Three years ago, two gentlemen wrote letters to the editor in The Conway Daily Sun, encouraging bicyclists to ride on the left side of the road, facing traffic. Tod Powers, then president of the Mount Washington Valley Bicycling Club, wrote in to challenge those ideas. Peter Minnich’s letter added to the discussion. He felt that “riding against the traffic would be more dangerous and confusing than riding with traffic.”

Minnich cited narrow roads with bigger vehicles, going faster speeds, driven by distracted or inconsiderate drivers as adding more danger to the roads. His suggestion that cyclists pick where and when to ride to lessen conflicts makes sense — “Some roads, at some times of the day, are not appropriate for cycling.”

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Gregory Wallace
Gregory Wallace

First of all Sally, why are bicyclists being killed and maimed in larger numbers when they are struck from behind if that practice is so safe? "Struck from behind and killed" is the primary description of crash statistics where bicyclists are killed. Don;t you know that? Why are some of our legally obedient friends dead? Where is your evidence? The vehicles behind the slower bicycle riders are Texting or talking, The sun may be in their eyes, or worse yet they are stoned on or on Fentanyl or impaired by alcohol or pot. More such drivers will be in Maine right next door starting right now,. due to legalization. Do you really want to trust your life to someone like that? Go check with the bureau of statistics like I have and observe the number of bicyclists who rode and were were killed by being struck from behind and are DEAD It will open your eyes. Statically the so called "Legal" riders are dying in larger numbers. I am not anti bicycle, I ride. I am sick of my friends dying for a bogus argument that no longer fits in today's world., The NHTSA clearly says that awareness of your surroundings while riding a bicycle is the primary defense of bicycle riders. Riding facing incoming traffic where all of the threats are coming in front of you Trumps leaving the threats behind you where you cannot save yourself from them. The term "Taking the road" no longer applies, sorry. Hate to have to say it but it's time for us to get our heads out of our bicycle butts.

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