SHARE THE ROAD !!!

Tis the season.  It is that time of year when warmer temperatures bring people out of the winter hibernation into the outdoors to savor the freshness that Mother Nature offers. School sessions are ending, longer daylight hours, children playing, and joggers prepping for races. Included in those droves of outdoor enthusiasts are cyclists.

The communities of cyclists in Kentucky are comprised of cyclists who compete in triathlons and other races, members of bicycle clubs, charity and fundraising bicyclists, and hundreds bicycle tourists from all over the world travel through the state of Kentucky heading to their east or west coast destinations. This community also includes our children going to soccer, softball and baseball practice and games. It includes the mother trailing her child along the street or road to take a break from the daily chores of motherhood.  It is the person recovering from a debilitating illness that is attempting to regain health and vigor through cycling. These cyclists are your neighbor, John; your teacher's son, Joey; and your babysitter, Jane.

All of them share a common bond with all road users.  That bond?  Make it to their destination safely.

It is not our intention as cyclists to delay you in arriving at your destination. Like you, we want to arrive there safely to enjoy that pizza, the game, the movie, arrive home to our wives, children and yes; even to work.  Yes, sometimes like you we can get into a hurry.  Run stop signs, turn right or left on red without stopping; ride toward traffic the wrong way; do not signal our intentions; do not use right taillights or front lights; and even speed and weave in and out of traffic.  Yes, it can be irritating to road users to witness these events and I hope you will report cyclists and other road users who violate traffic laws.  I know I do.  We are all together on the road and street moving to our destination hopefully in and safe and non-violent manner.

One thing is PERFECTLY clear. In just about every event between a road user and cyclist, THE CYCLIST WILL LOSE.  I urge you, all road users to SHARE THE ROAD!

In the state of Kentucky, whether you are a cyclist or regular road user, show your support of sharing the road when you renew your vehicle license plates by purchasing a specialty Kentucky "SHARE THE ROAD" plate.

A contribution from the purchase of Kentucky’s “Share The Road” specialty license plates funds the Paula Nye Memorial Bicyclist and Pedestrian Educational Grant program. This program is administered by the Kentucky Bicycle and Bikeway Commission in cooperation with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and is intended to inform and educate the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky to matters concerning bicycle and pedestrian safety through several programs.  Do your part to “SHARE THE ROAD”

For more information about the Paula Nye Memorial Bicyclist and Pedestrian Educational Grant program visit the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Bicycle and Pedestrian Program website: www.bikeway.ky.gov

And on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KentuckyBicycleBikewayCommision

For information about the “SHARE THE ROAD” specialty license plate contact your local Kentucky county clerk’s office.

And finally, the “SHARE THE ROAD” campaign is not limited to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.   This is a world wide effort intended to educated road users, cyclists and pedestrians about safe road use.  There are many organizations world wide assisting dispersing information about this endeavor.  To find out how you can join in spreading the word, contact your local bike club or bike shop.