Regarding John Grady’s letter to the Press on Nov. 23, and how he suddenly had to cross the center line to avoid a collision with a bicyclist, I surely hope everyone crosses the center line when passing any bicyclist, runner, or walker, because that is the safe amount of distance needed. As an avid bicyclist, I know that more than half of all the car encounters I have leave an unsafe distance. In some cases, cars pass in both lanes while passing me on my bike—the “squeeze play.” And it is even more frightening when the operator is talking on the cell phone in an over-sized, 7,000-pound, gas-guzzling SUV. I see those huge mirrors coming at me and fear for my health. Vehicle operators need to show a little more courtesy and/or take up riding, walking, running and see how they feel when some car, SUV, truck, etc. passes them with five feet of distance at 40 mph. I cannot tell you how many waves of thanks I get when I swerve my vehicle clear into the other lane, far away from a rider/walker/runner. Try it yourself sometime..
JC Ferguson
Willow Road
