A Driver's Rights

This is the sight I biked past this morning, just two blocks from where I live in Brooklyn.
For just a few blocks on my daily commute, closest to home, I'm faced with a decision. Ride on Van Brunt, which is usually quite busy and fairly narrow, or Imlay, which is much less busy. So, I usually choose the less-busy Imlay. The problem with it being less crowded is that cars, trucks, and buses take it as an opportunity to do 50 mph. I don't think I'm exaggerating here. I actually want to get a radar gun so I can verify this. Come on down and check it out yourself in the meantime.
I didn't see this wreck happen, so I don't know what happened, who was at fault, or if speeding was involved. If you ask me to guess though, I'd be pretty confident in saying the driver was probably going too fast. I see it all the time. Though the city's speed limit applies on Imlay, drivers will go as fast as they can. Can they hit 50 mph? Absolutely. Is it safe? Absolutely not. But, it seems may driver's see it as their right to go as fast as any stretch of pavement will allow them.
Then I read this New York Times article (Expansion of Bike Lane's Growth in New York Brings Backlash) this morning. Outspoken Manhattan bike lane opponent Leslie Sicklick was quoted, "He�s taking away my rights as a driver," referring to Mayor Bloomberg. Interesting. It made me think, what are your rights as a driver, Leslie Sicklick? Well, it seems that they Times maybe didn't include any explanation you may have given. But here's my guess at what you may have said. I'll just go ahead and dub this the Driver's Bill of Rights. You can thank me later. Don't say I've never done anything for drivers.
1. I have the right to drive unimpeded by any that which keeps me from going the speed limit, or double it as I see fit.
2. Seeing as this is Manhattan, and the traffic is terrible, I have the right to demand more lanes of vehicular travel, so that I may accomplish 1. Just the idea of removing a lane of vehicular travel or parking spaces for a bicycle lane or general calming is an affront to God, and me. I will smite thee.
3. In cases where the Driver's Natural Order of Pavement achieved, and there are no bike lanes, should I encounter a cyclist in front of me, I have the right to honk at the cyclist to get them out of my way, so that the ideals of 1 are preserved.
4. If the cyclist does not get out of the way, I have the right overtake them as I see fit. If there is not room for the both of us, well, too bad because I'm bigger and more important because I'm driving a car in Manhattan.
5. When I park my car in New York, I have the right to open my door with out looking, especially when parked next to a bike lane. The larger my vehicle, the less I have to car about what may be next to me. In fact, please use the crack-the-door-open-with-my-hand-and-push-it-completely-open-with-my-foot technique, because doors can be so heavy.
6. When driving a car down a road with a bike lane, I have the right to center myself in all the pavement, even if that means being in the bike lane. You think I want to get my car doored by some idiot?
So it was written. Perhaps someone will find these written on golden plated that are excavated while the city is foolishly putting in another bike lane.

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