I got an email from a fellow cyclist yesterday, and the story went like this. Cyclist on a training ride, Danforth at Kelly in Edmond. White Lexus blows past her well inside the three feet required by State law. Cyclists raises her hand in a "What is your problem?" gesture and the driver stops in the middle of Danforth to scream at the cyclist about "Having no right to be on the road", blah blah blah. Cyclist informs driver that according to State law, we DO have a legal right to the road, and that it is illegal to pass within three feet. Driver argues, rants and drives away in a huff.
This story sparked a conversation about how to properly educate both cyclists and motorists concerning the law. I'd really like your thoughts on these topics.

Yea...I use that gesture all the time

Well an easy way to educate the motorist, would be to inclued it into driver training, although this would only educate new drivers. On the cyclist side...I'm not sure. I'm against government regulation of cycling.

I was thinkin' maybe a publicity blitz like the one the Sun has going on the social host ordinance. Slap a few drivers with hefty fines , splash it all over the front page and get public a discussion started. My worry is that some nut will twist off and deliberately take out a cyclist.

Problem solved - makes the news and the cyclists stay off the road for fear of being taken out.

Or, maybe more of those share the road signs.

How very scary that the driver of the car actually STOPPED and ranted at the cyclist! I guess one way for the public to become 'educated' regarding the law is for one to run over or to do other harm to a cyclist.

I am sure that the road rage law applies to this case, as well. Does it? The cyclists needed to file a report with their local PD on any driver that actually stops to physically and/or verbally abuse them.

Cyclists are not exactly innocent when it comes to following the law. Take a ride around Hefner today you will see some of them acting as if they owned the Lake Road.

I am always careful when I pass the riders. I just hate ones that are inconsiderate to everyone else using the lake.

The lake is more than a yuppy fitness center. People go there for picnic, fishing, boating or to simply drive up there to relax and enjoy the view.

I think if everyone made the effort to show a little common courtesy the lake would be a place for everyone to enjoy.

If you are refering to bicyclists, they must obey the same traffic laws as someone driving a car. That means stopping at red lights or stop signs, yielding, all of them. Although rarely enforced, it is the law.

We have enough bike trails now across the city. I don't see why cyclists need to be on the major streets where motor vehicles are driving. I mean, does a cyclist really need to be riding down NW 63rd st at rush hour?

I used to ride by bike all the time......but it got to the point that motorists were not paying attention to me. I would have flashing lights on my bike and a flourescent vest on, but many times it didn't matter.

One day, I was on my lunch hour, and decided to take a bike ride around the neighborhood. I approached an intersection and saw a car approaching it also. She had the stop sign and I had the right of way.....so I thought. In my mind, I was thinking..."surely she isn't going to take off with me entering the intersection." Man, was I wrong.

She took off past the stop sign, and missed me by about a foot. She turned the corner, and I yelled, "you stupid idiot!" Guess what? She started chasing me. I took a turn and rode through a median....and my bike wiped out in the thick grass. As I was getting up, she stopped her car, got out, and started running at me with a knife.

I quickly grabbed my bike, ran to the pavement, and jumped back on my bike. As I took off, she was getting back in her car. I was going north, and she was facing south. It took her a few minutes to turn around, but I was hauling butt, trying to get out of there. Fortunately, I was in an industrial area with a lot of places to hide.

By the time she got turned around and coming after me, I was about three blocks ahead of her. I made a quick turn, jumped off my bike, and went up a very narrow walkway. I thne through my bike in some bushed and squatted down. As I did, she went past me. About 10 minutes later, I got back on my bike and headed back to work.

Nope not at all.... we are referring to 747's that taxi around Lake Hefner.

Doe's that include wearing their seatbelt?

It could have been motorcyles. That is why I asked.

Goodness! I grew up in Ft. Worth, TX with bike trails. We didn't have to wear helmets and plenty of space, however, one has to get to a trail.

Getting to a trail can be harrowing. I don't want to be in your way, and you scare the crap out of me. I prefer to take back streets, as a rider. Sometimes, that's not possible and the traffic scares the Hell out of me. I do my best, to get out of your way. (Please don't run me down!)

As a driver, I encounter cyclists loping through the preserve. They're like the buffalo, slow-moving and it's their range. I pass them, honk and wave. They're easier to pass than the buffalo, unless it's that damned hill before Meers. I ask myself what I would do and it doesn't matter. It's a tight squeeze and I slow down to a crawl.

I really think cyclists should have the right of way. (I really said that). It's far more dangerous for any cyclist, than a motorist.