Local Biker Claims Immunity from all Traffic Laws

That would be me. You see this morning on my way to work (it should be noted that I’ve been walking or biking to work for the past few months) I came about 2 inches from becoming the latest statistic about the need for improved bike safety in cities. Keep in mind that I live in arguably one of the worst cities to drive a car in much less ride a bike, so its only natural that I might have a run in with a truck or SUV from time to time. Today it was a truck that ran a stop sign… a huge truck. I learned a huge lesson today, a lesson that apparently if you are on a bike you are either invisible to drivers or they simply don't care.

Thankfully I did not share the tragic fate of the young girl in DC in part due to the truck driver's realization that he had run a stop sign and that in doing so he might need to look both directions for cars (or bikes), but mostly due to my cat like reflexes. Needless to say, I agree with Megan McArdle, and I share Will Wilkinson idea that bikes shouldn’t have to obey traffic laws.