A recent letter to the editor from one particular biker here at Penn State clued me in to some possible mistakes I've made.

But I have to wonder about some of the bikers around here. This is not what I'm used to. It's not to say that I'm unaccustomed to being around bikes. A biker myself, I'm also from Washington, D.C., and frequently spent my time on the busy bike paths and roads there. I'm used to a few simple rules and can't understand why they don't apply here.

Sidewalks next to roads are for walkers (hence the name), so bikes keep to the road, and therefore are required to obey traffic laws such as stop signs — for the safety of themselves and those around them. Because people crossing the street typically give a cursory glance in both directions and don't notice the small objects moving faster than the cars, so bikers should keep that in mind.

When bikers share D.C. paths with others, they announce themselves during a pass ("on your left/right!" is customary) to prevent those ahead of them from making any sudden turns and thus avoiding collisions. Fact is, I'm used to a measure of biking etiquette so that everyone can stay safe.