chewybrian 

For many years, local cyclists have illegally crossed the Pineda Causeway to get from Viera and Suntree to the beach without a 25 mile r/t detour. Yesterday, Matt Reed, editorial page editor for the Florida Today, wrote about his experience crossing the causeway on newly opened bike lanes, and his feelings about the cyclists' right to use the roads.

Article

Here are a few choice quotes. I really like his attitude:

"To me, the option to ride a bike instead of driving equals freedom from obligation to oil and insurance companies. It is freedom from indoor confinement and physical weakness."

"Even if you never ride a bike across the Pineda, it’s important you have that choice."

"Today, I can’t accept that gasoline and car insurance are a consumer choice when government keeps laws and roads that prevent us from declining those things. Lifting the bike ban on the Pineda was a small, safe decision that expands everyone’s liberty."

Awesome!

The comments section was a harsh dose of reality, though--mostly drivers ranting about their perceived loss of safety or time, or money 'wasted' on bike lanes for cyclists who don't pay for roads (as if all roads are bought and paid for at the pump, and no cyclist owns a car). Ginger, however, is a local cycle shop owner, who is, reasonably, concerned about cyclists' safety out there.



This a nice look at the causeway. To see the bike lanes, you'll have to check out THIS page, with a video and photo. They own the photo, which is the only one I found.

Roody

That is a good editorial. Reed certainly understands the deeper issues of "bicycle freedom." Especially the freedom given to people who can't afford a car, as well as those who don't want to feel enslaved to creditors, oil companies, and insurance agencies.

(I didn't read the comments because they usually give me conniption fits---most commenters on any site represent the lunatic fringe.)

chewybrian 

But aren't we all commenters on this site? Oh, wait, never mind...

It really is a great article. I hope a few others check it out. I regret that I did not jazz up the title to spark more interest.

Next time:

Title: Hot naked girls on bikes!

Text: This link doesn't contain any, but it's a good read about bike lanes and cyclists' rights.