Keeping with the university trend, I recently bought a bicycle to ride around campus. I was excited for a while, until I took a look around.

Many bicyclists on and off campus take too many liberties when it comes to riding. Bicyclists need to learn the rules for everyone’s sake.

If traffic is too slow, I frequently see bicyclists move to the sidewalk, usually cutting off unsuspecting pedestrians in the process.

Then there are the numerous instances of nearly running into a pedestrian crossing the street because they think they don’t need to stop.

At four-way stops, some bicyclists seem to assume that road signs don’t apply to them and ride through without stopping. What if the drivers at the intersection don’t see them?

There are also those who use crosswalks to make left-hand turns, instead of just waiting a few extra seconds with traffic.

The University has signs posted on walking paths around campus saying, “No bicycling or skateboarding while pedestrians are present,” yet when has this rule ever been observed? We’ve all seen people get hit on their way to class by some careless idiot who obviously didn’t pay attention to the sign. Maybe they just feel that ringing a stupid little bell will really work to warn someone who has his or her iPod cranked up all the way.

These things need to stop for everyone’s sanity.

Even though we have bicycle cops on campus, I’ve only seen about three people ever get pulled over. And so far, I haven’t seen any noticeable change in bicyclist activity.

Considering all of that, I also know it goes both ways. Often cars don’t give bicyclists enough space on the road, and drivers need to keep more of a cautious eye out when it comes to bicycles and pedestrians in general. For their safety and others, bicyclists must realize that they have responsibilities too.

With the limited amount of protection most bicyclists opt for (helmets are seen by many as not quite in fashion), you’d think they would be a bit more careful and respectful on the road. All it takes is one mistake to end up in the hospital or dead.

I’m out of ideas on what to do. Some drivers have turned to blaring horns and flipping people off, but this has very little effect other than making the situation escalate, and that’s something no one wants.

I’m not so excited about my bicycle anymore. Don’t get me wrong; I love riding it. I just can’t be proud of it when my fellow bicyclists act like morons and misrepresent me on the road.

Please, bicyclists, be more careful for everyone’s sake.