Some level headedness from our local traffic reporter this morning... Nice piece, including a warning to cyclists making illegal manuevers. Should make for interesting responses though:

"Sharing the road
Biking enthusiast Peter Wang gets more than his share of ink here, but his latest message deserves repeating.

Wang had stopped at a red light while pedaling to work. Because he wanted to continue straight ahead, and the right-hand lane was not marked for turns only, he stopped his bike in the middle of it and waited for the light to change.

That prompted a "person in a high-end BMW," obviously wanting to turn right on red, to honk at him to get out of the way.

Texas law requires cyclists moving slower than other traffic to ride as near as practicable to the right curb, but there are exceptions, and one of these is if the lane is too narrow to be safely shared with a car.

Wang says that if the lane had been marked as a forced right turn, he would have moved over to the second lane, but turning was optional, so moving over would have violated the rule about staying to the right.

He also says safety required him to be in the middle of the lane because riding on either edge of it would invite motorists to blow past him at a dangerously close distance.

While the law doesn't require staying in the middle of the lane, it supports his right to. The Texas Driver's Handbook says that "a bicycle is a vehicle, and any person riding a bicycle has the rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle."

While we're on the subject, let's also emphasize the "and duties" part. One duty is to refrain from darting in and out among vehicles stopped at a light.

We're not talking about Wang here, but cyclists who ignore the law themselves have no grounds to complain when drivers ignore their right to the road."




http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/moveit/5566601.html

My "position" in this scenario is to stop a bit left of center, explicitly to permit a motorist to turn right between me and the curb. I do this only if the motorist behind is signalling for a right turn.

My "position" in this scenario is to stop a bit left of center, explicitly to permit a motorist to turn right between me and the curb. I do this only if the motorist behind is signalling for a right turn.

Same here. Ever had a motorist then creep up on you and rev the engine? Seems that in some cases motorists do this rather then use that turn signal thing.

I never have quite figured out why some motorists hate to use their turn signal thing.

Actually I generally leave room, if there is room to leave, for right turning motorists.

Most of the fatal car crashes I have witnessed involved high end BMW's.

My "position" in this scenario is to stop a bit left of center, explicitly to permit a motorist to turn right between me and the curb. I do this only if the motorist behind is signalling for a right turn.

I either do the same or move into the next lane, but it's funny to think that some motorist are reluctant to pass by you at a few MPH, who'll sit and fume behind you when the left of center option is used, even though there is several feet of clearance (probably they're worried about scuffing their precious tires on the curb ;) ) , and other motorists will pass you with far less space at 20 to 30 MPH while you're cycling down the road.

did wang himself complain about scofflaw bicyclists?

LCI's really are stuck on themselves, and the abilities for other bicyclists to ruin it for everybody!!!

:rolleyes:

did wang himself complain about scofflaw bicyclists?

LCI's really are stuck on themselves, and the abilities for other bicyclists to ruin it for everybody!!!

:rolleyes:

Remember LCIs and Fosterites are the only ones riding in the "One True Way.tm"

Same here. Ever had a motorist then creep up on you and rev the engine? Seems that in some cases motorists do this rather then use that turn signal thing.

I never have quite figured out why some motorists hate to use their turn signal thing.

Actually I generally leave room, if there is room to leave, for right turning motorists.


Me too. I'll usually turn around, try to make eye contact, and wave them through. That always gets a positive (or at least neutral response).

I'll turn around & check for a turn signal. if the signal is flashing, then I make eye contact & wave them through. If no turn signal, they can hurry up & wait.

I'll turn around & check for a turn signal. if the signal is flashing, then I make eye contact & wave them through. If no turn signal, they can hurry up & wait.

This too is what I do... even shrugging shoulders to indicate I don't understand... even pointing to the red light. If they turn on the turn signals... I ensure there is room for them to pass.

I stop left biased and if a motorist is behind me with signal on I point to the pavement next to me to encourage them to pull forward. About 1/4 will stay back anyway with a wave of acknowledgment. About half don't need any encouragement and will pull forward before I point.