Letter: Yes, please share the road

EDITOR,
Several days ago, driving northbound on Highway 9, I stopped at the stop sign in Boulder Creek, preparing to make my usual left turn on to Highway 236. With my left-turn signal on, I stopped and waited for preceding traffic and pedestrians to clear. When it was my turn, I started my turn. Out of nowhere, a gentleman rode his bicycle into the crosswalk and started yelling at me that he was a pedestrian and had the right-of-way. I informed him right back that he wasn’t a pedestrian, because he was riding his bike and was illegally in the crosswalk. He didn’t know what to make of that.
We keep hearing “share the road,” but often it appears to be a one-way mantra. Most of the bicyclists I encounter really try to be good riders, but there is a significant minority who feel that cars be — well, they aren’t polite. While driving at 10 mph in a 35 mph zone waiting for a cyclist to move over, I will get a one-finger greeting and no move to let me or others pass. This is unfortunate, because it reflects on all cyclists.
The California Legislature recently passed the 3-foot passing bill and awaits the governor’s signature. Highways 9 and 236 are not bicycle-friendly roads. There really isn’t enough room to pass without going over the double yellow line as it is. Now, this new law will make passing cyclists even more difficult. I will just have to let traffic back up until there is room to pass or the cyclists takes a turnout. I wonder if the ticketing CHP officer will care.
Jeff Hillendahl, Boulder Creek
Editor’s Note: If signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, Senate Bill 910 would require a 3-foot distance between a cyclist and a vehicle when the vehicle tries to pass the cyclist. Current law calls for an unspecified safe distance. On narrow roads, the bill says, the driver may cross over a double yellow line to pass.