Bicyclists need to follow same rules as motorists

Editor,

This is a problem all over Albuquerque, but on the UNM campus, it seems to be worse. According to the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division's driver license manual, bicycle riders have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle drivers. They must stop at traffic lights, signal their intentions and obey other traffic laws.

Several times a day, I see cyclists cavalierly and, sometimes, blatantly, rolling through stop signs, using crosswalks and sidewalks as though they are pedestrians and weaving in and out of traffic like they are couriers in lower Manhattan delivering documents on Wall Street.

Now that the end of daylight saving time is upon us, it is extremely important that all cyclists follow the rules of the road. In the dark, it is even more difficult to see pedestrians, skateboarders and cyclists. On my way home yesterday, I almost hit a cyclist without any reflectors who decided the stop sign was not meant for his vehicle. Not only is this a safety issue, but failure to follow the traffic laws can and often does result in the issuance of a citation. For the safety of all involved, sharing the road means all vehicle operators must know and follow the rules of the road.

Marianne Presser

UNM staff