Riding The Roads

[CATIN STEVE]

Today I rode my Catrike Road with the Tampa Freewheelers on their Saturday ride from Seffner Fl to Plant City Fl about 25miles round trip. Today we were stopped by the County Sheriff. He asked me why I was riding in the center of the lane next to another upright rider and not along the edge of the road. I politely told him I was passing the other rider. He said he had been getting complaints about us. He probably meant the group of 50 Tour de France want-a-be riders that went the same way 10 minutes earlier. They take up one whole lane and are hard to get around. I bit my lips and said I would stay next to the shoulder and we would ride single file. Its not worth making a fuss over even it I was not doing anything wrong. Has anyone else had similar happenings??

[FarHorizon]

Nope, but you did the right thing. No sense in friction for no gain... Hope you had a great ride and Happy New Year!

[Lucky13]

I'm not surprised. Far too many club riders have given other cyclists a bad name. They regularly ride two and three abreast in the middle of the traffic lane...refusing to ride single file, completely ignoring a perfectly useable bike lane and aggressively challenging anyone who questions their behavior.

"Share the Road" is, or rather should be, a two-way street. Let's face it: if not for the automobile, then few of these roads would exist in the first place. It's not as if, out of the blue, all of these nasty cars just suddenly appeared.

[BlazingPedals]

I'm not surprised. Far too many club riders have given other cyclists a bad name. They regularly ride two and three abreast in the middle of the traffic lane...refusing to ride single file, completely ignoring a perfectly useable bike lane and aggressively challenging anyone who questions their behavior.

"Share the Road" is, or rather should be, a two-way street. Let's face it: if not for the automobile, then few of these roads would exist in the first place. It's not as if, out of the blue, all of these nasty cars just suddenly appeared.

Yes, sharing the road is a two-way street. But it doesn't involve getting out of the way of the 'superior' user, it means that bicycles have EQUAL rights to the roads. While I'll go so far as to agree that riding illegally impacts all cyclists' image, riding two abreast or riding in the traffic lane instead of the 'perfectly useable' bike lane is not illegal. These are examples of behavior that is specifically allowed under most states' vehicle code.

Read your history if you don't think "all of these nasty cars just suddenly appeared." As a matter of fact, bikes were on the roads before cars were invented. Cars are the newcomers! And the experience of the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps ultimately led to the creation of our modern system of paved roads and Interstate Highways. So if you like driving your car on paved roads, thank the bicycle!

[budster]

Yes, sharing the road is a two-way street. But it doesn't involve getting out of the way of the 'superior' user, it means that bicycles have EQUAL rights to the roads. While I'll go so far as to agree that riding illegally impacts all cyclists' image, riding two abreast or riding in the traffic lane instead of the 'perfectly useable' bike lane is not illegal. These are examples of behavior that is specifically allowed under most states' vehicle code.

Read your history if you don't think "all of these nasty cars just suddenly appeared." As a matter of fact, bikes were on the roads before cars were invented. Cars are the newcomers! And the experience of the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps ultimately led to the creation of our modern system of paved roads and Interstate Highways. So if you like driving your car on paved roads, thank the bicycle!
True, true and true! :beer:

I do believe in courtesy to fellow road users. Safety first, courtesy whenever safely possible. And always -- use your rights: ride your bike!

Learn your history, too. If the automobile had never been invented, there would still be a comprehensive network of paved roads and highways, only designed for bicycles rather than cars. More on bicycling and the "Good Roads movement: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Roads_Movement

[Grampy™]

Florida has a reputation (At least with folks I know that have gone down there to ride) as a Bicycle Unfriendly State... The Sheriff was just keeping with tradition...

[Lucky13]

OK. I'll accept that the bicycle played a role in the very early development of this country's (USA) paved road system. Fair enough. I had never heard of the Good Roads Movement. But in a practical, real world sense, it is the automobile that has fueled (sorry...couldn't resist) and financed our current and comprehensive network of paved roads. The Wikipedia article supplied as a link evens recognizes that...

