Advocacy & Safety - Speeding cyclists now radar enforced

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m285/bam42685/smallDSCF0469.jpg
(From http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=600972)

:p

-Kurt

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m285/bam42685/smallDSCF0469.jpg
(From http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=600972)

:p

-Kurt

And what us missing from the sign?

The speed limit. However radar can be used for more then just speed, for example radar could be used to determine who or what is on the trail. Someone on a motorcycle, snowmobile, ATV, dune buggy or car is much larger on radar then a bicycle.

They do that around here, too. Nice bike.

Yea during the winter they catch all the snowmobiles not giving cyclists 3 feet.

And all the time the local PD set up their automatic radar to let the citizens know how fast they're going, I've never been able to register on it... big as I am, on a MTB.

They do that around here, too. Nice bike.

Not mine though, for the (nuovo) record.

-Kurt

And all the time the local PD set up their automatic radar to let the citizens know how fast they're going, I've never been able to register on it... big as I am, on a MTB.

Ranger Rick with his hand held unit will help you out on that.

55 mph?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfeOWk7BUlM

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m285/bam42685/smallDSCF0469.jpg
(From http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=600972)

:p

-Kurt

Interesting, and what is the speed on the trail?

Are those Eggbeaters on that bike?

And all the time the local PD set up their automatic radar to let the citizens know how fast they're going, I've never been able to register on it... big as I am, on a MTB.

A couple of months ago we had a short street that had one of those automatic radar signs setup on it, and it picked me up without a problem.

I've been able to trigger the radar signs just by running past them.

A couple of months ago we had a short street that had one of those automatic radar signs setup on it, and it picked me up without a problem.

They set those up on a street near here, it has a 40km/h limit, I think the slowest car was 45km/h the fastest that I saw was 65, the bicycle wasn't alone with the sign long enough to see if it would trigger or not.

A couple of months ago we had a short street that had one of those automatic radar signs setup on it, and it picked me up without a problem.

We have them around here but they never seem to be in a good place for our group ride sprints. One of the guys who rides with us is a trooper and I asked him how much trouble I would get into if I dragged it down the road a bit....he never replied:(

Last year I biked through a speed trap that two police officers on foot were running on a neighborhood street near my work. They radar gunned me as I went by and yelled "18!" to let me know my speed (speed limit was 30). Good times. The officers around here seem to have a good sense of humor.

I managed to get one of those signs up to 30 on a very slight downhill with a tailwind. I was on my MTB and didn't think about it till I was pretty close, it would be nice if they had left that one at that location for sprinting practice.

There is one sign nearby that is on an uphill that I never seem to be able to get above 11. That hill must be steeper than it looks.

have not seen em for a few months, but the road around Washington Park in
Denver used to have the radar vans on the side to enforce the 15mph SL ... You could tell they were ahead cause the wireless on the bike computer would go bonkers,long before I got there...
Bud

Another law to break. Thankfully, there is no law making me own a speedometer on my bike.

Cop: "Man, I've been waiting for you all day"
ME: "Got here as fast as I could!"

There are a couple sections on the Silver Comet which call out a speed limit. I believe it is 10mph. One is in Rockmart. Admittedly, it can get very dense with foot traffic in a few areas and 10mph could even be 'too fast'. Can't say I've ever seen a radar gun out there though!

And all the time the local PD set up their automatic radar to let the citizens know how fast they're going, I've never been able to register on it... big as I am, on a MTB.Odd -- we've got these things all over Austin -- some mounted permanently and some temporary and moved from place to place.

In general, my bicycle and I have always registered on them. Though they tend to make me go faster rather than slower -- it's a challenge. Sure, I have a speedometer, but it's still fun to see my speed on the big screen approaching the speed limit.

Actually I was always curious about how speeding enforcement works. I know in one of the local state parks where they will give tickets to cyclists for speeding, it's a fun descent, but with no requirement or law saying bicycle needs to have a speedometer seem like something doesn't add up.

UD

Must not have been many cats caught in trees in Reed City, so the police had to reach out.

Yea during the winter they catch all the snowmobiles not giving cyclists 3 feet.

Why dont cyclists have to give 3 feet?

Why dont cyclists have to give 3 feet?they do if the cyclist is the one passing the slow moving snowmobile.

