Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.John C. Ratliff
06-01-07, 09:26 PM
Vehicular cycling is not a religion, nor a superstition, nor a political ideology. Vehicular cycling has two premises. The first is that roadway traffic operates according to the rules of the road for drivers of vehicles. The second is that those rules of the road have been worked over for decades to suit the characteristics of vehicles and drivers. If you want to do, or to propose, something that contradicts the rules of the road for drivers of vehicles you better have some outstanding and relevant facts to back it up. Bike lane advocates have presented no such facts and reason.
This quote comes from another thread, but I think it deserves its own discussion. I went to the Oregon DOT driver's manual, and found these entries:
ODOT Driver’s Manual, page 31:
Slow Drivers
When you drive slower than the normal speed of traffic, you must use
the right lane or drive as closely as possible to the right curb or edge of
the road, unless you are getting ready to make a left turn.
Watch for congestion behind you if you drive slower than the
designated speed. Pull off the road at the first area safe to turn out and
let the traffic behind you pass. The overtaking driver must obey the
speed law.
When the driver behind you
wants to pass. Slow down to
allow room in front of your
vehicle for the passing
vehicle to complete the pass
sooner and more safely.
When following bicycles or
motorcycles. You need
extra room in case the rider
loses control of the bicycle or
motorcycle.
Keeping Right
Drive on the right half of the road except when:
• Passing another vehicle going in the same direction as you.
• Driving to the left of center to pass an obstruction.
• A road is marked for one-way traffic.
• A road has 3 marked lanes and the center lane is a passing lane.
• You are turning left.
Passing on the Right
You may pass on the right only when:
• There is room ahead on the road;
• Your lane or pavement is wide enough for two lanes of traffic going
the same direction; and,
• The driver you are passing is making or has signaled for a left turn.
You may not pass on the right if any part of your vehicle will be off
the paved part of the highway or into a bike lane. A vehicle may not drive
in the bicycle lane to pass on the right. Use extra care when you pass on
the right. Other drivers do not expect to be passed on the right.
My reading of this is that "taking the lane," such as is advocated by many VC riders on these pages, would be prohibited if the cyclist acted strictly like a motor vehicle.
Slow Moving Vehicle
Vehicles that travel at speeds of 25 miles per hour or
less—such as farm equipment or low-speed vehicles—must
display this SLOW MOVING VEHICLE emblem when
using a public highway. Be prepared to adjust your speed
or position when you see this sign.
If it is built for use at speeds of less than 25 miles per hour, a vehicle
must have this sign mounted on the rear. The sign must be a standard
type recognized nationwide. It has a red reflectorized border and a
fluorescent orange-red center.
Farming and construction machinery and equipment must display this
sign except when guarded by a flagger or warning sign.
The sign must also be on the rear of mopeds or golf cart type vehicles
driven by disabled persons. These vehicles may only travel on streets
with a top designated speed of 25 miles per hour.
Do not use this sign in any other way except on these vehicles
and machinery.
I wonder how many of the VC proponents can maintain an average speed above 25 mph? If we went strictly by the "rules of the road" for drivers, then my reading here is that we would need a slow moving vehicle sign on our bikes.
External Passengers
Oregon law prohibits anyone under 18 years old to ride on the hood, fender,
running board, or other external part of a vehicle, including a pickup bed.
Adults should not ride in a pickup bed. If you are in an accident, adults
in the pickup bed who are not restrained are likely to be thrown from the
vehicle, causing serious injury or even death.
You cannot carry a dog on an external part of a vehicle, including a
pickup bed, unless it is protected by framework, carrier, or other device
to keep it from falling from the vehicle. A dog should ride in the back
seat in a secured carrier or animal safety belt. Do not hold an animal in
your lap or arms when driving.
Now, looking at this, car seats on bikes would be out and, who knows, trailers with kids?
None of these are enforced on bicyclists now, and I don't think we would want that to happen. But a strict reading of what John Forester wrote above, about the evolved rules of the road, leads me to think that this is where we would be right now if VC riding had taken hold in the 1970s, and was the "rule of the road" now. The way the Oregon DOT Driver's manual is written, there is a complete section on bicycle and cars, and how the two should interact. There is also a separate publication called the Oregon Bicyclist Manual 2006, which details bicyclist responsibilities:
http://egov.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/BIKEPED/docs/bike_manual_06.pdf
As it states:
This booklet was prepared to help adult bicyclists and parents of
younger bicyclists understand how to ride safely and legally on
the streets, roads and highways of Oregon. This manual condenses
and paraphrases language in the Oregon Revised Statutes. It also
provides safety advice not included in the law. This manual is not a
proper legal authority to cite and should not be relied upon in a court
of law. Traffic regulations in cities, towns and counties may go beyond
state laws, as long as they do not conflict with state law.
For a complete copy of the statutes relating to bicycling, please consult
the Oregon Vehicle Code, available at your local library, or by going to
the following Internet link: http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/. Most of the
statutes relating to bicycling are found in Chapter 814 of the Oregon
Revised Statutes.
