If we are not sure of our rights, it is difficult to defend them. So let’s start there. When we ride our bikes on a roadway, the bike is a vehicle, and as the operator, we have the right to use the road no matter what our purpose—commuting, fun, recreation, or whatever.
Cyclists earned this legal status long ago, before the first automobiles started using the roads. In the late 19th century, the roads were rutted, uneven, and muddy. The Good Roads Movement came about after the formation in 1880 of the American Wheelman, which later became the League of American Bicyclists. With cyclists leading the way, many roads were paved.
These and other early efforts established bicycles as vehicles, giving cyclists equal rights and duties When automobiles became more prevalent, the principles that had been developed were adapted to include them. As time went on, and the automobile became the predominate vehicle, traffic laws were expanded, often in ways that favored the motor vehicles.
Today, as in the past, cyclists’ rights to the road are frequently challenged. Some communities actually ban bicycles from roads despite our rights. Law enforcement many times fails to protect us. Even with all of this, we cyclists still exercise our right to the road.
As more people take up cycling, public acceptance of our rights will grow, assuming cyclists understand their rights. Knowledge is an essential step. That is why I feel that repeating this topic over and over is necessary We must remember our responsibilities as cyclists or as the driver of a motor vehicle.
There will be an opportunity for you cyclists to ride the roads of Fermilab at the end of July. This is a ride in which I would encourage you to participate. It is called Chase the Moon Moonlight Bike Ride.
Each year on the scheduled day of this event, as the clock strikes
