All 50 states have a “ride the same direction of traffic” law for bikes. All wheels must go the same direction. Ride right. My job is to teach in the schools and driver ed classes about how to use a bicycle. I was stating that the #1 way cyclists are killed is by riding against traffic. Many folks come up to me and ask in what direction they should walk and ride. “Walk left and ride right” I advocate for the laws in place in Idaho for cyclists.

Bike laws in Idaho:
http://itd.idaho.gov/bike_ped/Idaho_Vehicle_Code_for_Bikes.pdf

I was curious about Marcus’s point. Bikes should ride against traffic. I am 39, and I never learned that in school. I learned you WALK against traffic, and RIDE with traffic. I am not sure if that is what you were referring to, or if times before I was in school, people were taught differently. My wife is a fair bit younger than me, and also learned the same way.

I know most of my problems with bikes, come from the “riding against traffic” variety. I do think the police need to make bikes a priority, since I believe that will save lives. I am not saying ticket everyone, but educate.

I do notice a lot of bikers switching between being out on the roadway and then onto sidewalks, and taking the best of both worlds. When you don’t realize they are making that switch, it can create some issues, as well.

I really don’t understand why Boise police are only after car drivers. They should be equal with the law, and not just targeting one aspect.

A car going down the street without a tailight or headlights stand to get a ticket. The blinker doesn’t work or you change lanes without using your blinker you get a ticket. Every driver knows and understands the implications. In most cases, not all, all you are preventing is a fender bender or a close call. Even in a bad wreck, safety belts, crush zones and air bags prevent most serious injury.

A car hits a bicyclist and it is immediately serious and life threatening. Make the laws, write the tickets and force bicyclists to take ownership of their own safety and well being. If a driver doesn’t see you, he just didn’t see you…..Did you do everything to be seen? Even then, accidents will happen.

I do not understnad why it is any less serious for a bicylcist to be reckless and unsafe than a driver. Who stands to lose more?

I can’t disagree with that. However, there are some roads that are definitely problematic, due to “real estate constraints.” The only way to add bike lanes on the “State Street Bottleneck” would be to eliminate motor lanes, and I don’t see that happening any time soon. (Personally, I mostly take Ellis Avenue, a block northeast. It’s a designated “bike route” with low traffic, and worth the detour, IMO.)

I believe Federal Way has FINE bike/pedestrian facilities! There’s a separated and dedicated bike/pedestrian path almost from end to end, and striped bike lanes in both directions. I don’t know how it could be made any safer. (Roadway users – both motorized and non-motorized – also need to be vigilant in accident prevention. The rise of electronic handheld gizmos is the biggest threat to safety in 2013, in this observer’s opinion.)

Should visible licenses be required of pedestrians, too?

BTW, a license plate identifies the vehicle, not the operator. As many cyclists can testify, reporting a license number doesn’t do much good if you can’t identify the operator.