Around 7 a.m. the other morning, I drove down Barton towards the Los Margaritas/BP and came upon a young lady on the dimly lighted street on a bicycle. I admit that I may have been 5-10 miles an hour over the speed limit and I managed to quickly get into the middle lane and maneuver around her. My heart still beating pretty fast, I realized that she didn’t have a helmet or anything on that was reflective/flashing. I stopped at the BP and held back any major scolding because she looked like she could be one of my daughters (even though my own kids would’ve seen the worst of me) so I just handed her one of my bike riders vests that I had and drove on.
We all have to use a little common sense here. As a driver, I will try to drive slower and look out for non-motorized people on the road, but as bikers, promise me that you will make an effort to do the minimum in safety. Value your life and wear a helmet, something reflective please or preferably one of those flashing red lights would help. They sell them at retail sports stores or any local bike shop.
Kevin Byars
Hixson, Tn.