Cyclists Are Special, and They Should Have Their Own Rules

There's a line of reasoning advanced by the media, angry motorists and, sometimes, cyclists, that goes something like: Since some cyclists don't follow the rules, cyclists don't deserve respect.

A version of this axiom was repeated yesterday by Sarah Goodyear at Atlantic Cities, in an article titled "Cyclists Aren't 'Special,' and They Shouldn't Play by Their Own Rules." Goodyear argues that cyclists need to clean up their behavior in order to legitimize themselves in the eyes of others. A crackdown on rule breakers is needed, she says, to advance the cause of cycling.

Blogger David C. at Greater Greater Washington says that's baloney:

Bike lawyer Brendan Kevenides wrote in Urban Velo last year that "the way you ride is probably a crime," saying that in many cases cyclists have logical reasons for breaking the rules, often for their own safety. He wrote that lawmaking bodies across the country are starting to recognize ways in which cyclists behave differently from motorists, and are making appropriate accommodations. In other words, lawmaking bodies are recognizing that cyclists are special, in that they are not the same as cars, and that they should have their own rules.

Elsewhere on the Network today: Kansas City's gudthoughts blog considers whether crowd-funding is a viable way to improve that region's transit infrastructure. Systemic Failure says Amtrak's strict "no pets" policy is unnecessary and puts the quasi-public transportation provider at a competitive disadvantage with other modes. And People for Bikes asks cyclists to send pro-bike letters to their local newspapers in honor of Bike to Work Week.