Advocacy & Safety - Get on the sidewalk!

Bicycle Georgia sent the following to all of it's members this morning.

This morning a Marietta police officer ordered a cyclist on Fairground St. to get off the road and onto the sidewalk where he belonged. Perhaps the officer is thinking ahead to when our sidewalk-cycling advocates get a few more of their paths paved. Interestingly, the incident occurred not far from one of the many new "Share the Road" signs popping up all over the county..

Amazing, a little scary too.
Scary is right.
I guess motorists aren't the only unenlightened folks out there.

Well, I hate to say "I told you so." But this sort of thing is the inevitable result of the irrational rush to build dangerous off-road bike paths that don't go anywhere.

Chris

I hope this individual corrected the officer by telling him that be actually does belong on the road and refused to endager himself by retreating to the footpath.

This exact sceanrio has been recounted in rec.bicycles.mics several times, and while the officer may not like being told he's wrong, there's not a hell of a lot he can do about it. If he tried, I'd be taking it up with his superior.

If this sort of thing becomes a regular occurence, it could be worth carrying a copy of the relevant part of the traffic regulations to prove the point. It's not unusual for the police to operate under the same prejudices as the unwashed masses and not actually know the laws pertaining to bicycling.

Originally posted by RonH
Scary is right.
Talk about scary, Ron...

This morning, impatient, I succombed to temptation.

The bike path crossed in front of me, beckoning, while I waited for an opening at the stop sign. I went for it.

"Wow, I didn't have to wait!" I congratulated myself. But within
20 seconds, the "bike path" metamorphosed into a common sidewalk. "But it was a bike path, I was sure of it!" I said to me,
feeling self pity.

I had fallen down the rabbit hole. I was Alice, in Wonderland.

"Give me something to make me larger!" I cried! :cry:

Originally posted by Allister
It's not unusual for the police to operate under the same prejudices as the unwashed masses

Most policmen (with exceptions) are the unwashed masses in neatly pressed uniforms.

Can you imagine drafting a buddy at 25 mph down a sidewalk?

Originally posted by Greg

Can you imagine drafting a buddy at 25 mph down a sidewalk?

:shudder:

Originally posted by Greg
Can you imagine drafting a buddy at 25 mph down a sidewalk?

Yeah baby!!! You could really work on your evasive maneuver skills. I know..get a horn to alert all the pedestrians so they can get 'off of the sidewalk'. What a twisted world at times.

Why not just stalk the sidewalk waiting for this guy to turn up, then speed past him at 45km/h, going very close to running him down (but not actually hitting him so you can come back and do it again). :D

Chris

Riding on the sidewalk is often dangerous to the cyclist and to surrounding pedestrians, and it is illegal in the central business districts of many cities. Although I have never received a similarly misguided admonition from a sheriff's deputy, one of my friends was told not to make vehicular left turns on his bicycle.

Whenever a law officer gives you bad advice or issues an inappropriate command, try to educate him in a friendly, respectful fashion. If this fails, note his name or badge number and report the incident tactfully, in writing, to management at the local law enforcement headquarters. Cite any municipal or vehicle code sections (by number) which support your case and/or conflict with the officer's instructions. Notify your local cycling advocacy group, if you are fortunate enough to have one. Consider starting a local cycling advocacy group if you are no so blessed. There is genuine political strength in numbers!

I live in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. Certain places we actually have bike paths (gasp!) however, there's one particular north-south path that is an ideal commuter route into the city I see CARS DRIVING ON IT. More than once.

From what I can see, since it parallels a road it's confused motorists believing it's another street. But the signs reading Bike Path are very prominent.

Stupid!

Hi Allister,
I am still laughting at the Tell the Georgia cop he is wrong....I dont know how it works in the land of OZ but man, in Gerogia if a cop tells you to get off you bike and shove it up your A** you better well give it the ole college try.
You would probably be arrested and forget ever finding your bike. And even after being proven right you would still have a police record.
Have always enjoyed your posts in here and in BB forum. Brisbane is a nice place. Was there in 69 for a goverment paid vacation. *S*

Ride Safe.....Dudley

In my state, ( Washington), the state code states that bikes are vehicles and should be operated as such, thus riding on the sidewalk is illlegal and if you're in an accident when riding on or coming of of a sidewalk IT'S YOUR FAULT. It's my understanding that most states have silmilar statutes I've had ignorant policemen and others tell me to get off the street too. Should we all carry copies of the state code as relates to bicylces in our pockets?