"At the turn of the Twentieth Century the bicycle fad began to wane..."

If I'm not mistaken, that took place over 100 years ago! It is unrealistic to think that a simple, slow moving device like the bicycle could have resulted in the current system of highways and byways. Yes, before cars showed up there were bikes and before that something else. If the bicycle had not been invented, would the horse-drawn carriage be calling the shots today? Not likely.

>>They regularly ride two and three abreast in the middle of the traffic lane>>

The above statement was not meant to suggest that cyclists don't have a right to claim a space on the road. I do it all the time. But there is a difference here. We should all recognize that. As cyclists, we are operating slow moving vehicles and should make the effort to move over when prudent. I can see nothing submissive about using a bike lane, or riding single file, when traffic conditions warrant. Also, many other stunts are pulled by so-called *serious* cyclists. Running red lights, blowing thru stop signs...it happens all the time.

>>Florida has a reputation (At least with folks I know that have gone down there to ride) as a Bicycle Unfriendly State... The Sheriff was just keeping with tradition...>>

Aside from a number of long tours, most all of my cycling has been done in my home state of Florida. I have NEVER been treated badly by a member of law enforcement.

[Bruce Rosar]

As cyclists, we are operating slow moving vehicles [...]BTW, sometimes bicycles travel just as fast as other vehicles. Two simple examples: On my single bike, I have to brake going down the last hill when coming home in order to stay under the 25 mph limit. When we travel towards town on our tandem, we have to brake going down a larger hill because of the 35 mph limit.

[...] and should make the effort to move over when prudent. I can see nothing submissive about using a bike lane, [...] Let's say, for example, that I don't feel comfortable using a bike lane (perhaps due to car doors opening, debris, whatever) but I do so anyway just because it's the government sponsored facility for anyone and everyone in my minority group (bicyclists). Wouldn't that be submissive?

[...] or riding single file, [...]Riding in a single line can actually increase delays for wider overtaking vehicles (by increasing the length of the group) if the cyclists are traveling along in a marked travel lane which isn't wide enough to share.

[...] when traffic conditions warrant. Are those warrants available on the web? ;)

[...] many other stunts are pulled by so-called *serious* cyclists. Running red lights, blowing thru stop signs...it happens all the time.During my half-century of driving pedal and motor vehicles, I've seen no more than two serious cyclists intentionally ignore a traffic control device. On the other hand, I have seen at least a half-dozen people do that while driving a heavy motor vehicle.

[Lucky13]

Come on, folks! You are starting to sound like those users of Macintosh computers when they bash the big, bad Microsoft.

We all know what I'm talking about...self-absorbed club cyclists who hog the road for no good reason.

>>and should make the effort to move over when prudent>>

What part of "when prudent" don't you understand?

Here's a definition...

Prudent adj. 1. exercising sound judgment in practical matters

No one is suggesting that we ride thru broken glass, mud puddles or tree branches. Hmm...does anyone make a recumbent mountain bike?

Bruce, you wrote that in 50-odd years of road use, you've seen only a couple of serious cyclists commit an infraction. If so, then you must be living in a completely different world. Here in South Florida, running red lights is practically an epidemic. Cyclists, motorists, dogs, cats...you name it.

[jeff-o]

In Ontario, cyclists must ride in single file, it's the law. You may only ride abreast when passing other vehicles, or (I think) when there are no cars on the road. But, there are always cars on the road....

Oh, and Microsoft suxxxxxx! Long live the Mac! Wooooo! ;)

[budster]

...It is unrealistic to think that a simple, slow moving device like the bicycle could have resulted in the current system of highways and byways. ...

I never said it would have resulted in the current system. However, we would still have a comprehensive system of streets and roads, and it would probably be better suited to bikes than the current system is.

I don't feel any debt of gratitude to the mighty car.

