Originally Posted by
lynnlee
I'm honestly not looking to be incendiary and I hope my post came off as respectful, not just conveying "annoyance," as mconlonx phrased it.
I think the school bus analogy is a good one. And, as far as inconveniences on the road go, it's probably right to say that cyclists are low on the list.
Mconlonx: to answer your question, however, if I felt like I had a valid opinion about a road situation that involved schoolbuses and the safety of their passengers or myself, I would absolutely consider joining a PTA forum to discuss it in a respectful way.
Fair enough.
But if you accept the schoolbus analogy, what else is it other than an annoyance? The only safety issue you described is a need to pass such a group of riders, or doing so safely. There's no safety issue if you have the patience to drive behind them... like most do regarding schoolbuses.
Here is relevant VA motor vehicle statute for passing cyclists:
§ 46.2-839. Passing bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, animal, or animal-drawn vehicle.[
Any driver of any vehicle overtaking a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, animal, or animal-drawn vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass at a reasonable speed at least three feet to the left of the overtaken bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, animal, or animal-drawn vehicle and shall not again proceed to the right side of the highway until safely clear of such overtaken bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, animal, or animal-drawn vehicle.
§ 46.2-843. Limitations on overtaking and passing.
The driver of a vehicle shall not drive to the left side of the center line of a highway in overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction unless such left side is clearly visible and is free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance ahead to permit such overtaking and passing to be made safely.