First off, I was just so excited that Mr. Ryan McLeod chose to specifically mention me in his letter to the editor on May 17. I have really enjoyed the threats of violence and even worse on social media ever since the RCMP decided to investigate a few irresponsible people on bicycles. I am really glad that when the Cochrane Eagle asked for a comment that the dialogue has continued to spiral into more hate and violent threats. Mr. McLeod, thank you. You have further illuminated the violence toward people that chose to ride a bicycle. Your family must be proud. Mr. McLeod does not understand what "sharing the road" means. We can sit in traffic behind heavy farm equipment, oil rigs, and even houses being moved across the Highway 22 bridge, but once someone is on a bicycle, then it is OK to swerve toward them, threaten them and, in way too many instances, run them off the road. The level of irrationality is embarrassing to those that choose to do so. As for changing the laws, perhaps drivers should follow the laws. Alberta Traffic Code is pretty clear about passing slower moving traffic with due care and caution, when safe to do so. But of course, when I am on a bicycle, that does not count. Every single time drivers choose to swerve toward me because they think it is funny. They choose to ignore me and brush dangerously close to me because I am on a bicycle and I do not matter. So, while I could get into the reason why people on bicycles are safer riding side by side, it does not matter because as people, they do not matter to you. Change the laws? What makes you think drivers will follow them? I mean, you do not follow the Alberta traffic laws anyway. You know, the one that says you are supposed to pass people on bicycles by changing lanes, like any other traffic? Again, thank you for naming me specifically. I have really enjoyed the threats. I cannot wait for the RCMP to barely care when someone runs me off the road again. Dan Richter
