Rob Schweitzer: Bike trails are limited

Regarding the Dec. 9 letter “Use bike trails not roads”: I believe the letter writer may need a reminder that all roads are for all traffic, not just cars. Or perhaps that passing a bicyclist in a double yellow is not always illegal thanks to HB959 that went into effect in October, as an update to G.S. 20-150 allows safe passing of bicyclists in a no passing zone. Just be sure to read the whole thing.

And he’s right, his tax dollars do help pay for some bike trails, just as much as my tax dollars pay for public roads. Key word: Public. As in, for everyone.

Although as for the bike paths, it’s rather hard to find them, since there aren’t many and they generally won’t take anywhere but back to the parking lot where you started.

In fact, if I could ride exclusively on bike trails and never touch a public road again I’d be ecstatic! However, the dusting of bike trails across the state doesn’t get me to my job each day. Or to the schools my kids go to. Or the grocery store. Or the closest Target. Or the post office. Or to my friends and relatives a few towns over. Should I go on?

This story was originally published December 15, 2016 at 8:30 PM with the headline "Rob Schweitzer: Bike trails are limited."