I am a avid cyclist, I commute daily to work about 25 miles round trip from DC to Fairfax. I have been riding all my life and I must admit I am tired of this continued battle between drivers and riders. Yes, I role through the occasional stop sign, but my law breaking stops there! A few thoughts about both camps: 1) Having different standards for different vehicles is a beautiful idea but completely impractical. Remember, this is a country that still consumes gas guzzling monster SUV's and only panics when gas gets above $4.00 per gallon.... we are vehicle driving dinosaurs. Expecting these same folks to accept a "Copenhagen" type solution is wasting important energy on an idea that will NEVER happen and getting us further away from our goal. If this is what you want I suggest living in Copenhagen.... unfortunately that is the reality. 2) As cyclists, purposely breaking the law in the face of drivers does nothing for our cause, it only diminishes our stature. If we act like children, doing what we shouldn't to test the the rules and laws, then we will be treated like children, and thus our vehicles become toys. Now, if you have no cause or solution in mind than by all means, scream through the red light, ride the wrong way down the one way road, but don't then complain about needing to be treated better, it just isn't going to happen without sacrifice. 3) Drivers are almost always unaware of the dangers and difficulties cycling entails. Just take a friend on a ride for the first time, and see the light bulb come on when they realize how insignificant they feel on the road. Our best attack is education, more awareness, reminding drivers that they have all been on a bicycle at some time. A little sympathy can go a long way, but that is a two way street. How sympathetic are we as cyclists to the driver who is late for work and stuck at a light when we just role on by and break the law.... it is a metaphoric "screw you" in their face! 4) I close with a little story. One early morning as I commuted to work traveling through Clarendon I approached a stop light. even though there was no traffic I stopped, clipped out, and waited. A car pulled up behind me and we waited patiently together. Then, another cyclist approached from behind, bolted past both of us and sailed through the red light without a concern in the world. A calm situation had now become hostile. The driver, outraged at the injustice was going to bark at someone, (and thank goodness that's all she did) and who did she pass first? Me of course... so I became the unfair receiver of her justified anger. As cyclists, we need to remember that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. When we break the law we make every other cyclist a little less safe on the road.

Wow, your story sounds like mine. There is work to do on all fronts, with motorists and other cyclists. All we can do is be an example and spread the word.

If you have ridden in Copenhagen you would have seen that all cyclists stop and wait for lights and do so without going into the crosswalk.

Thanks jwin, but I am not sure what your point is? Unfortunately I have not ridden in Copenhagen, although I wouldn't turn down the chance. I have lived and ridden in four countries, and to be honest many of the issues exist there as well. The big difference I noticed was that the drivers in europe were generally more knowledgeable and understanding towards cyclists and simply drove their vehicles with more control. I stick to my original point, educate all of us better about how to control a vehicle properly, and safely operate it on the roads... cars, trucks, bicycles, etc.