noisebeam

Oh, what do I think about the topic, the proposed law?

I think its fine if there are increased penalties for killing/injuring a cyclist, but that these penalties should apply even if a cyclist is riding outside a passable bike lane or adjacent path.

Currently the way the law is written the penalties only apply if a cyclist is injured/killed while in a bike lane if passable and present.

If the penalties are increased it is only going to make it harder to go back later and correct this flaw in the law.

Al

wheel

(ben4775, March 8, 2007 12:49PM)

I am frustrated comment speaks for itself. I am living in an auto centric valley.

skanking biker

My perspective is that the criminal penalty should be the same as injuring someone in an auto--and that the law should be enforced in the same manner---that means if you kill a cyclist, you are on the hook for vehicular homicide. I think enforcement is the problem, not the penalty. If you start making special penalties for cyclists, it only reinforces the notion that cyclists want "special" treatment on the road, rather than being treated like other vehicles. Whether the JAM should have to pay the cylist is a matter for the civil courts.

wheel

Thats a good pic of being seen. This guy (bicycle cord. for AZ) is my hero! Everytime I think that is too long I think of this guy.

noisebeam

He certainly is.

But the irony of the photo and incorrect caption "keeps to the bike lane" is that technically if he was (hopefully never) injured in the riding position he appears to be in (on or just outside the bike lane stripe, not in the bike lane) the 'raised bad driver fines' would not even apply.

The proposed law only ammends the existing law which says that the fines do "not apply to a bicyclist who is injured in a vehicular traffic lane when a designated bicycle lane or path is present and passable."

Al

wheel

<i>Iron</i> +1

bigpedaler

it's an unfortunate truth that what he's quoted as saying isn't based on right to the road or traffic laws, but the realities of survival. there are roads in my city that i WILL NOT ride on, simply because of the ignoramuses that sit behind steering wheels like kings of the world. (i won't get into my whole freudian theory here....)

bigpedaler

we DO need stiffer fines for drivers who hit cyclists -- as well as more emphasis during driver training/testing, license renewal, etc. insurance companies -- normally the bottom-feeders in this whole thing -- could contribute to this, by offering discounted rates to drivers who can demonstrate cycling awareness. make it a part of the policy process, as a redundancy to traffic laws; more awareness of the law, and the compliance with same, should result in better deals for the insured. since beyond the level of basic expense of doing business, it's all gravy, let the compliant/aware driver pay the present rate, and the ignorant pay through the nose. additionally, driving w/o insurance needs to be a SERIOUS offense, not just a ticket & a tow.

mlh122

When I went to small claims court with my wife to sue a lady that owed my wife $1000, we went in early to watch some other cases. All 3 of the cases before us were young spanish speaking males who failed a breathalizer and had no license or insurance (the cases in a row!) all 3 of them got a fine and were told they weren't supposed to drive without a license or insurance.

I think it's a valid point that raising the penalties might also raise the hit n' runs. I think people should just be better drivers. I've never had a ticket in my life, never been pulled over, never been in an accident, never had a moving violation of any kind. I usually drive with the stereo on a medium volume, i only mess with my cell phone at stoplights or pull over to mess with it, if someone calls I'll usually not answer it or pull over to answer it, or answer it and tell them make it quick or call me back.

Or maybe make seperate roads for bikes/peds, just lots and lots more mups around the city. Or i saw in a picture where concrete posts about 5 ft apart separated the bike lane from the road, so then it just becomes a non-issue.