hairnet

I was recently given a copy of this document, that I now carry in my wallet, by a bicycle activist - but I won't mention his name for his privacy.

I guess the best thing to do is to share
https://www.bikewriterscollective.com/

thompsonpost

I can deal with that, although #3 made me chuckle. "Educated law enforcment." Hmmm.....

Thanks for the link.

HSean

That road improvement one really intrests me, i've got flat tires and flat spots in many tires and rims because these damn roads here, it's hard to avoid them sometimes when theres so many, i'm riding an old 3 speed right now because it can take the odd impact from those holds, i'd avoid some but i'd get hit by a car if I did lol

rarebird

lol, that made me chuckles.

Thinking that we need a bill of rights, cause the one we have isn't sufficient?

Oh the suffering!, the humanity!, if only there was something we could do!?....LOLx50

uke

LOL. Why do cyclists need a bill of rights? Can't all our problems be solved with vehicular cycling?

B Rubble

Because the bicyclists bill of rights doesn't enumerate any additional rights for bicyclists. It just restates rights that bicyclists already have, or should have. Basically the same rights and privileges that car drivers have. So why are they demanding these rights? Obviously because they are not getting them, either from other drivers, or from the public servants charged with upholding the rights of citizens.

Using Right #3 (Cyclists have the right to the full support of educated law enforcement.) as an example:
An educated law enforcement official won't give a bicyclist a ticket for making a left turn from a left turn lane. This has been a common incident in LA, forcing the bicyclist to either pay the fine or go to court at their expense to fight the ticket. Or also in Los Angeles, the enforcement of a bicycle license law that the chief of police, at the direction of the city council, has told his officers not to enforce. Are bicyclists asking for anything more than the police officer writing the ticket know the laws he is being directed to enforce? No.

Since the Cyclists bill of rights is posted under the creative commons copyright, here it is, appropriately sourced https://www.bikewriterscollective.com/:

WHEREAS, cyclists have the right to ride the streets of our communities and this right is formally articulated in the California Vehicle Code; and
WHEREAS, cyclists are considered to be the “indicator species” of a healthy community; and
WHEREAS, cyclists are both environmental and traffic congestion solutions; and
WHEREAS, cyclists are, first and foremost, people - with all of the rights and privileges that come from being members of this great society; and
NOW, THEREFORE, WE THE CYCLING COMMUNITY, do hereby claim the following rights:
1) Cyclists have the right to travel safely and free of fear.
2) Cyclists have the right to equal access to our public streets and to sufficient and significant road space.
3) Cyclists have the right to the full support of educated law enforcement.
4) Cyclists have the right to the full support of our judicial system and the right to expect that those who endanger, injure or kill cyclists be dealt with to the full extent of the law.
5) Cyclists have the right to routine accommodations in all roadway projects and improvements.
6) Cyclists have the right to urban and roadway planning, development and design that enable and support safe cycling.
7) Cyclists have the right to traffic signals, signage and maintenance standards that enable and support safe cycling.
8) Cyclists have the right to be actively engaged as a constituent group in the organization and administration of our communities.
9) Cyclists have the right to full access for themselves and their bicycles on all mass transit with no limitations.
10) Cyclists have the right to end-of-trip amenities that include safe and secure opportunities to park their bicycles.
11) Cyclists have the right to be secure in their persons and property, and be free from unreasonable search and seizure, as guaranteed by the 4th Amendment.
12) Cyclists have the right to peaceably assemble in the public space, as guaranteed by the 1st Amendment.
And further, we claim and assert these rights by taking to the streets and riding our bicycles, all in an expression of our inalienable right to ride!

genec

Just remember, "rights" don't trump physics.

Don't end up dead "right."