Originally Posted by
The Human Car
What you missed:
Not quite.
Illegal for slow vehicles to block;
346.59 Minimum speed regulation.
(1) No person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed so slow as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or is necessary to comply with the law.
(2) The operator of a vehicle moving at a speed so slow as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic shall, if practicable, yield the roadway to an overtaking vehicle whenever the operator of the overtaking vehicle gives audible warning with a warning device and shall move at a reasonably increased speed or yield the roadway to overtaking vehicles when directed to do so by a traffic officer.
Section 1 does not apply to bicycles (it only applies to "motor vehicles").
Section 2 applies to all vehicles (including bicycles).
The "far right as practicable" clause (in the FRAP law you quoted) either constitutes "yielding the roadway" OR it makes the act of impeding largely moot for bicycles (because a bicycle riding FRAP isn't hindering following traffic).
That is, by riding FRAP, bicyclists are complying with the requirements of the "impeding traffic" law.
By the way, I don't think "yield the roadway" means "
leave the roadway".
Other states say "keep to the right" instead (what I think WI means), which bicyclists do by riding FRAP.
Keep in mind that the requirements of any law (the FRAP law
and the impeding traffic law) are only applicable if it is safe to satisfy them.
(Note that I basically agree with your point. I just don't think your argument in support of it is technically completely correct.)