Archive for the ‘BLT – Bike Law & Thots’ Category.
February 18, 2011, 11:16 pm
One of the best ways a bicyclist can avoid being hit by a motorist is to
drive his/her bicycle as if they were the approaching motorist.
Many bicyclists tootle around town with self-absorbed blinders. They believe
motorists should respect their right to the road. Fair enough. So there they
pitch their flag and bike where they have the legal right. Problem is, it doesn’t
always make for the safest riding. Consider the context: what type of road is
it, traffic volume, visibility, what other factors does that approaching motorist have to contend with? Being a defensive driver means being much larger than just yourself. It means not only driving your vehicle, but those all around you.
January 26, 2011, 7:48 pm
As a bicyclist know where the law extends you the right-of-way and use it to ensure your safety.
For example, if the law requires you to ride in a bike lane when one is present do so.
That requirement also gives you, the bicyclist, the right-of-way over motor vehicles and pedestrians.
This is the safest place a bicyclist can be on the roadway. And if a bicyclist is involved in
a collision with a motor vehicle while legally in a bike lane the law will weigh heavy in the
bicyclist’s favor. Knowing and understanding traffic law not only helps to ensure a road users
safety but is the fiscally savvy thing to do.
November 11, 2010, 8:19 pm
In other words, when operating your bicycle (or any vehicle) on the streets, to the extent that
your behavior is predictable to other road users, the more livable those behaviors are. What
kills road users of all types, is behavior that is unexpected. Roadways are not the place for surprises.
November 1, 2010, 2:14 pm
“Depending on the color or type of clothing you are wearing, drivers
will first be able to see you at night from the following distances:
55 feet (blue)
80 feet (red)
120 feet (yellow)
180 feet* (white)
500 feet (retro-reflective)
*WARNING! At 40 mph, the stopping distance of most motor
vehicles is more than 180 feet (including reaction time). Wearing
retro-reflective clothing allows drivers to see you from a greater
distance.”
Thanks to Idaho Bicycle Commuter Guide for the above information.
October 24, 2010, 7:25 pm
Bicycle commuters travel year round in all kinds of weather – as do motorists.
Two things both share in common are rubber tires and street markings.
Road markings are those solid or dashed white and yellow lines. They can also be words
such as “bike lane,” “stop” or “yield,’” – any word painted on the roadway. In the right conditions, usually after the first rain, or in snow or ice, rubber tires on these markings become very slick. As a bicyclist, in the aforementioned weather, avoid making sharp turns over these markings. Better – avoid traveling on them at all.
October 9, 2010, 8:17 pm
So you slam a couple pints down at the local pub. Fortunately you’re not jumping into your
2,000 lb plus steel missile to get home. Instead, you hop on your bicycle and swerve back home. Home sweet home. Can you get pulled over for operating a bicycle under the influence of alcohol? YUP! Remember, in many states, a bicyclist operating a bicycle on the roadway has all the rights and duties as a driver of a motor vehicle – where applicable. In other words, under the law, regardless of what state you may live in, if alcohol is in your bloodstream and you’re traveling on a roadway, you’re game for a DUII.
August 30, 2010, 8:38 pm
Motorized bicycles, such as mopeds or bikes with electric motors, are a bit of a
conundrum for law makers around the country. Is it legal for a motorized
bicycle to use bike lanes? I’m not going to cover all fifty states and DC here, but
I will give you the general drift of the legislation being drafted. It is as follows:
The operator of a motorized bicycle may use a bicycle lane IF the engine is not
being used to power the cyclist down the road. If you are manually propelling
your bicycle, even if it is equipped with an engine, you may use the bike lane.
But once the engine is engaged instead of your legs, the operator
needs to exit the bike lane and enter the roadway.
August 19, 2010, 8:51 pm
Bicyclists, in some respects, get the short end of the stick whether on the road or sidewalk.
First, a little background. In all states when a bicyclist is on the road they have all the rights
and duties as any other vehicle. When on the sidewalk they have all the rights and duties as a pedestrian.
In both cases, they are second class citizens. When on the street, a second class citizen in practice,
when on the sidewalk, by law. When a bicyclist is traveling on the street they capitulate to
motor vehicles whether they want to or not. Might makes right when it comes to automobile
vs bicycle. This is what is meant by, “second class citizen in practice.” Being a bicyclist on the
street is like being the sickly and weak in high school – you inevitably get pushed around
by bullies bigger and stronger than you.
When it comes to a bicyclist on the sidewalk, every state requires a bicyclist
to yield to a pedestrian. By law, then, a bicyclist is a second class pedestrian.
August 3, 2010, 8:04 pm
…that motorists have against bicyclists is the unpredictability many bicyclists exhibit while operating their bicycle in public. For those of us who are bicycle commuters we know and often share this sentiment.
It’s annoying and scary when a rogue bicyclist cuts in front of us when on the bike path. It’s all the more disturbing while driving a motor vehicle weighing 2,000 lbs plus. Bicyclists of all types need to realize that careless driving (failure to signal, running stop signs, hastily jumping off the sidewalk into the street, etc.) will come back to haunt us when a crash occurs. Bicyclists do not have carte blanche to disregard traffic laws and expect those same laws to come to a rescue when the result is a collision with a motor vehicle.
As bicyclists we need to be predictable in our travel. The more predictable our behavior in the roadway the safer we will be.
July 24, 2010, 8:45 pm
In Oregon, a bicyclist must use a bike lane if traveling on the street. If a bike lane is not present then the
far right side of the lane is the space to be used. If a sidewalk is available, a bicyclist may pop onto the
*sidewalk from the street or bike lane at will. Keep in mind, the sidewalk is dangerous because most
motorists aren’t expecting a bicyclist on the sidewalk. Motorists also roll well onto the sidewalk before stopping to check for oncoming traffic. For a bicyclist, then, the street is the safest place to cruise.
*sidewalk use in Oregon is often restricted in the downtown core of municipalities. Check your city ordinances for specifics. i.e., Eugene, OR, bicyclists are restricted from east side of High to west side of Charnelton, north side of 6th to south side of llth.
