Four wheels bad, two wheels better

First things first, a bit of disclosure. I'm an avid bicyclist. I love riding my 21-speed mountain bike or my road bike around town or even as a healthier method of transportation if the location is within a reasonable distance.

However, I have a bit of a problem with the "Same Roads, Same Rules" mentality. In addition to being an avid bicyclist, I am also an avid motorist/motorcyclist. I give bicycles a wide berth because I know how much it sucks to have a car whiz past you on your bike. I take care not to honk at cyclists or yell "GET OFF THE FUCKING ROAD!" simply because I can.

Here's where I start to take issue: bicyclists are not subject to the same rules as cars or motorcycles. Sure, there are traffic laws (i.e: stop lights, stop signs, etc.) that they are generally supposed to follow, but for the most part, bicyclists enjoy the ability to make the initial investment of the said bike and ride it until their feet fall off.

This brings me to my first point: ANYONE can ride a bicycle on ANY road. Now, this is all well and good and everything, but for those of you who read my blog, do you remember what you had to do before you could drive on said roads? That's right. You had to meet the state standard for operation of a motorized vehicle. There is no standard, be it written or state mandated for operation of a bicycle, meaning you can ride as much like a douche as you want and, well, whatever. Worst that's gonna happen is you get hit by a car and the person driving said car is getting charged with vehicular manslaughter. I challenge you to find someone who got pulled over on their bike for "reckless biking."

Second, depending on the state (Michigan is one of them), there is a mandatory helmet law for motorcyclists. Although it is on the chopping block for repeal/relaxation, it still exists. I, personally, will never ride my motorcycle without a helmet, but that is personal choice. Helmets are optional for bicycles in Michigan, and unless the rider is a hardcore bicyclist with a rearview thing affixed on his helmet, you're not going to see many people wearing a helmet. This ties in with the whole "no written standard" for operation of a bicycle.

Third, bicycle owners do not have to register their bikes with the state, nor do they have to get any insurance on the bicycle itself. Although this one seems a bit obscure, it makes a bit more sense if you think about it. Registration with the state would actually be a benefit for the bicyclist because should their bike get stolen, the thief would be subject to the same laws as they would be if they were to steal your car or motorcycle. In addition to that, should your bike get stolen or damaged in any way, you wouldn't be out a great deal of money due to your insurance coverage.

I agree that bikes have their place on the roads, don't get me wrong. I'm just saying that if you're going to use the same roads as motorized vehicles, you should follow the same rules.