In my own opinion, I don't think bicycles should be allowed on the roads at all. Roads and traffic patterns just aren't designed to accomadate people who are on bicycles. Even roads that have bike lanes are poorly designed ( the ones that I have seen anyway). They are little more than sections of the street that have been designated for bikes, but they are not really separated from the rest of the road except by a thin yellow line.

One solution could be to build bike paths that are separated from the road. I imagine it would be something like a second sidewalk type of thing, only it would be used by bicycle riders instead. In places where there is heavy bicycle traffic, intersections could have something similar to Walk/Don't Walk signs only they would be Ride/Don't Ride instead. When the sign says Ride, then bicycles would have the right of way and it would be motorists responsibility to pay attention for oncoming riders.

At intersections that don't have traffic lights, such as 4-way stops, then I think something like the Idaho rule is a good idea. Of course, I think the Idaho rule should also apply to cars as well. If you come to a stop sign and there is clearly nobody in the other lanes, then you should be able to legally roll right through it. If there are other cars approaching, then whether you are a bike or a car, you stop at the sign just as you normally would.

Your suggestion would be hugely expensive. It is a struggle to even get designated bike lanes on major routes in our city on streets already in existence. Since cyclists live everywhere, they would still be riding on streets in your scenario to get to those separated routes. Our reality is that bikes and cars and trucks share the same surfaces.

I live in a relatively small town where most of my errands can be completed on bike: go to the post office, drug store, run over for a gallon of milk, etc. A lot of people in my town do the same thing and there is a fair amount of bike traffic. I agree that intersections are a problem, but creating a parallel bike road system would only increase the number of intersections. Maybe I can't quite imagine what is being suggested. We have alleys behind our houses, and I suppose that these could be repurposed for bike roads, but that would put another intersection in the middle of every block.

There are a few instances in which we definitely need to develop an arterial system of bike paths separate from car roads. With many of our churches moving out of town onto 4 lane roads, and the same with hardware stores, and so on, it seems like it would make sense to put a bike path in so I could get to Walmart without risking my life. Big box parking lots tend to be my most dangerous biking, so I would love it if I could skip that. But rails to trails is probably the only way to get bikes off big roads. I just don't think there is room, money, or desire to create a whole new system with all new road beds.

Well, where should they be? On the sidewalks? Knocking down vulnerable pedestrians right and left? No?

Sure, I'd love to be able to ride through Manhattan, my home, on a network of bike lanes physically separated from the rush of mostly hostile cars, taxis and trucks. There is one running for several blocks on Ninth Avenue and it's the only place I really feel safe. But NYC -- and other cities and towns -- simply cannot afford to build this all over. Until then, it's you guys and us guys, sharing the road. Sorry you all hate but but let's learn to get along. It will prevent me from being crushed -- which, it's clear, would give many of these hostile letter-writers pleasure -- and it will prevent you from being involved in messy vehicular-law disputes and wrongful injury lawsuits.