Bike laws need to be followed

The ever-present dangers of riding a bike are as real today as they were years ago when we first started peddling. We began with training wheels and helmets and soon excelled enough to exclude both. The only bike laws we ever learned were from our parents warning us not to go near the street. City bike laws were never an issue. However, the recent death of Michael Steinbach has raised safety concerns and reminds us of how riding a bike doesn't make us immune to serious dangers.\nIt's a common misconception that bicyclists follow pedestrian laws instead of motor laws. Often we see bikers not stopping at stop signs or, in the case of Michael Steinbach, riding the wrong way down a one-way street. \nBloomington law forbids bikers from riding on the sidewalk and even tickets those caught doing it. Bloomington has listed bike laws on the government Web site (www.bloomington.in.gov) although few resort to it when considering going out for a bike ride. \nAnd many incoming freshmen don't realize these laws either. We feel freshmen orientation should include bike laws in the numerous packets of information that is given to students. Awareness of such laws can help us all whether we're bikers, drivers or walkers.