Oil and water, cats and dogs, phone bills and teenagers. Some things just don’t go together. But does the same have to be true for New Mexico bicyclists and motorists? Well, if New Mexico’s neighbor to the west is any indication, there is a long way to go. Transportational tensions are flaring in Tuscon as bicyclists and drivers continue their war of words. Even to local news has become caught in the middle.
Here in Albuquerque, bicycle accidents are all too common. Any drive on a weekend morning will reveal that the issue will not be going away anytime soon. While drivers tend to feel that they are entitled to the road and bicyclists must yield the way, the law is not so one-sided. More often than not, New Mexico bicycle accidents occur when a driver fails to respect their fellow two-wheeled roadster.
While it may take some time for New Mexico bicyclists and drivers to coexist in harmony, there is certainly no need to tolerate hostility and injury while we wait.