Moody Meow

D had a shite ride to work this morning. See his post to understand the extent, but I got mad pissy at the cops, so I wrote a letter…….

To Whom it May Concern,
It has come to my attention that your deputies are a little fuzzy on the rules of the road when it comes to bicyclists. Twice in the past month my husband, who is a bike commuter, has been screeched at by your deputies, ordering him to ride on the sidewalk. Riding on poorly maintained sidewalks poses not only a danger to the rider, but to pedestrians as well. The bicycle rider has just as much right to be on University as any of your deputies. It’s the motor vehicle’s responsibility to move around them if they have room, and there are 3 lanes at that point in the road, so your deputy’s comment did nothing more than announce his arrogance and laziness to the citizens of Orange County.
This happened this morning between 6:45-6:50 a.m. on University, just past Dean Road. Unfortunately, without a pen and paper handy my husband could not get the tag or car number of the deputy. Please make your deputies aware that not only cyclists legally allowed on University, it’s the motor vehicles’ responsibility to move around them, not vice versa.

“Every person riding a bicycle shall have all of the rights, and all of the duties, applicable to other drivers…” (FL 316.2065 (1))

With all the bad press about the Sheriff’s office, it’s a shame that the negative public image is reinforced by a few impatient deputies. Instead of leading by example, they are endangering the life of my husband, and giving other drivers the illusion that it is acceptable to abuse and disregard bicycle commuters. I know that this complaint cannot be investigated (although I am quite sure that your dispatch knows who was in that area at that time this morning) but I hope that someone has the sense to make your department aware of common courtesy on the road when it comes to cyclists.

I look forward to your comments.

Erica McEachern
Orlando Utilities Commission
407-XXX-XXX
407-XXX-XXX