Charles Ling: Pampered bicyclists

Regarding the July Point of View “Raleigh bike lanes an unjustified $4.62 million expense”: Bike lanes cannot be enforced; cars and trucks can ride in marked lanes and bikes can choose to ignore the painted lanes and ride in the middle of the street. Painted bike lanes are merely a $4.6 million suggestion.

Bicyclers can legally ride on the sidewalks in Raleigh. Bicyclers could do this during periods of heavy traffic, but most choose to stay in the streets. Owners of individual cars, trucks and business owners have to pay for inspection fees, taxes and license plates. Bicycle owners pay nothing, not even for a city tag or permit, and yet there is millions spent to satisfy this minority.

It’s ironic that the bicyclist can dictate the speed limits of cars and trucks trapped behind them or that those bicyclists can cause cars to swerve to get around them. These individuals are pampered by our city leaders.

Our speed limits and traffic lights have been designed to keep the flow of traffic steady. During rush-hour traffic, a few bikes at the wrong place disrupt this routine. Some bicyclists use our 114 miles of greenways and less busy streets, but narcissistic riders during rush hour show their defiance of common courtesy.

This story was originally published August 24, 2016 at 4:44 PM with the headline "Charles Ling: Pampered bicyclists."