Dear Groups of Tourists on Bicycles,

How wonderful that you think the city I call home is worthy of your vacation time.  This city is pretty awesome. We appreciate you contributing your hard-earned monies to our local economy. And that rather than add more vehicular congestion to our already crowded streets, you have decided to tour the city in a more up-close way on bicycles.

As a runner, it is clear to me that many of you might not have been on a bike in a really long time. I’m not judging by your appearance but rather your cycling skills and courtesies.  Or perhaps it’s more about your lack of the latter.  This letter is primarily focused at those of you who ride in large packs of 10-20 riders and feel you can take up entire sidewalks.  Well, please don’t do that.  You need to share the road/sidewalk.  Stay to your right; pass on the left. Don’t ride five across. Have a little consideration for others.  Thankfully, most of you do not ride at high speeds (I will write to those cyclists on another day).  But you need to remember that there are other people in the space where you are, that have every bit of a right to utilize those paths as you do, and we need to both be able to share them.

One day, I was running along the Marina path.  I was staying to the right, alongside the grass, because that’s where I belonged.  I noticed there were some riders approaching me from the opposite direction, also riding alongside the grass.  In case you didn’t know, the hand that makes the “L” is your left; you need to stay to your right.  Most of you thankfully did veer right as you neared me shuffling in your direction…except for that last girl.  Yes, the houses along Marina Drive are interesting to look at, even worthy of our envy.  However, please do not gawk at them while you are biking because you were coming right at me but had no clue.  I grabbed your handlebars. My legs momentarily straddled your front wheel until I was able to climb around it.  You had a look of surprise on your face that I was even there; I suspect the look on my face called you a profane word or two.  You are on a moving vehicle – you need to pay attention to the road, not the pretty houses.  If your intent is to sightsee, then get a tandem bike and let one of your fellow travelers focus on the road so you can let your mind wander.  I get it: this city is worthy of wandering eyes. But please don’t do it while riding and especially not while riding on the wrong side of the path.

I don’t know if the bike rental companies share biking courtesies with you or not; it is my hope that they do.  If not, let’s keep it simple: stay to your right, ride no more than 2 across, keep your eyes forward.

Love, Jenny