Thanking Road Workers for watching out for Cyclists

We all know the hassle we share with car drivers of having to deal with road construction projects along the routes we choose to travel.

I found a letter, in the Statesman Journal, of Salem, Oregon that tells of a side to those unknown workers on the road that few may be aware of, and needs to be acknowledged:

Valerie Johnson's Oct. 13 letter correctly assessed our society's autocentrism. Nevertheless, all the road work in Marion County should bring safer conditions for bicycling commuters like me.

Thanks to the workers on 99E for their many courtesies during the day. They are especially appreciated because at 4:30 a.m. when it's dark, bicycling through construction zones is pretty treacherous. Even with good lights it's hard to make out the broken fog line or the edge of the pavement. And in the fog it's next to impossible.

So the bicyclist has two choices. Ride on the right side of the safety barriers through a no-man's land of lurking pits and trenches or ride to the left of the barriers, on the road, shoulder-to-fender with passing cars and trucks.

Must our roads be made dangerous before they're made safe?

Not always.

Road crew supervisors, I'm grateful for the reflective markings around the roadside equipment and machinery. Could you also, please, set barriers farther to the right of the fog line and spray "glow" paint on the edges of the pavement where it ends and the trenches begin? Or mark them with reflectors too? It would help.

-- Eliott Stuart Brody, Salem

Oct. 25th -- Road Workers make effort to guard bicyclist's safety.