I can vaguely remember Old Faithful, my first cutthroat trout and a campground so crowded that the smoke from the fires made Yellowstone look like Los Angeles.

But one memory from that trip 30 years ago is quite vivid, because my father was absolutely livid.

We were climbing a mountain, there was no room to pass, and a bicyclist was impeding our progress.

I was in the passenger seat of a snub-nosed Winnebago, and we were following so closely that I had to stand up and lean forward to see the guy give us the finger while Dad laid on the horn and screamed out the window.

Ever since, I've been sympathetic to bicycle riders because I know they've got people like Dad to deal with.

It's not that I don't occasionally fantasize about turning inconsiderate cyclists into hood ornaments, or knocking them off their seats with a soda bottle (10 points!) or expressing the opinion that if you can't go from zero to 60 in six seconds you oughta go ride in the park. After all, I am my father's son. But I don't act on my impulses.

The fact is, bicyclists keep cars off the freeway, greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere and fine particle pollution out of our lungs. They reduce the demand for gasoline, driving down prices. And they're physically fit, which has a positive impact on health-care costs, at least until they fly over the handlebars and land in the hospital.

So, when I see pedal-pumping commuters wheeling their bikes out of the office, I hold the door for them. I thank them for not polluting my air. I tell them to be careful out there.

These are fine, upstanding citizens. You can't beat'em. But I'll never join'em.

I don't ride, or even own, a bike. The seats aren't comfortable like when I was a kid. I would look ridiculous in spandex. And a helmet would muss what's left of my hair.

Plus, I'm not going to ride with my back to traffic in this state, no way, no how. I've seen how Utah soccer moms drive those assault vehicles when they're late for practice, and how UTA bus drivers put the hammer down to stay ahead of schedule. I don't want to be a statistic.

In 2007, 698 cyclists were killed and 44,000 were injured in traffic accidents in the United States. Since 1932, more than 52,000 have died preventable deaths.

Motorists and cyclists must learn to coexist. That's the goal of Utah Senate Bill 102, which authorizes a special bicycle-embossed license plate, available by paying an extra $25 in vehicle registration fees. Proceeds will be used to promote safety and teach drivers to share the road.

And bicyclists would be wise to visit www.utahbikes.org to learn the laws and read some safety tips, because this year, the potential for an accident is greater than ever. The state has given my daughter a license to drive.

Casey Jones is a member of the Tribune editorial board. E-mail: cjones@sltrib.com