We all live with stereotypes, and, through either being a citizen of a country that harbors terrorists, or by the color of our skin, or by sheer dint of one's name, we've been subject to "random security checks". Ours is a world where we can, unbeknownst to us, become "persons of interest".

Those I can live with, to a certain extent. But this crosses the line:

Cyclists are also becoming a menace on the road. Too many bicycle owners commute without wearing regulation helmets. They dare travel at night without lights or luminous reflectors. We doubt if many are licensed or have a permit to operate. They love to ape their motorcycling brothers by weaving in and out of traffic.

They contribute to other problems. They are too noisy and intrusive. They pollute the air. They are a threat to individual commuters and to public safety. The most obvious is that recent big crimes—the bloody killings of public officers and private citizens—were often carried out by masked bike riders.

Affordability, however, points to a bigger danger: the likely explosion of two-wheeled drives on streets and on highways. The domination of cars, buses, jeeps and taxis on the road is bad enough. But an invasion and takeover by motorcycles, bicycles and pedicabs will have great implications for air pollution, community health, public safety, traffic gridlocks and big-time crime.