It was shocking to read a letter to the editor from a motorist who stated, This road is far too winding and hilly to allow for simultaneous use by vehicles and cyclists without a paved shoulder. For cyclists to travel this treacherous stretch of highway is an invitation for close encounters and accidents. Perhaps this motorist would be surprised to discover that under the Good Roads movement in the 1890s before automobiles were popular, the roads in the United States were first paved to accommodate bicyclists. Outside of America, most of the motorists in the world recognize that bicycles were on the roads first and have the right to be there. In fact, in many civilized countries, any accident occurring between a motorist and a bicyclist is automatically considered the motorist s fault.
Bicycle racing is the second most popular spectator sport in the world, behind only soccer.
The bicycle remains a significant transportation tool. There are 800 million bicycles in world-wide use compared to 400 million motorized vehicles. The majority of these bicycles are used for transportation. In central Missouri, bicyclists often find themselves being harassed and intentionally endangered by motorists. The participants reported that near the end of their ride, the harassment they received from motorists in this area was the worst they had received during their entire trip.