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Those of us who plan to ride bicycles from Fairbanks out Chena Hot Springs Road in the bike rally this morning will be sharing the highways with motorists.

“There have been complaints about cyclists involved in this event not following the rules of the road, riding more than two abreast in the lanes and not pulling over when vehicles approach from behind,” Sgt. Chad Goeden of the Alaska State Troopers wrote in a recent e-mail.

When I saw this note the other day, I scoffed at first, thinking that this was not a problem, but I’ve been assured by some bicyclists that in previous years bicyclists have filled an entire lane on Chena Hot Springs Road.

That’s a dangerous practice, and it’s guaranteed to create more political and social problems for bicyclists.

The request for cooperation is reasonable.

There is no need for those on two wheels and those on four wheels to treat each other like delegates of the “Axis of evil.”

It’s also important to remember that when cars and bikes collide, the car is the deadly weapon. The potential legal, financial and moral responsibility on the driver is enormous.

Motorists inclined to think of bicyclists as obstacles instead of human beings should remember that the typical adult bicyclist is not a member of an alien species.

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RALLY: One of the English motorists on the Panama to Alaska Friendship Rally had this to say Thursday about local conditions on the rally Web site: “Fairbanks is just south of the Arctic Circle and the sun in the evening appears in the most peculiar direction.”

The motorists and their classic cars headed to Anchorage on Friday to end their eight-week tour.

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ON THE ROAD: A reader spotted a pair of white Toyota Priuses on Geist Road, bearing Michigan tags with the words “manufacturer plate” at the bottom. The drivers were tailgating. Anyone know about these vehicles?

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TUNE IN: Susan Stamberg will present a report on her recent trip to Fairbanks on Monday on Morning Edition on KUAC. The timing is linked to the 50th anniversary of the vote in favor of Alaska statehood.

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KIDS DAY: The average age of the passengers on the Riverboat Discovery will dip toward the low double digits or below on Monday evening.

Fairbanks Montessori is hosting a tour for families with younger children, with boarding beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Montessori Discovery Cruise will include music, snacks and some hands-on activities for kids. The latter will not extend to operation of the vessel. The boat will depart at 7 p.m. and return by 9 p.m.

If you are interested in coming, tickets can be purchased at Fairbanks Montessori by calling 451-8485, e-mailing montessori.alaska@gci.net or stopping by the school at 2014 30th Ave.

Cost is $15 for ages 12 and up, $8 for those ages 2-11 and free for younger kids.

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TOWN HALL: Shortly after I got home Wednesday, the phone rang and Sen. Ted Stevens was on the phone.

Actually, it was a taped message from Stevens asking if I wanted to join in a TeleTown Hall meeting and listen to a discussion, with questions from callers, about issues in the U.S. Senate.

I had to get to my daughter’s soccer game, so I couldn’t listen, but Stevens’ office reported that 2,000 people in the Fairbanks area took part in the mass phone call.

The computer equipment dials thousands of numbers in an instant and is one of the more recent advances in communication technology used by people in politics.

The use of this technology, which has also been employed by Rep. Don Young during the past year or so to reach out and touch thousands of people, was paid for with government funds.

These calls are government funded because they are not defined as campaigning under government rules set by incumbents.

Let’s be straightforward, however. In this campaign season, all of the press releases and most of the contacts with the public are related to the election, even when the candidates studiously avoid talking about running for office.

The TeleTown Hall Web site notes that this technology allows the user to track and store “all relevant data for each and every participant on the call.”

The Senate has a 60-day pre-election blackout rule that began Thursday for Alaska, restricting the use of Senate facilities to contact constituents, such as the Senate recording studio.

A spokesman for Stevens said the Senate Rules Committee has not yet said if the TeleTownHall meetings are subject to the 60-day blackout, but the early indication is that they will not be, according to Stevens’ office. If that ruling stands, the Rules Committee should justify why this loophole remains.

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SAME MESSAGE: Our elected officials and would-be elected officials in Alaska could have saved paper, not to mention time and electronic effort, by putting all of their names on the same two news releases this week.

In the first announcement, they would have expressed outrage at the stupidity of the U.S. Supreme Court for its handling of the Exxon Valdez case.

In the second, they would have expressed glee at the U.S. Supreme Court for its decision on the Second Amendment.