Dear Mahatma: You gave us a lot of information in last week's column but never answered the question. On the road in question, there are bicycle paths on both sides, but I have never seen a bicyclist use the paths at Two Rivers Park, which are separated from the road by drainage ditches. If there is a separate bike path, are bicyclists required to use it? -- Rita
Dear Rita: Thank you. Sometimes we are opaque. Or translucent. Or dense.
We can find nada that says bicyclists must ride in a bike path if it is available. We have examined the legal code and fell into a dead faint.
We also carefully read the bicycle guide published by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department.
As noted last week, the "Bicycle Safety in Arkansas" pamphlet advises cyclists to follow the rules of the road.
If bike riders are told they must ride in a bike path, we can't find that part.
Dear Mahatma: We were walking on the Big Dam Bridge at our peril. A bicyclist was pedaling frantically and coming downhill and around a curve when a group was walking up, five abreast, including one elderly man with a cane. It was a miracle they were not mowed down. Can't bicyclists be more courteous? -- A Reader
Dear Reader: When we were at the Batesville Guard, back in the previous century, one of the great men of that city was Clyde McGinnis.
Clyde used to say everyone is good for something, even if it's only to show others how not to be.
Bicyclists, drivers and pedestrians all must show others how to be, rather than how not. That's our sermon.
Except for ... five pedestrians abreast on the Big Dam Bridge seems to us to defy common sense.
We now share comments from Blake, an avid bicyclist.
"I believe emphasis of a main point in your column needs to be made," Blake wrote. "All other points in your column follow behind this basic tenet and apply only after attempting to do this first.
"Always ride in the bike lane or as far to the right as possible and in single file when with others whenever possible. (His emphasis.)
"Without stressing this I fear that bikers may use 'their rights' as noted in the rest of the column to justify riding abreast and to the left, using the Highway Department's 'Bicycle Safety in Arkansas' publication as you quoted it."
One more thing from Blake:
"Whether alone or with companions, if you aren't all in the bike lane and you're riding at a speed of 16, 18, 20, 22 mph in an area with a speed limit of 35 or so, you are impeding traffic.
"In fact any speed below the posted vehicular speed limit with you in the main traffic lane impedes traffic. Especially in an area that has a double yellow center line where vehicles may not legally pass. Move over as far to the right in single file as you safely can. This one action by all bikers would eliminate 95 percent of problems."
Fjfellone@gmail.com
Metro on 06/17/2017