I can't think of any other invention that has caused/facilited so many problems in modern society, among them sprawl, air pollution, obesity... Car crashes kill 40,000+ people every year in this country. This is, of course, mostly beside the point of this discussion.

Except that bicyclists hold part of the key to overcoming our dangerous and costly addiction to the automobile -- the car fad, if you will. Not only do bicyclists have as much legal right to use the road as motorists do, but because society benefits from bikes and suffers from cars, an argument can be made that the highway system should be made more accomodating to bikes.

I mostly agree with this:As cyclists, we are operating slow moving vehicles and should make the effort to move over when prudent. I can see nothing submissive about using a bike lane, or riding single file, when traffic conditions warrant.

I would change "when traffic conditions warrant" to "when safely possible and traffic conditions warrant." I used to "move over" into the gutter on a regular basis, for the convenience of motorists. I thought this was courteous behavior, and it seems to be what many motorists expect. Fortunately, all it cost me was a front wheel. This behavior has cost other cyclists their health or their lives.

Better than moving over is maintaining a proper lane position.

In my state, the law says I must be as far to the right as practicable (practice-able), which depends largely on how wide the lane is. It can mean the middle of a narrow lane, or further right in a lane wide enough for a bicycle and a car to ride side by side.

I stay about a foot out of the gutter in wide lanes with steady traffic and close to the center of narrow lanes. I stay about 4 feet to the left of car doors in areas with parallel parking. I used to ride about one foot from the parked cars, and dodge out left when someone opened their door. After getting "doored, and seeing another person almost get run over avoiding a door, I maintain the safe lane position. Whether some motorist likes it or not, it's my legal right. And it's my safety.

That's the root of the issue: safety.

Safety trumps the momentary convenience of motorists every time. The law allows me to ride my bike safely. If motorists don't like it, perhaps they should go play on the freeway, where bikes aren't allowed. Or lobby to have bikes prohibited from other roads they don't want to share -- but I certainly don't advocate that.

My state's law also permits riding two abreast, provided we're not impeding other traffic. Again, in a lane too narrow for a car to pass safely anyway, side by side riding not only doesn't impede traffic, it improves safety. It's more visible, and makes clear to motorists that they need to change lanes to pass. As Bruce points out, a big group riding side by side is half as long as the same group riding single file.

I do agree completely on this point: Also, many other stunts are pulled by so-called *serious* cyclists. Running red lights, blowing thru stop signs...it happens all the time.

I agree that cyclists should obey the law, that many cyclists don't and that they give the rest of us a bad name we don't deserve.

I do like the law in Idaho, where cyclists are allowed to treat stop signs like yield signs, and to treat stop lights like stop signs: http://www.lostrivercycling.org/idcode.html

I want that to become law here, and it would probably make sense in a lot of other places as well. But I believe in obeying current law while working to change it.

Motorists are responsible for knowing and obeying the law, too. Bikes in your state are permitted the full use of narrow lanes and to ride two abreast unless they're impeding traffic by doing so (would apply to wide lanes). Here's the Florida bicycle law: http://www.massbike.org/bikelaw/florida.htm

Read it, learn it, live it. If you don't like it, you can lobby to have it changed. But you still have to obey it in the meanwhile.

[Bruce Rosar]

Here in South Florida, running red lights is practically an epidemic. Cyclists, motorists, dogs, cats...you name it.Well, I can believe that dogs are running red lights, but cats? Here the cats just walk thru red lights (unless a dog is right behind them). :D

[sbhikes]

My right tire has to be in the gutter if I want the left tire inside the bike lane!

Anyway, I too carry a copy of the relevant sections of the law in my tool kit. I haven't had to use it yet. I prefer to ride single file anyway because otherwise I don't get enough space to avoid things or make lane changes/adjustments as I'd like.

