A very funny thing. Laws are very much so subject to interpretation. For example. on my daily patrol I see people riding their bikes around. Both on the sidewalk and in the roadway. I have only had one person remove themselves from the roadway due to safety hazards. I don't harrass any of the riders on the sidewalk as there is only a few bike lanes that are more than sufficient for riders here in my town. That one person that I had remove himself from the roadway was riding on the right hand side of the road. Had only a rear reflector with no light and there was 8 inches fo snow on the ground and more still falling. It was extremely unsafe for him to be riding in the road along with the snow plows that were pushing the snow off to the sides (the right) and that visibility was very little.

A lot of what I'm hearing from most of you complaining about law enforcement is the demeanor of the officer. Not just your perception of your "rights being violated." The police officers demeanor. Is he talking to you like your parents did when you were in trouble, or is he calm and collective talking to you like you and him are adults.

Yes as a cyclist you have the same rights to the roadway. Along with the same duties. Rights and Duties are two different things. Yes you can use the lane, no you can't stay there unless. I say unless because there are things that come up that prevent you as a slower moving vehicle that keep you from being as close as practicable to the right hand side.

I hear everyone saying, "It's unsafe to ride near the curb because." I'm beginning to wonder if you are actually experienced enough to ride a bike. Some quick questions: There is a drainage grate ahead what should you do? Yes you can take the lane, but if you aren't confident enough to ride over the slats that run vertical to the road and take a bit of vibration? I don't understand. Ahead is another obstacle. A rock, a branch, a coke can. How do you proceed? Go around it quickly and get back to the right? Take the lane a half mile back to assure you position in the roadway? Slow down and wait for a good time to overtake it? Goodness knows you shouldn't have to slow down. Drivers never do. They just plow by me in my pertty little car with the flashy little red and blue lights saying "Caution, there's a problem ahead or right here."

Okay so driver's do have to slow down. But do they normally? From expience. Not a chance in hell. Pardon my French. If an officer pulls you over and asks you, tells you, or anything else he is looking out for your best interest. I do it all the time for the people that are driving their vehicles at 75, 80, or even 110 through areas that the speed limit is 35, 45, or 55. I'm looking out for everyone's safety. I've seen accidents that people have had to be cut out of vehicles. Could you imagine having soemone that just pulled away from the curb that was crushed between those two vehicles or vehicle vs. object. No you probably can't because your rights are your rights.

Driving is a priviledge. You as a cyclist has the right to utilize the roadway along with those that have had the priviledge of driving bestowed upon them, along with the one's that have had that priviledge taken away and are still disobeying the law, oh yeah and those that still have their priviledge but have chosen to impair their driving abilities with drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both. Don't let your "Right" impede your life. Most all officers are looking out for your safety whether you think so or not. You need to come to the realization that we see so much in a day that would lead us to believe that we are protecting you as the cyclist.

Now onto my speech that I give to every teenager that can't seem to get right and obey the rules, laws, and parents. We expect you to screw up here and there. Hell we screw up ourselves. "We are still human even though we wear that badge and gun." Yes there are a few that think that they are never wrong. But for the largest majority we try not to be right all the time.

The moral of the story. Don't just hate cops because they are harrassing you. They are looking out for you.