Gumming up traffic

Brian J. McFillen’s  missive “Street stress,”  published by the IDS on Aug. 6 might be well-intentioned, but the author would do well to take a more critical look at the situation. He grumbles that bicycles are “gumming up” traffic and endangering lives. I travel the stretch of road in question both by car (frequently) and by bicycle (occasionally). In my experience the traffic is being “gummed up” not by bicycles but by large numbers of cars. Buses stopped to load and unload passengers also apparently contribute to congestion. I say, apparently because while it appears that way to the casual observer, those buses represent cars that are not on the road – cars that would be in front of Mr. McFillen and causing him further delays. The same argument applies to bicycles.

In my experience the number-one traffic safety issue in Bloomington is inattention to traffic caused by the use of cell phones. So Brian, if you really want to take up a cause to make our streets safer for everyone regardless of mode of locomotion, please work for a ban on the use of cell phones while operating a vehicle (of any number of wheels).

Mark Napier
Co-President Bloomington
Bicycle Club