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Police arrest bike trail trap woman

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Police arrest bike trail trap woman

Old 01-12-15, 05:27 PM
  #51  
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Originally Posted by kickstart
Cyclists that attempt to play traffic cop through gestures or other actions without any provocation or actual need other than personal desires.
Regardless of whether, that is an IMPLIED accusation in general, or DIRECT accusation in specific.

Safety is PERSONAL DESIRE of every cyclist. That PERSONAL DESIRE is exercised in different ways, depending on where a cyclist goes. When on a sidewalk, being aware of:

1. Going slower
2. Pedestrians
3. Pedestrians w/ dogs
4. Pedestrians w/ children
5. Pedestrians w/ children in strollers
6. Time of day

When on a bike/ped path, being aware of:

1. Going slower
2. Pedestrians
3. Pedestrians w/ dogs
4. Pedestrians w/ children
5. Pedestrians w/ children in strollers
6. Time of day

When on the road, being aware of:

1. The traffic
2. The time of day
3. Rush or Non-Rush
4. AM or PM
5. Road position
6. Visibility
7. How the cyclist is effecting that visibility
8. The limitations of motorists' as human beings and how a cyclist can avoid becoming of those limitations i.e. not pulling out of a driveway onto a hi-speed road, when the direction you will be going has a green light with traffic approaching the driveway you are departing, that would cause the motorist to have to slam hard on the brakes.

Originally Posted by wphamilton
@Chris516 "Catch and release lane taking" is taking the lane on a narrow road to keep traffic behind the cyclist and then moving over when the cyclist has decided that it's safe to pass.

I'm not sure, but I think a parallel was being drawn between the VC cyclist and the woman putting obstacles on the trail. In both cases, attempting to physically force vehicles to alter their speed. If so, a pretty weak comparison in my opinion.
Well, The traffic law in the State of Maryland is "as close as practicable", and, there are signs up all over now saying that a "Cyclist May Use Full Lane". This 'language' in the traffic law. Along with the signs, are two steps forward in the equality of a cyclist's right to be on the road.
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Old 01-12-15, 05:48 PM
  #52  
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Originally Posted by Chris516
Regardless of whether, that is an IMPLIED accusation in general, or DIRECT accusation in specific.

Safety is PERSONAL DESIRE of every cyclist. That PERSONAL DESIRE is exercised in different ways, depending on where a cyclist goes. When on a sidewalk, being aware of:

1. Going slower
2. Pedestrians
3. Pedestrians w/ dogs
4. Pedestrians w/ children
5. Pedestrians w/ children in strollers
6. Time of day

When on a bike/ped path, being aware of:

1. Going slower
2. Pedestrians
3. Pedestrians w/ dogs
4. Pedestrians w/ children
5. Pedestrians w/ children in strollers
6. