Hawaii: Bicyclists have rights, too

From the Honolulu Advertiser, 08.06.07:

Bicyclists have road rights, too
The other day, I heard a dangerously wrong statement about the state's bicycle riders.

The argument was that bicycles don't belong in traffic, shouldn't be on roads unless there's a bikeway, and shouldn't ever be on sidewalks. Wrong, wrong, and wrong again.

It's not surprising, given comments like that, that some folks might misunderstand the laws with regard to bikes.

Bicycles can legally be in traffic with cars (so can horses and even donkey-drawn carriages, by the way). Bikes are restricted when there is a bikeway--they need to stay in it if they can. And bicycles can sometimes legally be on sidewalks.

"We need to quit blaming each other and share the road," said Hawai'i Bicycling League director Kristi Schulenberg. (Read more.)

This column by the Advertiser's environmental correspondent is a helpful reminder to motorists to share the road.

Image: Web capture.
Visit: A bike-safe Hawaii will keep kids' bodies and brains fit, Honolulu Star Bulletin
Visit: City aims to be more bike-friendly, Honolulu Advertiser
Visit: Making Roads Safer for Bicyclists, KHON
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips