Q. I am a resident of Wildwood and an avid cyclist. I cannot tell you how many times people have yelled "get off the road". In fact, tonight on Wildhorse Creek Road, someone screamed obscenities and honked at me. The roads in Wildwood are the best (and the most beautiful) in the County, and maybe the State, for long distance cycling. Could there be an article addressing the issue of "sharing the road" sometime in the future just to remind drivers that we are entitled to the road as well?
Answer provided by the St. Louis County Police Department - Wildwood Precinct
A. This is an excellent question, important concern and information that bicyclists and drivers both should be aware of. It seems so easy doesn't it? Just share the road! Unfortunately in many cases sharing the road becomes a huge issue with motorists AND bicyclists. This is true in many cases throughout the United States and is not just an issue in Wildwood. It is also very true that bicyclists do come from all over the St. Louis area to ride the beautiful and challenging roads of Wildwood.
But, are the bicyclists just as entitled to the road as the motorists? The answer is yes! And "sharing the road" is the key. What needs to be accomplished is to make sure the drivers AND bicyclists are educated on the proper rules of etiquette when the two users of the roads come together. The fact is that the "problems" encountered by motorists and bicyclists involve a very small percentage of each group. This small percentage of drivers feel that bicyclists have no right, and do not belong, on any roads that a car uses and the small percentage of bicyclists feel like it's their right to mosey down a roadway, three abreast, chatting away with one another at 12 miles per hour. When ignorance and unawareness collide things get ugly.
Bicyclists, you need to understand that when it comes to car vs. bicycle, the bicycle is going to lose! It's just common sense. Motorists, the 30 seconds you save winning the car vs. bicycle encounter "could" result in weeks or months of inconvenience and time lost if someone gets hurt. It's just common sense. While there are laws that can be enforced for the improper operation of bicycles and cars, common sense plays an extremely big role in making things work.
Yes, a bicyclist might have a right to be on a certain road, but is it "smart or intelligent" to be there? Are you asking for an encounter with a motorist? No, bicyclists do not have the right to ride three abreast blocking an entire lane. No, bicyclists do not have the right to ride in groups of twenty blocking traffic. But does a motorist have the right to plow into the group, blowing their horns, shouting obscenities and getting by the bicyclists in a unsafe manner? These situations become even more troubling when a totally "in the right" bicyclist encounters a totally wrong motorist %u2026%u2026 or a totally "in the right motorist" encounters an ignorant bicyclist. Not only are these encounters wrong, they are not safe and can result in tragic outcomes.
The police department in the City of Wildwood frequently handles bicycle vs. car issues. As a result, police officers are aware and well educated on these situations and will go out of their way to investigate and take action when appropriate. They handle situations in a totally neutral fashion and pursue complaints from both motorists and bicyclists when they have information that they can work with. Brochures have been developed and distributed to local bicycle shops in the area promoting safe bicycling in the City of Wildwood and contain information on how motorists and bicyclists can obtain the necessary details for police to use to follow-up on complaints. The goal is to make the City of Wildwood bicycle friendly and not unjustly inconvenience the motorists using the roadways. Remember, "sharing the with others, in a considerate manner, makes the road safer for everybody!"
For more information call the Wildwood Police Precinct at (636) 458-9194 and ask for Officer Brad Wood. Click the link below for an informational handout of the Missouri State Statutes related to Bicycling:
