I hope I misinterpreted the meaning of your headline. Bicyclists belong on public roads and highways, along with pedestrians and motor vehicles. Roads do not belong to motorists, or any other group of users, they belong to the public.

It is hard to believe that you have never seen a bicycle stop for a light or stop sign, but doesn't change the fact that some do. If they didn't, we would be an extinct group in short order, as we stand no chance in an accident with a motor vehicle. In my observation many motorists drive above the posted speed limit, tailgate, and few of the slower ones keep right. Since you are a motorist should I hold you accountable for all the motorists I see breaking the law?

A major effort for the Bicycle Friendly Columbia Task Force will be education. This includes education of bicyclists, motorists, and law enforcement. While I am well connected in the bicycling community, I have no way to reach all bicyclists. Even if I could, I would have no enforcement authority to make them do as I wish. Law enforcement must determine appropriate actions to make our roads safe. One approach is to provide tail lights to law enforcement so they can stop someone riding at night without one and give them a light, rather than writing someone a ticket who is probably riding the bike because they can't afford a car. The Palmetto Cycling Coalition has also printed up the basic bicycling rules in both English and Spanish and made them available.

Your interpretation that bicycle friendly means having separate lanes is a misconception. Not only is this impractical due to expense and right of way required, it often isn't even the safest way to design a road for all users. If you would like to learn more I invite you to attend one of the monthly meetings of the Bicycle Friendly Columbia Task Force. You may contact Gerry Lynn Hall at scdcorp@columbiasc.net for the dates. Will Haltiwanger Columbia