Bike Forums - View Single Post - Be Careful in Leucadia/Encinitas on PCH/101

10-27-13 | 08:51 PM

#19

robertkat

#5639

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 1,206

Likes: 3

From: San Diego, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaco

The local sheriffs are busy warning cyclists and giving them tickets for bogus infractions, such as riding two abreast in lanes that have no bike lane, riding too far over to the left (i.e., outside of the door zone), etc. It appears that some of them don't know the law, and are interpreting it rather creatively. They are also giving tickets for "legitimate" infractions, such as failure to stop at stop signs and red lights.

The SD county Sheriff has gone on record as anti-bicycle, and believes that their interpretation of the CA vehicle code, regardless of how wrong it may be, is religious doctrine. They have publicly stated that "sharrows" are not legitimate, that the signs reminding motorists of the CA vehicle code that "bicycles may use full lane" are ambiguous, and that the word "may" doesn't mean "always" as CA law states, but rather only when no other traffic is present. Also, as with all LEOs, they think that "practicable" is a synonym for "possible".

Of course, under CA law, if there is no signed and marked bike lane, then the entire lane of travel is a "bike lane". I've been shouted at numerous times for not riding in a non-existent bike lane by park rangers and police alike. Then again, IME, motorcycle cops seem to be the most able minded and educated of them all. Hell, I even chatted with one at a stop light while taking the lane. Then again, he was a cyclist. Go figure.

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