I set out just to write you a brief message, but because a motorist ruined my bike ride to work this morning, I spilled my thoughts. I've tried to be as thoughtful as possible, but some words may come out a bit rough - I'm sorry. These inconsiderate motorists are really making me sad - this town brags about it's bike friendliness, but outside of the town building bike lanes ... etc, many motorists have never taken to the idea. It's seriously frightening to ride in this town - this is my 10th year and it's getting worse. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope it passes through the right hands. Sincerely, Weldon Sams ###@###.### --- I bike every morning to work from Old 37 just South of Bethell into town. This road is posted as 20-35mph, but cars and trucks travel super fast. When I'm in a car, I always drive this speed limit and other cars barrel up on me, so I know they're going at least 40+. I sit on my back porch and just sigh at how irresponsible people are as they speed past my house. This morning right where Old 37 crosses Walnut into Lower Cascades, a guy in a truck smart-ass-edly pointed to the new trail that has the bridge - indicating I should be on it. I pulled up beside him at the light and he made some more smart ass remarks about the city spending all his money and bikes are supposed to ride on that trail... I just backed away and didn't say a word, although rage fueled my body the rest of the ride to work. I know I should just shake it off, but these kind of acts are a weekly - sometimes daily occurrence. And this is one of the nicer things that could have happened - even though he was seriously red-faced-pissed. It could have gotten ugly - I'm sure. One, bikes obey the same laws as cars and he's off base with that comment. And two, I would ride that little bit of trail if it went all the way to Marlin Hills. He wants me to inconvenience and endanger myself by crossing in front of him to get on that little stretch of trail before the stop light, just so he doesn't have to wait the 10 seconds to pass me like a decent human being. I usually just hold my breath and drive as straight as possible until I reach the stop light and get on the trail that goes into Lower Cascades. I do ride the trail, just not on the North side of Walnut. Well, I do ride it when going North on my ride home, but I still have to get off and onto Old 37 to reach Marlin Hills. I average about 20mph on flat land, so when I go through Lower Cascades, cars should barely be passing me, but every single morning I see cars flying through there. I wish for a cop to pull them over, but it never happens. I rarely see an officer on Lower Cascades or Old 37. We seriously need speed traps for the morning and evening rush hours at least a few times a week, please. I have some questions. 1. Are there plans to extend the Lower Cascades trail up to Marlin Hills? That is a very scary stretch of road to ride. 2. Can we get some police patrolling Old 37 and Lower Cascades? Please. These are well known bike routes, but these country guys in big trucks are very dangerous. They get some sort of kick out of scaring cyclists. Other friends that bike have similar experiences. A couple days ago a young boy in a big F250 red pickup gave his truck extra gas as he passed me, then a bit ahead, my wife, just to blow a billow of black exhaust in our faces. I wish Indiana had some laws against emissions. 3. Are cyclists required to ride on these new trails as that guy indicated? If not, can we put up signs so that people like this guy are educated. I wish these people would read the laws before speaking. Or just have some common decency. Or even require intensive pedestrian and cyclist education before getting a drivers license. 4. What do I do if I'm confronted on foot by one of these angry motorists? Am I protected by law if force is necessary? 5. Can I report license plates to the police? I wish I could be an undercover cyclist officer. 6. Can we get some speed bumps all through Lower Cascades? Maybe more speed limit warnings and stiffer fines through a park and bike routes? Also some of the signs are covered by tree limbs.