I don't know if I have a real point with this, other than to point out just how wacky things are sometimes.
So I was driving home from work today (not a bike-commute friendly job) I was on Rt 70 wesbound in MD and saw a combination of things.
First off, for those who don't know the area, Rt 70 in MD is an interstate road, 4 lane divided highway with a 65mph speed limit. Definitely off limits to bikes.
So first I noticed this bicycle riding on the wesbound shoulder heading east. So he is riding on the shoulder with oncoming traffic. This was somewhat near an onramp to 70 westbound.
Then a State trooper comes down the onramp and merges onto 70, blowing past the cyclist without even seeming to take notice.
I dunno, there were just so many things wrong with this picture I just had to post.
1. Cyclist on a restricted interstate
2. Cyclist going the wrong way against traffic moving 70mph+
3. Cop not even bothering to stop a cyclist doing the above.
Crazy.
-D
古強者死神
05-24-06, 11:47 PM
He probably had bigger fish to fry, or maybe didnt see him.
The lanes on the highway here are much wider than a bike lane and I would say even tho the traffic is 65mph it would be much safer on the interstate than on the road to bike there.
Problem is that lane is reserved for emergancy vehicles and emergancy stops for cars I belive and thus why bikes are not allowed on there.
I wish the bike lanes were that big tho ^^
N_C
05-25-06, 01:35 PM
It is possible he was responding to a call. Even though he may not have had his lights & sirens going he could have been doing so, he may have been running silent & dark as to not tip off the bad guys he was coming.
Another possibility is it is legal to ride bicycle on this roadway. Are you sure it is against the law? If it is the only mistake he was making was riding against traffic.
derath
05-25-06, 02:08 PM
It is possible he was responding to a call. Even though he may not have had his lights & sirens going he could have been doing so, he may have been running silent & dark as to not tip off the bad guys he was coming.
Another possibility is it is legal to ride bicycle on this roadway. Are you sure it is against the law? If it is the only mistake he was making was riding against traffic.
I know there are various reasons the cop didn't respond. I only really posted this because it just struck me as so odd at the time. All the things coming together.
And yes it is definitely illegal to ride on this road. It is a 4 lane, divided interstate limited access (no lights, only ramps) highway with a 65MPH speed limit.
-D
noisebeam
05-25-06, 02:12 PM
It is a 4 lane, divided interstate limited access (no lights, only ramps) highway with a 65MPH speed limit.
That makes it illegal by definition in MD law?
Al
webist
05-25-06, 02:15 PM
Saw an odd one on the way to work myself. Young girl (maybe 14 - 15 yo), helmetless, on cell phone, riding on sidewalk against traffic. She was moving so slow and so obviously distracted that had I said anything to her, she'd have probably fallen over. Curiously, there was a marked speed trap set up a couple hundred feet away. No reaction from the cop.
Keith99
05-25-06, 02:25 PM
I
So first I noticed this bicycle riding on the wesbound shoulder heading east. So he is riding on the shoulder with oncoming traffic. This was somewhat near an onramp to 70 westbound.
Then a State trooper comes down the onramp and merges onto 70, blowing past the cyclist without even seeming to take notice.
3. Cop not even bothering to stop a cyclist doing the above.
-D
Just what is the cop supposed to do? Slam on the brakes and do a cowboy 180?
If (yes if) he did take action it could well be to call it in, very little one cop can do since he can't go the same direction as the bike is without endangering everyone else.
biketrials
05-25-06, 02:28 PM
thats a gong show if i've ever seen one
derath
05-25-06, 02:52 PM
That makes it illegal by definition in MD law?
Al
Specifically? Maybe no, except the freeway portions. Oh and the no bicycle signs on the onramps are a dead giveaway.
Just what is the cop supposed to do? Slam on the brakes and do a cowboy 180?
If (yes if) he did take action it could well be to call it in, very little one cop can do since he can't go the same direction as the bike is without endangering everyone else.
I didn't EXPECT the cop to do anything. As I said in my OP I was just posting this becaue it just seemed wacky.
thats a gong show if i've ever seen one
EXACTLY. I was just kinda struck by the image. If I had then gotten passed by a car where the owners dog was driving it would have almost seemed to be in its proper place.
-D
noisebeam
05-25-06, 02:55 PM
Oh and the no bicycle signs on the onramps are a dead giveaway.
Thats all you had to say before - the description of the road is irrelevant.
Is freeway riding universally banned in MD, or just when posted?
Al
derath
05-25-06, 03:05 PM
Thats all you had to say before - the description of the road is irrelevant.
Is freeway riding universally banned in MD, or just when posted?
Al
I don't know if it is univerally banned, as I don't really feel like looking at a map and checking them off. But from the list it is pretty much all of the interstate freeways, and many others
http://www.sha.state.md.us/exploremd/bicyclists/oppe/Bicyclists6.asp
Perfect. No, cylists are not universally banned it appears.
Al
derath
05-25-06, 03:13 PM
Perfect. No, cylists are not universally banned it appears.
Al
From my knowledge of the state, and I drive around most of it, it IS, without 100% checking, all of the interstate highways (the I-?? roads) in the state, as I talked about above.
And yea in my post above, the description was relevant for my post considering I was not trying to spark a huge debate, just that it seemed an odd set of events that I saw.
Sorry, I guess I should have posted it over in Foo.