Dear Rich Lord,

I am responding to your article found at… Linking to the Bike Pittsburgh post rather than the article itself…

I commute to work on a bike three days a week and drive the other two so I see both sides of the story that you didn’t present. From my point of view both cyclists and motorists break the law daily.

I cant remember the last time I saw someone actually obey the posted speed limit, or didn’t witness someone floor it to get through a yellow light. Every day I see at least five people on their cell phone, not paying attention to the road or their surroundings.

I challenge any of your sources to give me a day when they don’t experience these things as well.

Your sources point out a small subset of cyclists in Pittsburgh who put themselves and others around them in danger with reckless riding habits. When I am on my bike I am defensive, safe and predictable as are the majority of cyclists I encounter daily. I slow at all stop signs and I stop and cautiously go at all stop lights when it is safe to do so. I don’t obey the laws exactly as they are written, but neither do 90% of the drivers I encounter.

I believe your contributors should take a long hard look at their fellow drivers habits before they choose to criticize the way cyclists share the road. Cycling is here to stay, we are not going anywhere. Time to get used to us and work with us to make our city a cleaner, better city.

Sincerely, Ryan Sprake