Driving, ghosts of past and present

 I remember when I got my drivers license I was Mark Donahue incarnate.He was the first  American who dominated the racing scene on both continents and in every class of car from trans am, can am to Formula 1. He was the man and I thought I was him. For those of you who were a little after his time here is an address for ya http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_donahue
Back then the DMV was a nice place to go , the drivers were more considerate and the general population were, for the most part, civil. When I grew up in the SF bay area there was actually spaces in between each town and as a prominent milk company said in it's advertisement there were farms in Berkeley. It was a different time and only kids rode bikes, or guys with out DL's

Then things began to change as it has to and low and behold in the late 70's the Cal Berkeley student population started riding bikes en-mass. Like an explosion the fat tire flyers became popular over night and then the mass produced  Puget 10 speed and Schwinn Paramount came unto the scene and finally the serious euro-rode bikes began to appear. Of course with the rode bikes came the velo shops teaming with the exotic wheels, hubs, drive trains, clothes and cool aluminum frames all the way from France and ITALY!  Now our little berg had to cope with drivers and cyclists, again that was a little more civil times so we all shared our road, sort of. But for sure the cyclist was here to stay.
Nothings really changed I guess except the addition of bike lanes and the laws that make drivers have to share the roads. You know the drivers handbook does state that it's a privilege not a right to drive and I for one am glad it says that. Most driver here in Naples are good about sharing. But when the snowbirds come down  and our streets swell to capacity then drivers lose perspective because of the fool-hardiness of visitors driving vacation style during commute hours and get in the way of delivery trucks and such at all hours of the day... it's just damn frustrating. Now add the fact that cycling is past the 'on the rise' to it's a big thing and you have got a town busting at the seems.
 So lately the cars are honking at me, while cycling, to get off the rode. Then there are the drivers who yell out their windows for me to get on the sidewalk when I'm in a bike lane already and it made me look at this whole dance between car and bike a little harder. I started to dig and wondered if the laws of Florida do stipulate how drivers interact with bikes. Yep there it was in black and white, although not in one section but spread in three places for lack of cohesiveness sake. Leave it to the bureaucrats to mess something up that should be a no brainier!
Of course with all the focus on driving etiquette wouldn't you know that as I was driving down the road that hugs the coast two cyclists, who were in full velo-club kit, were not in the ample bike lane but riding side by side in the car lane and going slow to show off their skills. First I ride this road alot and know that the bike lane is always free of debris and has enough room to move around with out getting into the car lane.That's because the tourist ride on the coastal road and the city wants them to be HAPPY! Second it drove me insane to think that guys with velo kit on, advertising their club, would be so foolish and show disrespect to cars thus giving all of us a bad name. I was not happy with them I can't imagine what the 5 to6 cars behind me thought!

Bottom line is if you want to get respect you have to give respect. Have you heard that before? It was something the old guys would say when I was a kid and nothing has changed. There is no 'cool' in being a jerk to anyone and now is a great time to show just what a mensch you really are and obey the laws of the road or you could lose your privilege of driving and while your at it ruin it for all of us who do want to enjoy our sport with out harassment. Hopefully if we use our heads and not an other part of our anatomy we can get a few new bike lanes in the future to boot.
Remember if I pass you on the road stop at peets, because your buying. I'll be in the bike lane.