So its OK to have a momentary lapse in attention and kill someone in Texas? Hard to believe. Even an accident the guy crossed over the white line on the side of the road and killed two people. Are we not responsible for even accidental actions. Or can we say, oops, sorry, and we are off the hook?

Please Mr. Texas Governor wake up and ride a bike. Ohh, by the way, look what all that oil is doing to your coastline. Is that sustainalble?

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Myself, I am proud to be an American cyclist.

I am aware that more people here bicycle than drive, and am not bothered by that — provided they can refrain from killing people. I have no desire to force people who are safe and competant drivers from their cars, simply to enforce existing laws that require they not use those cars carelessly.

And the carelessness that this fellow ignores is not just a risk for cyclists. For your information, “Proud”, American drivers kill 40,000-60,000 of *each other* a year, too, not just cyclists. Think about that: you could be the next one to get fitted with a toe tag, even if you haven’t used a bicycle since 5th grade. Drivers have as much stake in enforcing safe use of the roads as those who ride bicycles or motorcycles.

Actually you can, if people are careful and know what they are doing. If knowing what you are doing is too much trouble for you you shouldn’t be allowed to drive.

Most experienced cyclists can hold a straight line while being passed by cars. A lot of drivers do not appear to know how to safely interact with cyclists. If they do not they should go back to drivers ed, passing another road user should not be difficult.

As an avid cyclist I have experience riding everything from main roads, to winding downhills, to busy downtowns. I have never caused an accident. I have however been caused to crash by cars as well as been attacked by malicious drivers. I’ve lost count of close calls. You put in a few thousand miles a year they just happen. That itself is an indictment of the tremendous carelessness and ignorance of many drivers. This past Sunday I was going over 40 mph down a winding hill and a guy in an SUV felt compelled to pass me with less than six inches to spare, around a curve. Why? He just didn’t want to wait behind a bike. I could have beeen doing 80 he would still have tried to pass. These people DO need to be hauled off to jail. Yes civil law suits have a purpose too but I disagree that no useful purpose is served by jail time. Jail time would make it clear that recklessly killing or endangering people is not to be tolerated.

If you wouldn’t tolerate a person firing a shotgun into a croweded evelator with his eyes closed you shouldn’t tolerate people driving as some of these people driving. While accidents do happen, we are talking here about a motor vehicle that veered out of lane and caused a crash. The legal charge for this is called manslaughter.