'Talk of the Nation'

Leaving work today I caught a bit of today's 'Talk of the Nation', which presented the topic of bike commuting and the inherent conflicts on our roads these days. Also included on the website is a 'Blog of the Nation' of a woman in DC who just can't seem (my italics, hopefully imbueing whiny tone) to commute. The 3rd comment down on the 'blog' is from a local 'Ville cycling advocate, and I find his comment especially cogent and fair. I was a little put off by the portion I listened to. It was the same old "cyclists don't follow stop sign laws" tiredness that comes up so often. The last time I checked, drivers don't follow them either, but nobody is trying to use that as a justification for the abolishment from the streets. The host- Lynn Neary I believe- was a bit snarky at one point. Someone having pointed out that cyclists don't like to slow down for clear intersections b/c of momentum, she responded that drivers don't either with an unbecoming school marm voice. You know cyclists get beat up on the local broadcasts and on FoxNews, but when they get the cold shoulder from moderately "pink" NPR you know you're in trouble. I know cyclists are whiny too, but I believe I am doing my own part for my health and for everyone else's as well. Ultimately, there are too many instances when "...be the change..." has to apply, whatever the circumstance, and this is one of those circumstances.