Bicycles vs. cars in the battle for our roads

As more people begin cycling in major cities, there seems to be growing animosity between those on two wheels and motorists about how to use the limited space on the road safely. Some municipalities are trying to make things easier with things like bike lanes. However, a recent op-ed in The Washington Post makes the argument that cars are stealing the streets, and powerful entities are trying to make cyclists into motorists.

Over the past century, the private automobile has been allowed to own the road in cities to the detriment of those using all other forms of transport, according to the author. The piece's major example of this continuing into the modern day is quite surprising, though: mandatory helmet laws. "Forcing people to wear helmets shifts responsibilities onto cyclists and absolves governments from having to build better cycling infrastructure and drivers from having to obey traffic laws," according to the editorial.

While that's certainly an unconventional argument about bicycle legislation, the author goes even further in the full piece. It includes the argument that Volvo's Lifepaint shouldn't be necessary if drivers pay attention to the road. You can read the entire editorial, here, and have your say in Comments about whether you think this reasoning holds water.

Related Video: