a bicyclists' rules of the road

:bnghd:

this is going to be hard for me to talk about without breaking my keyboard in the process, but here goes:

There are no "rules of the road" for a bicycle rider. There are unspoken rules, that say if you ride in the street, you have to obey all traffic laws. But how often does this happen?

I mean seriously.

You may live in a smaller town that people still ride their bicycles on the sidewalk - where the *snip* belong!!!

but i don't. I dont even live in a big town. I live in one of those towns that is "just big enough" that they take themselves too seriously, and try to inact all these "feel good" laws that attempt to please everyone, but just piss off people instead. :shk:

Here are a few examples of what im talking about:

most streets that we drive on in this town look like this

(i dont know how to adjust the image size, so my apologies)

Now, im refering to the road width, not the surroundings. So pretend the "grass" area is really a sidewalk.

There is a city law (probably state too, i dunno) that says no bicycles are allowed on the sidewalks. Source here

So that being said, and keeping in mind the width of the road in the picture above.....

they throw this new one at us.



So a 3ft law means that if we are on a busy street, and you're behind someone on a bicycle - guess what

you cannot pass them.

Because if you try - you'll hit another car headon by swerving into the lane of oncomming traffic.

Personally - i think ALL bicycles should be on sidewalks. But they're not. Why? Because its risky to pedestrians? Please.

"hey look im a pedestrian, walking down the sidewalk. Oh, someone is coming at me on a bicycle. WHAT WILL I DO."? *steps into the grass*

"wow that was close" :bnghd::bnghd:

God *snip* it makes me so *snip* mad.

They dont let ATV's on the roads because they're not road safe.

WTF is so safe about some jerk on a bike going 3 mphs holding up traffic for 3 city blocks? And thats not a god *snip* exaggeration.

So fine. Ill deal with it. Its law. All the *snip*ing in the world wont change that.

Guess what else is the law?

Obeying traffic signs.

If the sign says stop. You better stop your stupid *snip* there, just like i have to.

Same goes for traffic lights.
Same goes for lane usage.

Nothing pisses me off more than being stopped in traffic, and having some jerk *snip* pull up right beside me on his stupid bicycle. I just want to open the door and run his ass over.

Someone needs to change this law, or atleast enforce it to the full extent.
I never get away with blowing a red light.

But a *snip* on a bicycle just says "oh, ill play law abiding transformer and get up on the crosswalk" and completely circumvents the traffic light.

Guess what?
If you're in your car, and you drive through a gas station lot to avoid a stop sign, you can get a ticket.

Where the *snip* is the enforcement factor for these *snip* on their bicycles.

Share the road?

FINE

share the same god *snip* responsiblities that come with it!! :bash:

[edit on 27-6-2008 by Andrew E. Wiggin]

As a cyclist, the fact I'm not supposed to be on the sidewalk ticks me off. The drivers in my area, like all drivers in any area, are loco. I've had my back wheel get hit crossing a road because somebody decided not to wait on a red light. ANd then stopped at the next red light he came to, a block away. Wrote his plate number down, wish I could remember it, but I got my bike repaired....

As a cyclist, I never follow the rules. I ride on the opposite side of the road when I have to be in the street, so I can see where the cars are coming from.
I ride on the sidewalk when I can, though I move slowly if there are several pedestrians.
I have never been bothered by the cops, heck, most of them agree with me. Especially the couple I've met who were on bikes. It's a stupid law by fat cat who never get out on a bike, and never drive anywhere without a sidewalk.

I ride my Mountain Bike approximately 50 miles a week, exercise and training, and the majority is "On Road" riding...

I ALWAYS ride in the street, with traffic....

I started riding seriously as a Police mountain Bike Officer. I have been hit twice by cars... Both times because I was riding NOT in the correct lane and NOT in a proper manner. I have NEVER even come close when riding properly...

(I was chasing a criminal the one time, so I guess that doesn't count.. :lol

People are responsible for themselves and I truly believe this, so all of you can ride however you wish too, but the undeniably safest way to ride, is in the proper lane of traffic, obeying all of the traffic laws..

Semper

I'm glad you both agree
i dont have a problem with people riding against the flow of traffic either, as long as you stay out of the way as best you can, i dont see an issue either way.

