I read with interest and expectation the recent article on page 4 regarding children, summer and bicycle safety (“Officials and Businesses Promote Bicycle Safety,” July 14).
This would have been the perfect opportunity for all of the sponsors of this project (police, Senator Jim Tedisco, Stewart’s Shops, and all interested individuals such as parents) to discuss with their children the ultimate in bicycle safety: that of having the bicycle rider adhere to the rules of the road applicable to cars, trucks and motorcycles.
Bicycles, by law, must ride with traffic and follow all of the road rules regarding other motor vehicles sharing the road with them. However, far too frequently, I have seen bicyclists riding at oncoming traffic instead of with it; failing to stop at stop signs; failing to obey traffic light signals; riding side-by-side instead of single file; weaving across oncoming traffic, and other such acts of stupidity that could easily be corrected by some parental instruction and oversight.
Motorized vehicles must yield to non-motorized bicycles, but that does not give the bicyclist the right to flaunt or ignore the rules of the road, or expect that the driver will see or anticipate his or her actions in time to avoid an accident.
Helmets are fine, but clearly fail to protect child bicyclists from acts of foolishness, thoughtlessness or lack of instruction. The ultimate in child safety and protection lies in the education and adherence of the rider to the rules of the road, for the benefit and protection of all users of that road.
Chuck Eckstein
Wilton