genec

This looks like the right address:

https://www.aaa.com/aaa/240/sne/INsider/BikeSafety.html

But I keep getting redirected.

Recycle

If you go to that link, enter your zip code and do a search for bicycle, this is what you get:
https://www.autoclubgroup.com/chicago...eyword=bicycle

genec

I got this: https://www.aaa-calif.com/OTTO/KIDS/L...IKE-RULES.ASPX

Apparently CA gets a different AAA than the rest of the US... after all they really love cars here.

Herman47

My response to the A.A.A.

From the outset, remember that unlike you motorists, the bicyclist does not pollute the air, cause global warming, use up to any significant extent unrenewable resources, or kill off thousands upon thousands of people each year. Consequently, you motorists are morally inferior to the bicyclists. This should guide you in setting your rules for the road.

So then:

1.) Always stop and yield to the bicyclist.
2.) Given that rule number 1 is being applied, recognize that stoplights and stop signs apply only to you the motorist. The bicyclist need only to slow and check at intersections for other bicyclists and upon seeing none, be on his or her way.
3.) Never, ever use a cell phone while driving. You need to fully concentrate on whether there are bicyclists and pedestrians on the road to whom you must yield.
4.) Always use your turn signals.
5.) On streets where you park, make sure before opening the driver’s car door that no bicyclists are approaching. The bicyclist should not have to concern himself/herself with you; you must concern yourself with the bicyclist.
6.) Refrain from driving after dark, as your headlights are unpleasant for the bicyclist.
7.) If you see debris on a section of the road where bicyclists not cars tend to use, then stop, exit your car, and sweep the debris off the road.
8.) If you believe that there is any possibility that a bicyclist might have to inhale the filth your car puts into the air, pull over to the side of the road, stop, and shut off your engine until the bicyclist has long passed.

JohnBrooking

Nice. I have put it into an attractive Word document and printed it out for my cubicle outside wall.

eubi

I'm hip.

Thanks genec, but I can't find it. I really can't write to AAA breathin' fire unless I have some concrete evidence!

When I take the Scouts on bike rides, we learn that we, as cyclists, are primarily vehicles, subject to the rights and restrictions thereof. I think the "scariest" thing they learn (and are amazed to find it's legal) is making a left hand turn from a left hand turn lane.

gosmsgo

All of them. Especially the huge increase that President Bush just signed into law a while back.

Largest Entitlement increase since FDR from a "conservative."

genec

yeah, I think that shocks a lot of motorists too.

OH306

Oh, you mean the one that the Democrat congress pushed through?

gosmsgo

This was before congress switched.

buzzman

is the link working for some and not others?


this is the link I used as the hyperlink in my OP: <<https://www.aaa.com/aaa/240/sne/INsider/BikeSafety.html>> there were other links to the same information on other pages <<https://secure.aaasne.com/public/news...ikesafety.html>>

you could also try going to the aaa.com website and do a search. Type in bike or biking (not bicycle). There are also printed brochures with the same information.

eubi

Apparently not.

The AAA bike advice I was able to find was actually on the money, IMHO. Not hard core VC, but really not too much to complain about.

That line about yielding to cars really got my hackels up, though...

In my early cycling days, AAA would provide me with maps specifically made for cycle touring. Mind you, this was in the pre-BikeCentennial (now Adventure Cycling) map days.

In general, my experiences with AAA have been good ones.

The Human Car

If there are people able to get the link provided by the op then I really think the League of American Bicyclists should be made aware of this disinformation.

gazer

California residents can try these links - it should ask for your zip code (try 94305) and then take you to the right page:

Children's Bicycle Safety

Are you a safe cyclist?

Fairest complaint is that there is no similar section on how to be a safe driver, only more specific things like: don't drive drunk, don't drive drowsy, be careful on slippery roads, be careful around trucks (this one's funny - and actually is a decent model for the missing "Sharing the Road with Cyclists").

John E

Our segment of the AAA, the Auto Club of Southern California, is actually where the AAA began about 100 years ago. Here are their bicycling rules, with my comments /* ... */.


Bicycle Rider's Rules

1. Keep your bicycle in good mechanical condition (tires, chain, brakes). /* Goes double for cars and triple for trucks. */

2. Obey all traffic rules and signs — always give proper hand signals.

3. Walk your bike across busy intersections. /* I reject this one vehemently. */

4. Always ride with the traffic — as close as possible to the right side of the road. /* The correct (and legal) word is "practicable," which is much less restrictive than "possible." */

5. Be sure the roadway is clear before entering. /* Again, this applies to any road user. */

6. Always ride single file and watch for opening car doors. /* The single-file requirement should be expressed situationally, and would apply primarily when sharing a wide outer lane with motor traffic. Better than "watching" for opening car doors is avoiding them entirely by riding a meter or so away from parked vehicles. */

7. Most bicycles are built to carry one person — YOU! and you alone.

8. If you must ride your bike at night be sure your headlight and reflectors are working. /* A taillight, though not legally required in California, is a very "enlightened" idea. */

9. Select the safest route to your destination and use it. Avoid busy streets and intersections. /* I concur with the first part, but the latter is absolutely impossible in San Diego County, with its mesa-and-valley topography. */

10. Yield right of way to pedestrians. /* When they have the right-of-way or when cycling in a crosswalk or on a sidewalk, but not necessarily when you have the right-of-way and they don't. */

11. Always wear a bicycle helmet. /* unless you practice risk compensation and ride as though a thin styrofoam shell will render you invincible or immortal. Wear a helmet, but ride as though you just realized that you accidentally left it at home. */

BikEthan

But there are many more peds on the road than cyclists. Are we talking percentages or totals?

eubi

I was asked (the night before the event) to help with a Bike Rodeo put on for the Cub Scouts in our Scout District.

