Die another day

I don’t want to die.\nBut every day the Grim Reaper puts his ominously huge sickle to my young, supple neck and warns, “This day may be your last.”\nHe says this to me because I ride around Bloomington on my bicycle. Whether the danger comes from people in 4000-lb. machines, such as SUVs and vans, who pass me too closely, oblivious pedestrians on cell phones who don’t look both ways before they cross the street or other cyclists ignorant to the rules of the road, death looms around every corner.\nSo I offer some advice for every car driver, cyclist and pedestrian. If we can follow some simple rules, the Grim Reaper will stop haunting us two-wheeled travelers.\n1. If you own a car and choose to drive it around Bloomington, please note:\nCYCLISTS FOLLOW THE SAME LAWS AS CARS ON THE ROAD. \nWho knew? Not most of Bloomington, I can tell you that much. Since we have the same rights as cars, that means you can’t cut us off, pass us too closely, skip our turn at stop-signs, etc.\nBikes are meant for streets, not sidewalks. It’s no use yelling at us to get off the street, because that is exactly where we are supposed to be. \nFurthermore, we have to get in the middle of the lane sometimes to avoid pot holes or just to make sure you, the driver, can see us before we approach an intersection.\nFinally, besides endangering our lives physically, you also hurt our feelings with your angry obscenities. The other week, after a driver passed me so closely I nearly slammed into a parked car, the normal looking, middle-aged driver shouted at me a colorful phrase containing both the f-bomb and a derogatory word for female genitalia. Was this needed? No, because she had almost just killed me. The natural response of some angry drivers is to blame the cyclists for their mistakes. But guys, it’s really you, not us.\n2. If you walk around campus jabbering on your cell phone, please note:\nOBLIVION TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS PUTS YOU AND OTHERS IN DANGER.\nAll I have to say is that your mommy taught you to look both ways before you cross the street. Please oblige her.\n3. For all those cyclists in Bloomington, please note:\nYOU MUST FOLLOW THE SAME RULES AS CARS, AND BE HYPER VIGILANT!\nIf you ride a bike YOU MUST RIDE WITH TRAFFIC. I know that to some people it seems logical to ride against traffic so they can see what’s coming at them, but that is actually a very bad idea. You run the risk of having a head-on collision with both cars and other cyclists if you ride against traffic.\nDon’t skip stop signs.\nSignal when you are turning by extending an arm in whichever direction you will turn.\nGo in the middle of the lane before a stop sign or intersection so cars will see you and consequently not run you over.\nGot it? Good. Now maybe we can all live in harmony.