So let's think about what we really want. Do we want to be treated as equal drivers on the roadway, as John Forester envisions, or do we want something in between, which takes advantage of the unique differences between bikes and autos, and allows us the freedom to use the best approach possible.
John
This quote comes from another thread, but I think it deserves its own discussion. I went to the Oregon DOT driver's manual, and found these entries:
ODOT Driver’s Manual, page 31:
Slow Drivers
When you drive slower than the normal speed of traffic, you must use
the right lane or drive as closely as possible to the right curb or edge of
the road, unless you are getting ready to make a left turn.
Watch for congestion behind you if you drive slower than the
designated speed. Pull off the road at the first area safe to turn out and
let the traffic behind you pass. The overtaking driver must obey the
speed law.
When the driver behind you
wants to pass. Slow down to
allow room in front of your
vehicle for the passing
vehicle to complete the pass
sooner and more safely.
When following bicycles or
motorcycles. You need
extra room in case the rider
loses control of the bicycle or
motorcycle.
Keeping Right
Drive on the right half of the road except when:
• Passing another vehicle going in the same direction as you.
• Driving to the left of center to pass an obstruction.
• A road is marked for one-way traffic.
• A road has 3 marked lanes and the center lane is a passing lane.
• You are turning left.
Passing on the Right
You may pass on the right only when:
• There is room ahead on the road;
• Your lane or pavement is wide enough for two lanes of traffic going
the same direction; and,
• The driver you are passing is making or has signaled for a left turn.
You may not pass on the right if any part of your vehicle will be off
the paved part of the highway or into a bike lane. A vehicle may not drive
in the bicycle lane to pass on the right. Use extra care when you pass on
the right. Other drivers do not expect to be passed on the right.
My reading of this is that "taking the lane," such as is advocated by many VC riders on these pages, would be prohibited if the cyclist acted strictly like a motor vehicle.
Slow Moving Vehicle
Vehicles that travel at speeds of 25 miles per hour or
less—such as farm equipment or low-speed vehicles—must
display this SLOW MOVING VEHICLE emblem when
using a public highway. Be prepared to adjust your speed
or position when you see this sign.
If it is built for use at speeds of less than 25 miles per hour, a vehicle
must have this sign mounted on the rear. The sign must be a standard
type recognized nationwide. It has a red reflectorized border and a
fluorescent orange-red center.
Farming and construction machinery and equipment must display this
sign except when guarded by a flagger or warning sign.
The sign must also be on the rear of mopeds or golf cart type vehicles
driven by disabled persons. These vehicles may only travel on streets
with a top designated speed of 25 miles per hour.
Do not use this sign in any other way except on these vehicles
and machinery.
I wonder how many of the VC proponents can maintain an average speed above 25 mph? If we went strictly by the "rules of the road" for drivers, then my reading here is that we would need a slow moving vehicle sign on our bikes.
External Passengers
Oregon law prohibits anyone under 18 years old to ride on the hood, fender,
running board, or other external part of a vehicle, including a pickup bed.
Adults should not ride in a pickup bed. If you are in an accident, adults
in the pickup bed who are not restrained are likely to be thrown from the
vehicle, causing serious injury or even death.
You cannot carry a dog on an external part of a vehicle, including a
pickup bed, unless it is protected by framework, carrier, or other device
to keep it from falling from the vehicle. A dog should ride in the back
seat in a secured carrier or animal safety belt. Do not hold an animal in
your lap or arms when driving.
Now, looking at this, car seats on bikes would be out and, who knows, trailers with kids?
None of these are enforced on bicyclists now, and I don't think we would want that to happen. But a strict reading of what John Forester wrote above, about the evolved rules of the road, leads me to think that this is where we would be right now if VC riding had taken hold in the 1970s, and was the "rule of the road" now. The way the Oregon DOT Driver's manual is written, there is a complete section on bicycle and cars, and how the two should interact. There is also a separate publication called the Oregon Bicyclist Manual 2006, which details bicyclist responsibilities:
http://egov.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/BIKEPED/docs/bike_manual_06.pdf
As it states:
This booklet was prepared to help adult bicyclists and parents of
younger bicyclists understand how to ride safely and legally on
the streets, roads and highways of Oregon. This manual condenses
and paraphrases language in the Oregon Revised Statutes. It also
provides safety advice not included in the law. This manual is not a
proper legal authority to cite and should not be relied upon in a court
of law. Traffic regulations in cities, towns and counties may go beyond
state laws, as long as they do not conflict with state law.
For a complete copy of the statutes relating to bicycling, please consult
the Oregon Vehicle Code, available at your local library, or by going to
the following Internet link: http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/. Most of the
statutes relating to bicycling are found in Chapter 814 of the Oregon
Revised Statutes.
So let's think about what we really want. Do we want to be treated as equal drivers on the roadway, as John Forester envisions, or do we want something in between, which takes advantage of the unique differences between bikes and autos, and allows us the freedom to use the best approach possible.
John