B10Cycle

I've been having an argument with my friend about a bicycle's right to the road and I was looking for some legal code to throw in his face (or freeze to his windshield during school , whichever). The argument was pitiful he complained about the amount of cyclists on the street he lives on, I defend the right of bikes to the road, we go back and forth like this a bit, then he goes- "Whatever, bikers are gay." Anyway, I'm unclear on where to find these laws written down on the internet. I'm at the State of Maryland Dep. of Transportation website and I've looked at the MVA and Transit Authority sites and I can't seem to find what I'm looking for.

Does anyone know specifically where these might be listed? If anyone in Maryland knows the specific link, that would be amazing. Thanks for any help.

denisegoldberg

Here's a link to the State Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinators. You'll find email addresses for the bicycle pedestrian coordinators in each state as well as a link to the department of transportation site. In some cases the link goes directly to a bicycle-related page. In others you will need to do a little bit of exploring.

Even better, here's a list of links to state laws concerning bicycles published by MassBike. It includes all US states and territories, provinces in Canada, and a couple of international links.

supcom

Maryland's code:

https://198.187.128.12/maryland/lpext...s-main.htm&2.0

Try doing a search on 'bicycle'.

B10Cycle

OK, that's great. That's just what I needed, thank you guys.

ßåЧëëÐ

As it was mentioned in a recent thread, https://www.bikeforums.net/advocacy-safety/90030-progressive-states-cyclists.html


yeah. what she said.

Anthony King

I don't think your friend cares about the laws in the least. And you won't find anything in the Maryland statues to refute "bikers are gay".

Becca

...although *some* of us are, but that has nothing to do with us being on a bicycle.

tulip

I'm concerned that I live in Maryland and this guy is on the road in his car without regard to cyclists, including me! Yikes.

B10Cycle

I think I'm making some headway with him. At first he denied that bicycles had a right to the road in the legal sense, but I think I've gotten that through his head. He then threatened to screw with me, throwing stuff, passing close and what have you. I threw a few cases of cyclists catching up to drivers and the fast that if he did anything to anyone it would be assault. I think he didn't appreciate the seriousness of throwing something or bumping a cyclist, but I got DEAD SERIOUS when he started talking about that. I let him know that if he did anything to me I would handle it in an appropriate manner and that if he did it to any of the other cyclists out there they would probably get his plate and call the cops and God help him if they managed to catch up with him. I think a lot of drivers, my friend included and myself before I started riding, are just oblivious to the dangers that cyclists face when using the roads. I figure if I can get him to acknowledge a cyclists right to the road and just be more careful then that will be a victory.

He's never done anything to any cyclists physically. He may have yelled a few times, but don't worry to much about him. He talks a pretty big game, but he's a little boy at heart and he's not going to do anything. I could tell when I started mentioning the legal implications of his threatened actions he piped down quite a bit. I think he was always just oblivious to the law and I'm trying to educate him.

B10Cycle

I think he's always been oblivious to the law as it regards to bicycles on the road. He piped down quite a bit when I mentioned assault and quoted a few stories from here and RBR about cyclists catching up with drivers that have messed with them. My goal is just to educate him and make him a more considerate user of the road.

chicharron

Why do you bother trying to argue with your friend. Anyone who says "all bicyclist are gay...." is not going to take seriously any rebuttels or proof that you show him. He'll just call you a name anyway. so why bother? Just ride your bike, and don't worry about it.

galen_52657

Find some new friends with more brain cells....

B10Cycle

Usually if someone makes a deal about this I'll make a brief pitch and if their not receptive, just dorp it. However, I've known this kid years and we bust each other's balls about stuff all the time so it's not like we never argue or anything. The fact that he's my friend and that he seems to be wavering a bit in the face of my evidence gives me the hope that he can be changed.

Wouldn't it be worth it if after a while of convincing and arguing over this he becomes a safer and more consciensous user of the roads? I think that it would be, after all it's no skin off my hide to let him know that I'm right and he's wrong- in fact it's kind of fun .

N_C

Some of the e-mail addresses for the Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinators might be out dated. The one for Iowa is. That person is no longer holds that position with the Iowa DOT. The reason is he developed the attitude that the needs for cyclists & pedestrians were a waste of time & he was replaced by someone better suited for the job & she has done a tremendous job so far for the needs of cyclists & pedestrians in Iowa.

If the info for listed Iowa is out of date on this web site then it is feasable that other listings could out of date too.