My point is - by saying "dont ride on the sidewalk" you force them into the street. There are a lot of idiot peoplein this world, and putting them on the street in a lethargic death trap doestn necessarily make sense to me.

I also forgot to add:

In areas that it's illegal to ride on the sidewalk - they should be required to cut the pay of the city council in order to add a bike lane on every road by widening the street an extra 3 feet.

There's never been a problem when there's a bike lane.

/end rant

[edit on 27-6-2008 by Andrew E. Wiggin]

[edit on 27-6-2008 by Andrew E. Wiggin]

reply to post by Andrew E. Wiggin


First, if you can not pass almost all cyclists riding 10+mph within 20-30 seconds if you're driving in a car, then I'd be surprised.

Cyclists are not the only things that share the road. Consider farm vehicles and road grading vehicles.

Second, I doubt cyclists ride at 3mph for long. Most go about 10-12mph or more, unless it's up a hill.

I would suggest the issue here is whether or not someone with intense anger issues should be allowed behind the wheel of a car. Think about it before you do something you may live to regret. Take an anger management class, for instance.

Perhaps it would help to envision that the cyclist is one of your nieces or nephews - someone you love and about whom you care.

You might consider getting or borrowing a bike and riding somewhere to get a cyclist's perception of things and see if you don't feel differently, when not in the psycho state into which you transform when you get behind the wheel of a car. (it's ok we all get a little psycho at that time - the trick is to control it).

Just how many times a day do you have to end up 'stuck' behind other cars? Compare this to the times and duration you end up stuck behind a bicyclist. It probably doesn't compare - cars hold us up much more often than guys on a bike. You're just more used to sitting behind a car than you are the few times you are sitting behind a bike.

Finally, if you really are being regularly held up by cyclists, you might consider an alternate route to your destination or leaving a little earlier. There are other options.

Sorry you had this happen to you. Believe me, it's not any cyclist's intent to make using the road more difficult or problematic. If anything if more people cycled there's be less opposing traffic to hold you up.

HTH.







[edit on 28-6-2008 by Badge01]

ok, i confess it is possible i have anger issues

Doesnt everyone who posts in a rant forum? :shk:

secondly, as i set here and ponder
i believe my "anger" stems from a lack of equal application.

First off, i hate farm equiptmnet just as much. They use the raods, slow the flow of traffic, and dont even have to keep a license plate annually renewed like we do, on their farm equipment.

Secondly - what makes me so pissed off about the bikers (after much reflection of your post) is that i have never seen a bicycle get a ticket for blowing a stop sign

I've never seen a bicycle get a ticket for illegal lane usage, or circumvention of traffic lights

it may sound petty

but thats fine by me.

equal application of the law.

equal rights = equal responsibilities.

side note: during rush hour traffic, GOOD LUCK passing a bicyclist.
Its a God *snip* joke.

for me, the only alternate route is 3 miles out of the way. our town is split in 1/2 by the University of Illinois, and you can't drive "through" the campus area from one side to the other

its ridiculous

yes - i could drive around

but! They could also get thier asses on the sidewalk ... or at the very least, obey the traffic laws.

[edit on 28-6-2008 by Andrew E. Wiggin]

reply to post by Andrew E. Wiggin


Thanks for the reasonable reply. I sympathize with you.

The best way to handle it is to try and work with yourself to not let this bother you so much. It's not easy.

In addition, remind yourself that though the cyclists are in front of you it is opposing rush hour traffic that is also holding you up. A responsible cyclists will move to the side if he sees a long string of cars behind him.

Believe me, police do ticket bike riders, but depending on numbers, you may not have witnessed any. I can't recall the last time when I saw a fellow driver pulled over being ticketed, but it's infrequent - a few per month, maybe.

Also, check the laws in your area. Some cities have a provision where a cyclist can treat a stop -sign- as a 'proceed with caution' (it's a special provision) Some also have provisions that they can proceed with caution through red lights because a carbon bike won't trip the sensors embedded in the road.

Finally, if you really see them being a hazard, call your local traffic bureau and report the area, the time and the number of problem rides. They will sometimes come out and review the problem.

Bear in mind that it most cities it is illegal for a cyclist to ride on the sidewalk (except maybe for a short stretch).

Good luck and happy travels to you.

Move to holland, they have bike lanes everywhere! Just don't forget that the bike lanes are there for a reason, try riding in the road and the cars wont expect you there haha.

Not really sure about all of holland, but the area I was in had bike lanes everywhere.

[edit on 28-6-2008 by _Phoenix_]

I've not gotten a ticket, but I have gotten a warning when I didn't have a light on my bike. Had to go out and get one. Generally bikes get ignored, for one thing, bikes aren't multiple ton vehicles rushing by at 20 odd miles per hour.

I agree. A bike isnt going to hurt anyone if it runs into them.

All the more reason to put them on the sidewalk

But its also the same idea of having ATV's on the highway/city roads

it inhibits the flow of traffic, and if the bicyclist isnt careful, they can cause a major accident by the surroudning cars doing something drastic to avoid hitting them.

Some VERY interesting statistics for all of "us" bike riders..

Riding on the sidewalk is several more times more dangerous than riding in the street.

Streets with bike lanes have a significantly lower crash rate then either major or minor streets without any bicycle facilities (38 and 56% respectively). (William Moritz, 1998)

Streets with bike lanes are safer than those without.

First Car Crash killed a cyclist. The first automobile crash in the United States occurred in New York City in 1896, when a motor vehicle collided with a bicyclist.

Motorists usually at fault. Drivers are at fault in almost 90% of pedestrian and bicyclist deaths in New York. In over 90% of pedestrian fatalities, the driver is male.

Just somethings to consider

Semper

Originally posted by Andrew E. Wiggin
I agree. A bike isnt going to hurt anyone if it runs into them.

Around here there are quite a few higher level riders, and I ride at 22mph on the flats, so, no, someone weighing 185lbs on a 20lb bike is going to hurt someone if you hit them. Cyclist collisions are not frequent, in fact, in comparison to car fatalities, they're 'Man Bites Dog' stories. We hear about everyone of them in the newspapers.

All the more reason to put them on the sidewalk

Nope. At 22mph sidewalk riding is not safe for anyone. This is why I suggest you borrow a bike and try it. Cars do not expect bikes on the sidewalk, and driveways impinge on them, making it unsafe for a rider at each driveway intersection. You would not want your loved ones, sons, daughters, nieces and nephews riding on the sidewalk.

But its also the same idea of having ATV's on the highway/city roads it inhibits the flow of traffic, and if the bicyclist isnt careful, they can cause a major accident by the surroudning cars doing something drastic to avoid hitting them.

I've never heard of bicyclists causing major accidents with surrounding cars. Cite, please.

Because you don't ride a bike, sorry, all your opinions are skewed and incorrect and appallingly self-centered.

Originally posted by Andrew E. Wiggin

Secondly - what makes me so pissed off about the bikers (after much reflection of your post) is that i have never seen a bicycle get a ticket for blowing a stop sign

I've never seen a bicycle get a ticket for illegal lane usage, or circumvention of traffic lights

I have recieved a ticket, when the officer(who was on foot dircting traffic away from a closed road) yelled at me i thought he was joking, i kept going. I was chased by an accompanying officer in a police car, also recieved a fine for failing to pull over as instructed. I have also been fined for not wearing a helmet and riding on the footpath.....but that is another story. From my experience it depends on how the police percieve what you are doing, wether it is dangerous to the public or they think you are endangering yourself. I was even given an escort on a deserted motorway overpass( about 2kn at 6.30am on a sunday) with a narrow side lane while training for triathlons, after I cleared the overpass i was pulled over an lectured on the fact it was illegal to cycle on overpass and was supposed to use a dedicated cycle lane. I argued for about ten minutes that there was no cycling signage or directions to the cycle way. After giving my personal details to the officer, i was let go on my way. On the way back i stopped to see if there was in fact signage, there was, but it had been so badly graffitied that it was impossible to read or even identify what its actual purpose was, i can only guess it was a no cycle sign. A week later i got a fine in the mail. I was even fined for failing to buy my bike a train ticket. $200 for that one. :w:

side note: during rush hour traffic, GOOD LUCK passing a bicyclist.
Its a God *snip* joke.

Peak hour in my city see cars avg 22km an hour. My average time riding a bike 18km into work and home, 40min, avg 27km,cost $0, burned fat and no Oil. And passed alot of pi$$ed motorists.

yes - i could drive around

Or you could ride a bike.




[edit on 29-6-2008 by atlasastro]

Originally posted by atlasastro

Originally posted by Andrew E. WigginI've never seen a bicycle get a ticket for illegal lane usage, or circumvention of traffic lights

I don't know why it pisses off a person who did something wrong, got a ticket but sees other people who didn't get tickets.

Would seeing a lot of cyclists get tickets help things? Maybe it would cause momentary glee, but in a few minutes, ISTM the driver would return to his pissed off state.

This is what I tried to get across to the OP. Being pissed off is HIS issue, and is not really based on what happens to other people, though in his mind it is. He's wrong - this issue is internal.

I have similar issues with dog walkers who don't use a leash. I could get mad and ruin my bike ride or I could just learn to blow it off and forget about it and ride on and enjoy. It took a lot of self talk and self-realization to reach this state, and I lose it if I don't 'practice' calmness.

I have recieved a ticket, when the officer(who was on foot dircting traffic away from a closed road) yelled at me i thought he was joking, i kept going. I was chased by an accompanying officer in a police car, also recieved a fine for failing to pull over as instructed. I have also been fined for not wearing a helmet and riding on the footpath.....but that is another story. From my experience it depends on how the police percieve what you are doing, wether it is dangerous to the public or they think you are endangering yourself.

Note that wearing helmets in Australia is mandated. It is only mandated for children under 12 y.o. in the US and I doubt the cops would give a ticket to a child under 12, or stop them and try to decide their age, etc.

Andrew Wiggins: side note: during rush hour traffic, GOOD LUCK passing a bicyclist. Its a God *snip* joke.

Again, I tried to get across to the OP that it is the large numbers of other drivers who delay him, NOT the lone cyclist. If half of those people in the opposing lane went to riding bikes to and from work, he'd have no trouble passing anyone. In addition it's the fault of city planners who fail to design roads for cyclists AND drivers, and design roads with no shoulder, into which cyclists could ride to allow drivers to pass.

It's not the fault of the cyclist, though anyone going 3mph should keep watch and periodically pull over when more than 3-4 cars are lined up behind them.

However, cyclists doing 90% of the speed limit should be regarded as 'traffic' and a valid road user. Too often drivers think because there's a bike in front of them they MUST pass them, even risking life and limb to go 40 around a cyclist riding at 22-25mph in a 25mph zone.

Peak hour in my city see cars avg 22km an hour. My average time riding a bike 18km into work and home, 40min, avg 27km,cost $0, burned fat and no Oil. And passed alot of pi$$ed motorists.

Andrew Wiggins: yes - i could drive around

atlasastro: Or you could ride a bike.

Well, it doesn't do any good to taunt the OP. I prefer education leading to self-realization.

Good post. Sorry to hear you were harassed. Many cyclists are now riding with digi-cams and have a record of transgressions. I hope the police learn to take them seriously and stop their attitude that anyone riding a bike in the street deserves to be hit.


Edit: spelling.


[edit on 29-6-2008 by Badge01]

Originally posted by Badge01
I don't know why it pisses off a person who did something wrong, got a ticket but sees other people who didn't get tickets.

Me niether, i was sweet with the fines i deserved, the one for riding without the helmet etc .I was letting the OP know, it does happen, just that he does'nt see it happen, does not mean bike riders are exempt from road laws.

Note that wearing helmets in Australia is mandated. It is only mandated for children under 12 y.o. in the US and I doubt the cops would give a ticket to a child under 12, or stop them and try to decide their age, etc.

Oops, i thought it would be the same with you guys. Obviously not.

However, cyclists doing 90% of the speed limit should be regarded as 'traffic' and a valid road user. Too often drivers think because there's a bike in front of them they MUST pass them, even risking life and limb to go 40 around a cyclist riding at 22-25mph in a 25mph zone.

Couldn't agree more.

Well, it does't do any good to taunt the OP. I prefer education leading to self-realization.

I did'nt intend to taunt the OP. I was just revelling in my own economical transport glory.hehe. I thought that by showing the OP my side of the equation and suggesting it may also be a valid option for him that it would facilitate education and self-realisation.

Good post. Sorry to hear you were harassed. Many cyclists are now riding with digi-cams and have a record of transgressions. I hope the police learn to take them seriously and stop their attitude that anyone riding a bike in the street deserves to be hit.

I have friends in a group that has formed called bikebus, to create a safe riding group to commute in a safer manner and to provide a collective less likely to be harrassed by drivers or police. There is also a group ride call critical mass that stages group rides once a month to promote road sharing but this only seems to fuel motorists anger even more. Sometimes it seems like an endless battle. Gotta keep the good fight going. The road is there, to share. Four wheel or Two, Powered by Legs or Fuel.www.bicyclensw.org.au...

[edit on 29-6-2008 by atlasastro]

reply to post by atlasastro


Cool. Uh, didn't exactly mean you meant to taunt him. It's hard not to feel a little smug, trading on the idea that we are fitter and have a smaller carbon footprint.

On the BikeBus concept it sounds neat, but wouldn't work universally, I think ( ).

1. Not all routes have two lanes each way;
2. Not all jurisdictions allow cycling two abreast, at least for more than a brief period;
3. Any that do allow them to ride two abreast would not allow it at 9mph (15kph). I'd think that 12mph would be a better average unless the area was hilly;
4. Having a concept like this is dangerous, imo, because there is always some yahoo, or drunk who will plow into the group to make a point (though the point is that such people are psychotic).

Since many normal people become slightly psycho when they get behind a wheel, I regret that I would not feel safe participating in such a concept unless we were flanked fore and aft by police escorts, or at least government approved escort vehicles with dashboard cameras.

Don't mean to be so negative. It's hard to imagine how it would work here, but if it works for you, great. What is your accident or incident rate wrt crazy drivers?

Other issues would be adequate bike facilities at the destination, and the backing of the cops. Even if it's legal to ride two abreast, if the cops are not on-board, they'd pull over and ticket the group leaders who would then have to fight it in court to have the illegal ticketing rescinded. This could be costly.

Publicity helps, but too many drivers, I fear, would be uninformed.

What might help would be if the city declared a route to be a sanctioned BikeBus route, installed signage and marked the road surface as a designated route. This would warn motorists to take other routes or times to avoid the BB groups.

Again, good concept, I hope it continues to work for you.







[edit on 29-6-2008 by Badge01]

I ride on the sidewalk o.0 lol..... why? The roads are terrible...seriously...

reply to post by Seaman_Richie


Interesting. Do you mind saying generally where that is? Do you know if it's legal for individuals other than children there? Ever been hassled?

I will ride a very short section on the sidewalk, slowly and with care where it is too dangerous to take the road (it's a steep uphill at a stoplight with lots of traffic). But that only happens about 2-3 times a year when I go to where my SO works.

At any rate thanks for chipping in. Be careful out there mate! Sidewalk riding has its own special hazards, the major one being cars do not expect you as you cross driveways or streets.

Oddly enough, there's a section of sidewalk at the beach here that is specifically designated for bike riders, and it's also adjacent to a divided highway. So it's two way, double wide, pedestrians and cyclists. It makes for a very dangerous turn going left onto another divided highway with no sidewalk. In fact the first time I rode it, I was scratching my head trying to figure out how to get from point A to point B.

See diagram.

First, with this set up you're on the wrong side of the road (USA), then you have to figure out how to turn left onto the other divided highway with cars coming from all directions and the rider from an unexpected direction. You have to wonder what the planner was thinking. Plus, there are other cyclists trying to mount that sidewalk going the opposite direction. It's a mess right there.

As said before, riding a bicycle by law is driving a vehicle. You have to follow rules of the road just like a car or other motor vehicles. If you don't know the bicycle road laws go to the DMV and get information on it. Remember that the laws are the same in most states but are enforced differently city by city. Some laws like riding drunk you will not get away with in any city.

For example riding on the sidewalk is against the penal code, but for some reason the police allow it in my city and not the next. That urks me when I'm walking and you have someone whiz by with their handle bar almost scrapping your hip. It's just wrong.

There's another road I like to ride that's a 'Can't Get There From Here' conundrum.

Divided highway, bridge, expressway

It's uphill and a right turn and too dangerous to venture out into the expressway, find a place to U-turn then get to the quiet country lane (where the other bicycle symbol is) and ride. Coming back it's not too bad but getting there is a pickle. I end up having to ride under the bridge on a path, find an back way up into a business parking lot, turn left, and then ride across the sidewalk on the other side of the road (often full of glass fragments) and then turn left onto the country road. Sheesh!