I figured it would be a good idea to see how Cub Scouts handles bike safety. Cubs and Webelos range in age from 7 to 10. I teach bike safety to Scouts (and parents) as part of the Cycling Merit Badge, they range in age from 10 to 18, and I have my own way.

Back on topic...A lot of the safety material given out at this event was published by AAA as part of a bike safety package. I truly hope it is intended for kids, but I'm not sure. I've modified John E's list to show you what the card I picked up says. My comments are in italics

Bicycle Rider's Tips (They're not rules any more.)

1. California Law requires that bike riders under age 18, inculding passengers, wear an approved helmet. For safety, ALL riders should wear a helmet. What I thought was interesting is that they quoted CA law, and didn't just say "WEAR A HELMET"

2. Keep your bicycle in good mechanical condition (tires, chain, brakes).

3. Obey all traffic rules and signs — always give proper hand signals.

4. Walk your bike across busy intersections. Well, OK, for small kids, but what's a "busy" intersection? Parents should ride the route with their kids, and if they feel the intersection is busy, they can tell their kids to walk. Even better, they can show their kids the proper way to cross "busy" intersections. But...should we leave this up to parent that may be cluelesss regarding bicycle laws? If they don't know, they'll learn it when the take Cycling Merit Badge from me.

5. Always ride with the traffic — as close as possible to the right side of the road. John E is absolutely correct, the correct word is not "possible" it is "Practicable" (at least in CA, it is). I'll let AAA know about this one.

6. Be sure the road is clear before entering.

7. Always ride single file and watch for opening car doors.

8. Don't carry passengers. My function at this event was to talk about bike history and types of bicycles. Someone was kind enough to bring a tandem. I challenged the kids: "But...the last station said you shouldn't carry pasengers! Why is THIS bike OK?"

9. If you must ride your bike at night be sure your headlight and reflectors are working. Many of the bikes attending the event were written up at tech inspection for not having wheel, or facing front reflectors.

10. Select the safest route to your destination.

11. Yield right of way to pedestrians.

It did kind of brush me the wrong way when I heard the adult at the safety station tell the kids to walk their bikes across busy intersections. But this wasn't my activity, I wasn't involved with the planning, so I didn't feel it was my place to raise an issue in front of everyone.

Also, kids these age are very different. My kids learned how to ride in the street safely and how to cross busy intersections when they were quite young. You really can't select a narrow brush and come up with safety rules to apply to all kids. Some kids are actually very observant and safety consious, and can quickly plan ahead to see an expected outcome to a situation. Some kids can't see a half second into the future. I've dealt with all types, and I'm afraid a broad brush of being extra safe may be better.

So...I handled it by telling the kids that as cyclists, they are subject to the same rights and responsibilities as cars. As their skill and knowledge increases, they should be riding on the road with cars, and doing it quite safely. I ride to work every day, and I love it.

SU100

The only group that got the benefit from that "entitlement" was BigPharma. It screwed the seniors and the rest of us.

But that has been the MO of BushCo. and the rest of the neo-cons from the very start: Rob the working class and give it to the wealthy elite.

Nov. 2008 can't come soon enough.

ChipSeal

President Bush will be in office until January 15, 2009.

This is why it is safe to say that President Bush is the greatest president of the 21st century, and President Clinton is the worst!

Good luck to your candidate. Her 35 years of public service and experience is formidable!

Tailwinds!

SU100

President Bush will be in office until January 15, 2009.

Sadly, yes.


This is why it is safe to say that President Bush is the greatest president of the 21st century, and President Clinton is the worst!

The largest national debt in human history, one million dead civilians in Iraq alone, 4000 of our best and brightest young people dead (officially, that is; it's likely thousands more.), veterans coming home to no health or mental health care, several million more uninsured american citizens, the widest income gap between wealthy and working americans since the Robber Baron era, a war that will end up costing 3 trillion dollars, a dollar that is worth half what it was before he took office, a destroyed military, and a wrecked economy, (and the list goes on...).

That certainly is evidence of greatness, to be sure.

I don't know how much more greatness this nation could stand.


As for Clinton, he certainly wasn't the worst; He was mediocre at best.



Good luck to your candidate. Her 35 years of public service and experience is formidable!

Tailwinds!


Why would you assume to know who "my candidate" is? You don't know me or even the first thing about me.


Let me guess; you listen to a LOT of talk radio, right?

OH306

Sadly neither the Democrats or Republicans actually care much about the populace in this country. Their primary concern is gaining power, nothing more. Bush is not the best president we ever had and Clinton is not the worst .. that award goes to Jimmy Carter. You can't blame the president for every bill signed into law since the executive branch of government does not write laws. That task falls on the legislative branch, Congress. For all the Bush haters out there consider that his approval rating is higher than the Democrat controlled congress. Anyway, why not drop the hijack of this thread. Take your comments on this subject to the "Politics @ Religion" forum.

SU100

True.

But congress' approval rating is so dismally low because the Right hates Democrats no matter what and the Dems that elected them last November are angry that they have done little to nothing about the occupation or impeaching the criminals in the administration.

As for the President, his approval rating is lower than any sitting president in history. Even Nixon at the peak of the Watergate scandal and the eve of his resignation in disgrace had almost double Bush's ratings.

I'm surprised at you, who I would assume supports cycling as an alternative to other, less environmentally friendly transportation alternatives, would take such a harsh view of Carter. He definitely had his faults, but he was probably the most eco-aware president we've had, before or since.

(See, this thread is still about cycling!)

CB HI

Why don't you guys take your political BS to the politics forum.

OH306

..

OH306

Agreed. Anything else from me will be on the politics forum.