Kristen Brookshire: Biking a lifestyle choice

Regarding the Dec. 9 letter “Use bike trails not roads”: The wonderful news for the writer and his wife is that as of Oct. 1 drivers are now legally able to cross a double yellow line when it is safe to pass bicyclists (leaving at least 4 feet of space).

Those who ride bicycles in our community pay the same taxes that the writer pays. Currently, no one is paying their fair share for our transportation infrastructure since the federal fuel tax has not been increased since 1993 and there have been no adjustments for inflation.

The reason our tax dollars help pay for bike lanes and shared-use paths is not to indulge someone’s “passion for latex shorts and expensive bicycles.” It is to support a variety of community goals including health, equity, safety, economic vitality, sustainability and sense of place.

Bicyclists do not wear latex. We wear work uniforms, athletic gear, coats and gloves, jeans and T-shirts, business casual, etc. We dress for the purpose of our trip, just like anyone who is walking, driving or taking the bus.

This story was originally published December 15, 2016 at 8:29 PM with the headline "Kristen Brookshire: Biking a lifestyle choice."