Why dont cyclists have to give 3 feet?

Because at least here in Fl the law is written so that the motorized vehicle most give the non-motorized vehicle 3 feet.

316.083 Overtaking and passing a vehicle (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20Statutes&SubMenu=1&App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=316.083&URL=CH0316/Sec083.HTM).--The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to those limitations, exceptions, and special rules hereinafter stated:

(1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall give an appropriate signal as provided for in s. 316.156, shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance, and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle. The driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle must pass the bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle at a safe distance of not less than 3 feet between the vehicle and the bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle.

(2) Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle, on audible signal or upon the visible blinking of the headlamps of the overtaking vehicle if such overtaking is being attempted at nighttime, and shall not increase the speed of his or her vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.

(3) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.

History.--s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 304, ch. 95-148; s. 107, ch. 99-248; s. 3, ch. 2005-164; s. 50, ch. 2006-290.

And I would imagine that it is probably similar in other states.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfeOWk7BUlM

There is one problem in the video. It mentions 'HIKERS' but, then it mentions 'CYCLIST'. The key point being, that it implies there are lots of hikers but, only one cyclist.

There is a permanent sign/radar near my work, speed limit is 45mph, and the sign doesn't even register till you are doing 40mph. :( no way I'm able to do that on a bike on that road, its a long flattish/incline to the sign. I love blowing by it in the tractor trailer at 50mph, its starts to flash at ~47mph.

The cops used to set up radar traps on downtown MUPs in Calgary.
I remember one morning riding the brakes up to one of these, keeping my eye on my computer. 20km/hr. Other riders blasting past unaware.

cop: Pull over please.
me: Me? Are you sure?
cop: I've got you doing 32. The limit is 20.
me: I don't think that's right.
cop: I can write you up for not having a bell also.
me: (sigh)
(a warning was issued)

Conversely, the Dutch cops only stop cyclists for what are deemed to be legitimate safety issues. Like riding without lights in the dead of night.

Because at least here in Fl the law is written so that the motorized vehicle most give the non-motorized vehicle 3 feet.

316.083 Overtaking and passing a vehicle (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20Statutes&SubMenu=1&App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=316.083&URL=CH0316/Sec083.HTM).--The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to those limitations, exceptions, and special rules hereinafter stated:

(1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall give an appropriate signal as provided for in s. 316.156, shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance, and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle. The driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle must pass the bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle at a safe distance of not less than 3 feet between the vehicle and the bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle.

(2) Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle, on audible signal or upon the visible blinking of the headlamps of the overtaking vehicle if such overtaking is being attempted at nighttime, and shall not increase the speed of his or her vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.

(3) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.

History.--s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 304, ch. 95-148; s. 107, ch. 99-248; s. 3, ch. 2005-164; s. 50, ch. 2006-290.

And I would imagine that it is probably similar in other states.
I read that as the driver of any vehicle (motorized or not) must pass a non motorized vehicle with at least 3ft.

I read that as the driver of any vehicle (motorized or not) must pass a non motorized vehicle with at least 3ft.

I'll agree that that is one interpretation, but I think that most interpret it to mean motor vehicle passing a bicycle or non-motorized vehicle.

Which in any case would mean or infer that in the question about a faster bicycle passing a slower snowmobile that there is no legal requirement for the bicycle to leave the 3 feet clearance as the snowmobile would be a motorized vehicle and the law states when passing a bicycle or other non-motorized vehicle.

And I would think that one could (reasonable or otherwise) make the argument that the snowmobile was passing the bicycle and was passing too close.

Now granted down here in Fl, I don't know of too many people who ride snowmobiles on the trails, let alone roads. But up in states where they do actually get snow it might be an issue.

I'll agree that that is one interpretation, but I think that most interpret it to mean motor vehicle passing a bicycle or non-motorized vehicle.
Most are most likely wrong.

A vehicle driver passing a bicycle or other non-motorized vehicle must give >3ft

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m285/bam42685/smallDSCF0469.jpg
(From http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=600972)

:p

-Kurt

Let's hope they are enforced. I have been riding on bike trails before where, other cyclists go by me like a speeding car out of control.:mad:

They are doing this in my area on one trail...but it is up to the ranger or officer to say you are going too fast..it is at their discretion...no radar gun involved. Crappy!