[sula]

Oh, this old chestnut and my my don’t we all get excited about it. Funny In the UK folk always assume it illegal to ride two abreast in fact its not. Just as has been pointed out for parts of the US. Basically It comes down to culture. When I’m out for a spin with mates of course we try to keep out of the way of cars, when I’m driving my car I try to keep out the way of those riding. However if I am in a pack and we are stretching our legs training sometimes this is going to take up a bit of room. One thing that is fun to do is treat 30mph signs going into towns villages as sprint markers. Makes the ride fun and yer we get over the road making thouse sprints. May be we hold up a car for ten or twelve seconds as a results. We hey there you go.

Chill out some one is having fun.

Why not give them a cheer rather than moping about.

I was ridding last year in Italy, man on a Sunday the whole world and his dog is ridding. Packs of fifty plus folk on the road. At times the cars have to pull over and stop to let the bikes through. No glum faces there.

Shake your shoulders chill out, if a rodie holds you up for ten seconds well what were you planning on doing with those tens seconds any way.

[markw]

Here's what California says.... Got stopped once for taking the lane and not the bike lane next to parked cars.
I take the whole lane, since it's barely 9 feet wide. Had a talking to from the sheriff about it, pointed out opening doors and debris, and then said that cvc 21202 says it's legal.

21202. (a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed
less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction
at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand
curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following
situations:
(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle
proceeding in the same direction.
(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a
private road or driveway.
(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but
not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles,
pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes)
that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge,
subject to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this
section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for
a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the
lane.
(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway,
which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or
more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or
edge of that roadway as practicable.

[hound-dog]

Yep. I got pulled over in December by a cop who warned me that I shouldn't ride my bike in winter. I built my own bike specifically for the winter last year and never had a problem with it. Painted it flourescent orange and I wear a red bomber jacket with snowpants covered in reflective tape so you'd have to be totally blind not to see me riding on the street!

Anyway, he had a HUGE attitude and told me I should put it away for the winter, even though it's a design I got from Atomic Zombie's bicycle Builder's Bonanza book and it works great. I asked him to quote the laws that I was breaking and he walked back to his gas guzling car in a huff. Sometimes you have to pick and choose your battles, but as far as I'm concerned he was being an idiot for the sake of being an idiot. Ignorance is bliss. Some people have nothing better to do except complain and harrass those of us who are minding out own business.

Everyone who rides a bike seems to be painted with the same brush, so I wouldn't sweat how you were treated by the cop.

[sula]

Yep. I got pulled over in December by a cop who warned me that I shouldn't ride my bike in winter. I built my own bike specifically for the winter last year and never had a problem with it. Painted it flourescent orange and I wear a red bomber jacket with snowpants covered in reflective tape so you'd have to be totally blind not to see me riding on the street!

Anyway, he had a HUGE attitude and told me I should put it away for the winter, even though it's a design I got from Atomic Zombie's bicycle Builder's Bonanza book and it works great. I asked him to quote the laws that I was breaking and he walked back to his gas guzling car in a huff. Sometimes you have to pick and choose your battles, but as far as I'm concerned he was being an idiot for the sake of being an idiot. Ignorance is bliss. Some people have nothing better to do except complain and harrass those of us who are minding out own business.

Everyone who rides a bike seems to be painted with the same brush, so I wouldn't sweat how you were treated by the cop.


Well of course he had a HUGE Attitude he was a ploiceman. How would you get recruited without one?

I'm not anti Police just think we should all hold them in a little contempt and ridicule does them good. After years of riding and traveling the world I have only been robed once with viloence by you guessed it the police. Ok it was in Baku Azerbijan late at nigh on the way home from a bar, but the basic premis stands.

In britain we have spent years making our police look reidculous. I think its a great policy. Who is more likey to beet up on you some guy dressed up like a cloun who has to wear a hat shaped like a nipple or some guy feeling cool and powerful in sunglasses and slick pants?

I'll go for the bike riding, nipple hat wearing, no gun toting bloke every time.