ton vehicles.

By the way, I am a cyclist, but I limit my travels to paved trails, to avoid cars. I find it safer and much more relaxing!