Bicycles, Common Courtesy, and the Law

It's been too long since my last post to this blog.

Here's what's on my mind this morning: bicycles, or more particularly, bicyclists.

I've been seeing a lot more bicyclists riding around the Roanoke Valley and environs lately.  This is fine.  I love bicycles and should probably ride more often myself.  However! ... I have a bone to pick with some of you bicyclists.

A few days ago I was driving westbound on Harborwood Road in West Salem, a few miles east of Poor Mountain Road, and there were a dozen or so bicyclists traveling the same direction on the same road.  Most were courteous enough to ride on the the far right side of the pavement, allowing motor vehicle traffic to pass, but one in particular was discourteous and inconsiderate enough to stay right in the middle of the lane, travelling well below the posted speed limit, and preventing the car behind him (in this case, driven by me) from passing.

The very next day I was driving across Mill Mountain toward Roanoke, and as I was on the downhill side approaching the beginning of Walnut Ave., I observed three bicyclists riding abreast, travelling the opposite direction (i.e. going uphill).  Directly behind them were three cars, unable to pass due to the solid yellow line.  I would estimate the speed of the bicycles at approximately 10 to 15 miles per hour.  Though the speed limit there is 30 miles per hour, the cyclists acted as though they had the perfect right to impede the progress of the three cars behind them and made no attempt whatsoever, at least for the time that I saw them, to move to the right in single file.

Like any sensible and responsible human being driving a car, I always slow down and exercise caution when passing bicycles on any road.  But what makes you bicyclists think you have the right to ride in the middle of the lane and impede the normal flow of motor vehicle traffic?  I'm not talking about when there's no one behind you.  I'm talking about when there is an automobile right behind you, forced to decelerate, travel below the speed limit and is unable to pass because of your desire to pretend you have the right to ride your bike in the middle of the road.  I have a news flash for you: You do not have that right, as this page from the Code of Virginia clearly states.

That law is there to facilitate the coexistence of bicycles and motor vehicles on our roadways.  Responsible citizens observe these laws rather than criminally disregard them.