Why bikes and cars are NOT equals: Simple math

In Chicago earlier this week, a cyclist was struck and killed by a garbage truck. It turns out she was talking on a cell phone -- not the smartest thing to do, but also not a sufficient reason to lose her life.

There seems to have been a rash of these tragedies lately, and we don't usually have the stomach to report them. Accidents do happen, and it's unpleasant work to walk behind the funeral and assign blame or drag along the soapbox.

But this article in the Chicago Fishwrap makes some very interesting points, and gives full throat to the bike advocates' position on these matters -- without being too self-righteous about it. Randy Neufeld, chief strategist for the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, dominates the quotes. Perhaps the Chicago police weren't answering the phone, which is fine with us.

Neufeld said there are no rules against who may cycle, meaning drivers must always be on alert for inexperienced or distracted cyclists.

"Every user is responsible for themselves. But the person that has the most responsibility is the person that has the most speed and mass," Neufeld said. "That's why we license people to use motor vehicle."

We can only imagine the boilerplate police response to this, and we're gratified to not have to read it.