Commentary
Valerie Ettenhofer
When driving in Lakewood, there are a few traffic-related oddities that drivers are bound to notice. As any commuting student can tell you, the rules of the road are different here. Extreme-angled intersections and flashing school zones are around every corner, pedestrians wander freely across traffic, and all roads lead to the Towne Center.
All of these hindrances, however, pale in comparison to the erratic habits of casual bicyclists. My daily drive to and from school includes a minimum of two people veering between the sidewalk and the street, unsure of their place in the flow of traffic.
I respect anyone who takes an active stand in exercising and cutting their gas bill, but the methods some bicyclists prefer are anything but expedient.
Washington traffic law RCW 46.61.770 states that, “Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place shall ride as near to the right side of the right through lane as is safe.”
This makes sense. If I were to drive ten miles per hour down an average road, I would be pulled over and ticketed in no time. Yet traffic frequently jams in one or more lanes on Steilacoom Boulevard and even South Tacoma Way, simply because of the leisurely pace adopted by casual bikers.
The conditions slow-moving cyclists put themselves in are not only a disturbance to the flow of traffic, but also a danger to the bike riders themselves. I once saw a man who riding unsteadily during a storm that fell onto the road. Besides the inclement weather, he was struggling to decide whether to ride as a pedestrian on the sidewalk or as a vehicle on the road.
No matter the form of transportation, the best way to have a positive commute is by remaining alert and being courteous to any and all people around you. If you ride a bike, consider the distance, your stamina and pacing, and the availability of sidewalks and bike lanes in your route.
As a driver, I give myself extra time in case of delays caused by alternate transportation. Keeping your patience and being aware of the constant movement of those around you are universal guidelines for staying safe on the way to school.
Many serious cyclists have fought for the right to the road, and they deserve a place that allows them the same access as motor vehicles. Every traffic law does not please every person, but any good law works to keep society safe and efficient. Safety and convenience can look different from on a bike than they do from inside a car, but whatever you choose, remember that we all share one road.
