Any day now, I will pull out my biking shorts, pump thetires on my bike, and take to the extensive system of bike trails strategicallylocated throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul and beyond. The Twin Cities has one of the bestbike trail systems of any urban area in the country and, for those of us whoenjoy biking, these trails greatly add to the quality of life in the cities.

I am a very cautious bike rider. I always wear a helmet. Myfirst choice is to ride on bike trails, but when I do need to take to citystreets, I do so carefully. I don't run red lights and I signal my turns. Whenriding with friends, I never bike two abreast. I try to show the drivers of thevehicles that I share the road with the same respect and caution that I wish toreceive from them.

Overwhelmingly, most bikers are courteous to drivers. And,overwhelming, most drivers of vehicles are courteous to bikers. Still, everysummer I see behavior by a small minority of bikers that makes me cringe. Andevery summer, although I am biking legally and carefully, I get yelled at bysomeone driving a car or am the recipient of an obscene gesture from someone inan SUV.

A few disrespectful bikers give all of us who ride bike abad rap; just as a few disrespectful drivers discredit all of us who drivecars. It doesn't need to be like this.

To my fellow bike riders, follow the rules of the road. Astop sign or a red light means just that. Stop. Always bike single file. Bikingtwo, and sometimes three abreast, isn't just dangerous, it's arrogant. As greatas the bike system is, some trails are just dreadful – like along the West River Road and parts of Minnehaha Parkway. Bikers know this, but drivers don't. Isee more drivers raging at bikers "to get on the trail" along these stretchesof city streets than any other. Bikers have the same right as vehicles to be onthe road, but maybe – especially during high traffic periods – we could use thebumpy trails to ease stress and congestion.

To my car driving friends, you may not believe this, but youwant more people riding bikes. More bikers mean less traffic on your commute.Bikers reduce the carbon footprint. More exercise might translate into healthcost savings. Yelling at bikers, throwing things at us, speeding up (instead ofstopping) at bike crossings, won't make us go away. Common courtesy, however,would go a long way towards coexistence. And, if you really want to get morebikers off busy streets, support efforts (and taxes) to improve the furtherexpand the bike trail system.

A friend who is a serious biker (meaning he bikes all winterlong) told me he divides the world between those who bike, and those who don'tbike. Divisions like this never work. We simply have to learn to get along witheach other. Bikers and drivers – now that spring is here – let's make aconscious effort to do that this year.