Ride right
Pat

Originally posted by Bikinguy
Hi Allister,
I am still laughting at the Tell the Georgia cop he is wrong....I dont know how it works in the land of OZ but man, in Gerogia if a cop tells you to get off you bike and shove it up your A** you better well give it the ole college try.

I'm sure glad I don't live in Georgia, then. Over here the police are subject to the same Law as everyone else.

Allister

by a completely meaningless coincidence, '69 was the year I was born :)

Originally posted by Allister
I'm sure glad I don't live in Georgia, then. Over here the police are subject to the same Law as everyone else.
Don't worry about it, Allister. It's just a stereotype.

I live in Atlanta, Georgia. I have experienced the gamut in policework attitudes. When I crashed recently, the first officer on the scene was from Pine Lake, a very old, small town.

When she (the officer) asked me for my wife's phone number to notify her of my status, I told her not to alarm my wife, that I was all right. She turned her head and hid her face for a moment.

Later, when my wife picked up my things at the police station, the lady officer told my wife that what I told her made her cry, so she had to turn her face away from me.

Police are all human, even in Georgia. ;)

Actually, the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition does advocate carrying copies of excerpts from the California Vehicle Code, to educate those police officers who are ignorant of bicycle-related legislation. As for sidewalk cycling, I do resort to it in a couple of very specific, very limited situations where I lack a decent (safe and reasonably convenient) alternative. In general, however, I avoid cycling on sidewalks, just as I expect joggers to use sidewalks instead of bike lanes when both are provided.

Originally posted by John E
As for sidewalk cycling, I do resort to it in a couple of very specific, very limited situations...
:D

(Sometimes I have hit the sidewalk when I wanted to sneak around a bottleneck. :eek: Beats standing in traffic, breathing exhaust!)

"If you are ever caught, or captured, we will deny any knowledge of your mission..."

In LA runners think the own the bike lane. Sometimes they will run opposite traffic in the bike lane. Then you come along with traffic and they don't move. So, you have to pull out into the street to get around them. It's not that bad, but they could at least move if they are the ones that can see the cars.

You could yell a warning for them to move, then simply maintain your course.

If the jogger doesn't move come to a full stop, directly in his path and refuse to move. Make him go around you.

You could yell a warning for them to move, then simply maintain your course.

If the jogger doesn't move come to a full stop, directly in his path and refuse to move. Make him go around you.


That will work on the males. I have to admit I have a bit of a double standard. The hot LA ladies are allowed to run where they want.

Under the California Vehicle Code, pedestrians (including joggers) are permitted to use the roadway shoulder or bike lane only where there is no adjacent sidewalk. As a jogger and cyclist, I would love to see this enforced.

Joggers understandably prefer the slightly softer asphalt over sidewalk concrete, but many do not realize that the drainage-related crown in the road can lead to various foot, ankle, and knee injuries.

I agree with Cycletourist -- if approaching joggers are hogging the bike lane, take a position near the traffic side of the lane, and prepare to stop in your tracks if they refuse to move over.

Have you noticed, JohnE, the mental state some joggers get into? Not being a jogger, I'm always amazed that somebody can be running right at you, and yet not see you! Amazing! Do joggers sometimes experience tunnel vision?

Do joggers sometimes experience tunnel vision?

I ran for a number of years and would say yes, I got into a meditative state. However, I seemed more aware of my surroundings in a sense. It seemed like I didn't have to think about moving out of the way, I would just be out of the way. I'm not sure if this was just a mind trick or not though.

I was jocking about the double standard. I think you guys are right. They should move and it's up to us to get them to.

I used to be a regular jogger (and still do occasionally) but I have never experienced the whole tunnel vision thing. I'm still trying to understand why on Earth anyone would want to run on the road anyway? That's how I stuffed my knee in the first place. I like the beach much better.

I'm still trying to understand why on Earth anyone would want to run on the road anyway?

I guess the pavement gives a little more than a concrete sidewalk. So it's supposed to be better for knees and shins. I don't know how sound this is, but apparently some folks swear by it.