Steve Cox: Cycling filled with danger

Regarding the Dec. 9 letter “Use bike trails not roads”: As a 66-year-old cyclist who rides for exercise (cannot run) I agree with some of the letter writer’s comments, except riders are at much greater risk than drivers. This is why I elect to carry a bike by car 40 miles to Raleigh Greenway trails to ride.

Also, not all bicyclists are as rude as he suggests or he is. The law says both should share the road, which includes cyclists riding single file and getting as close to the shoulder as safely as possible.

Sharp, deep shoulders can be like ditches and if a bike gets too close, drops a tire into a ditch it can throw the bike and rider into or under a car. This happened to me as I tried to give a logging truck room to pass, and I was thrown into a rear tire, tumbling five times, but better than under a tire.

I do not have a “passion for latex shorts” as he obnoxiously said, but wear appropriate clothing with bright colors for safety (visibility to drivers).

Not everyone has easy access to trails. Cycling also has environmental benefits, but he sounds too selfish to care.

This story was originally published December 16, 2016 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Steve Cox: Cycling filled with danger."