I was listening to a conservative talk radio show recently when the host went off on a tirade about how bicyclists and pedestrians are the cause of traffic gridlock resulting in higher levels of pollution in New York City, and, by the way, on the road in front of his home.
The radio show host’s argument was pretty stereotypical: Get off the road, it is made for automobiles, not bicycles. He continued by complaining that the laws that give pedestrians and bicyclists the right of way doesn’t make any sense.
From a Constitutional perspective, this radio talking head is flat wrong. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights are clearly designed to protect those without political voice and to protect the rights of the minority. Last time I traveled to work, the numbers of automobiles clearly outnumbered bicyclists and pedestrians. Clearly, the very design of the Constitution is meant to protect this minority of commuters.
So to deny the rights of the bicyclists and pedestrians by not constructing safe routes for these minority groups smacks of prejudice. The “not on my roads” attitude hearkens back to the days of segregation. I hope, as a nation we have learned our lesson on what these segregationists attitudes can do to the fabric of our society.
I am calling out to everyone who believes the Constitution of this country is the foundation for our system of law to contact your local and national leaders and demand that bike paths and sidewalks be constructed in your community as soon as possible.
