Bicyclists Face Road Harassment

When it comes to biking on the road, Jenni Gaertner rides by the rules. She straps on a helmet, wears reflective clothing, goes with the flow of traffic and is as unassuming as the vehicles that travel with her. That’s why Gaertner, on a recent Sunday ride from her home in Coeur d’Alene through Liberty Lake and Spokane Valley, broke down in tears after three separate episodes of harassment from passing motorists. One incident, in which a man suggested she wouldn’t win a fight with his truck, prompted her to memorize the license plate and report it to police. “It became very clear to me that this mindset was so dangerous that I don’t even know how to describe it,” said Gaertner, a 38-year-old bike shop owner. “I could see that these people honestly thought that if something were to happen, that if they were to hit me with their car, it would have been my fault. That’s scary to me”/ Daniel Moore , SR. More here . (SR photo by Kathy Plonka: Jenni Gaertner prepares to ride Sherman Avenue in Coeur d’Alene)

Question: Have you ever been harassed by a motorist while riding your bicycle?