Follow road rules

I'd like to commend Key Biscayne Police Chief Charles Press having his officers ticket both drivers and riders who are breaking the law.

Today marks the third anniversary of the death of my friend, Colin Bateman. He was a colleague, teacher and mentor as well as a loving husband and father. Colin, who was wearing a helmet and following all the rules of the road, was riding his bicycle just outside of the Kennedy Space Center when a distracted driver struck and killed him.

To all my fellow drivers: Please put down the phones, stop at the proper points at intersections, don't pull across the bike lanes to inch into traffic and most importantly, leave three feet between you and any rider when passing.

To my fellow riders: Follow the rules of the road. If there is a bike path available and you can't maintain a 20-mile-per-hour pace, get off the road. The last time I looked, it was mandatory for all children 16 and under to be wearing a helmet.

Everyone has a right to use the road. Just follow the rules and treat each other as you would want to be treated.

This story was originally published July 23, 2015 at 9:59 PM with the headline "Follow road rules."