Our View: Memo: It takes all of us to keep cycling safe

Two cyclists died Thursday after separate accidents on Boise thoroughfares. And there's a lot we can learn from these awful events.

Memo to public officials: Bike paths and bike lanes remain vital, but not just for weekend recreation. They are an essential for everyday cycling.

A lingering popular stereotype dismisses cycling as some quaint North End/Downtown Boise phenomenon. It isn't, as last week's accidents clearly demonstrate.

Thomas Bettger of Boise died after an accident at Milwaukee and Emerald streets. Jim Lee Chu of Eagle died of injuries sustained in an accident on Orchard Street south of Interstate 84.

Both accidents occurred far from Boise's North End. That really should come as no surprise - particularly to cycle commuters. Ada County tracks the location of bicycle accidents, and from 2003 to 2008, three of the most dangerous intersections were along Fairview Avenue, where traffic is thick and roadside shoulders are wafer thin.

When cyclists clamor for dedicated and interconnected bike lanes across the Valley, they aren't kidding. When officials reject this notion - as state budget chief Wayne Hammon did during the 2008 legislative session, when he trivialized the need for bike lanes beyond the North End - they are out of touch with the reality of commuting in the Valley.

Memo to motorists: You drive a bigger vehicle, and cyclists can show up at any place and any time.

Chu suffered his injuries in a lunch-hour accident Tuesday. Bettger died after a Thursday evening accident.

Boise ranks No. 4 in the nation for bicycle commuters per capita. That means cyclists may be heading to and from work or errands at all hours, so motorists must stay alert at all times.

Boise has plenty of weekend cyclists, but thousands of people also use a bicycle as their daily mode of transportation. And starting next week, kids will be on summer vacation, adding to cycling traffic.

Memo to cyclists: A helmet is no guarantee. Chu and Bettger were wearing helmets but died from their injuries. However, this doesn't diminish the importance of wearing good protective gear - and doublechecking your lights and reflectors.

With a favorable climate and an intricate system of bike lanes, Greenbelt paths and off-road trails, the Treasure Valley has cultivated a bicycle-friendly image.

Making sure the Valley is safe for bicycling is a joint responsibility - shared, like the roads themselves, by people traveling on two wheels and four wheels alike.

"Our View" is the editorial position of the Idaho Statesman. It is an unsigned opinion expressing the consensus of the Statesman's editorial board. To comment on an editorial or suggest a topic, e-mail editorial@idahostatesman.com.