This morning there was an article in the local (Seattle) newspaper exhorting drivers of cars to be more conscious of the welfare of bicycle riders as we &quot;share the road.&quot; &nbsp;The article was written &nbsp;in the aftermath of three horrific incidents in which three bicycle riders died. &nbsp;I&#039;m sorry they died. &nbsp;I&#039;m sorry their family members are having to deal with terrible and unexpected losses. &nbsp;&nbsp;The problem is, when cars and bicycles come to grief, bicycle riders are likely to come away the big losers.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In the most recent incident, a two-wheeled rider crashed into a four-wheel vehicle. &nbsp;&nbsp;Despite the fact that emergency medical personnel were already on the scene, they were unable to save the rider. &nbsp;My understanding of the case is that the driver was turning right and the bike crashed into him, T-boning the side of the car. &nbsp;Reporting on the incident mentioned that a police investigation had determined that the driver of the automobile was not &quot;impaired.&quot; &nbsp;There was no notation about whether the bike rider was impaired or even wearing a helmet. &nbsp;There are some crashes that even a helmet can&#039;t fix, but the driver of the car is the one who was automatically suspected of being in the wrong.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Which brings me to tonight. &nbsp;As I write this blog, my hands have finally stopped shaking. &nbsp;Late this afternoon I went down our hill to pick up my grand son from school. &nbsp;At the bottom of our hill there are two stoplights within about a half block of one another. &nbsp;When you turn from our street onto Northup Way, there is usually a backup because traffic wanting to go on toward the freeway in the left lane. &nbsp;I needed to be in the right lane to turn right at the stoplight in order to go northbound on 116th. &nbsp;And I was. &nbsp;I was also signaling to make the right hand turn.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The light turned green. &nbsp;As I began to turn right, a bicycle rider passed me on the RIGHT!! &nbsp;I missed him, but by bare inches. &nbsp;He was very nearly a hood ornament. &nbsp;And had I nailed him, the reporters would have been constrained to report that I was &quot;unimpaired.&quot; &nbsp;The only thing I&#039;ve had to drink in the last several hours is coffee. &nbsp;Had my grandson already been in the vehicle, I believe he would have heard several very un-grandmotherly words!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So okay, I&#039;m all for more civility--in politics and on the road. &nbsp;But bicycle riders NEED TO OBEY TRAFFIC LAWS. &nbsp;DO NOT PASS ON THE RIGHT. passing on the right when someone is making a right hand turn is NOT ONLY illegaL, IT IS ALSO STUPID!!! &nbsp;And if you&#039;re passing traffic stopped for a four way stop on 116th northbound as my daughter was several weeks ago, only a jackass riding a bike would pound on the trunk of her car as he rolled past. &nbsp;She almost had a heart attack on the spot. &nbsp;I know because I was talking to her on her HANDS FREE PHONE!!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By the way, for all you car drivers out there. &nbsp;Talking on your cell phone or texting while driving is ALSO ILLEGAL!! &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Let&#039;s all get a grip, folks. &nbsp;Share the road? &nbsp;Yes. &nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But before we put or feet on the gas or on the bicycle pedal, let&#039;s make sure our brains are fully engaged.&lt;br /&gt;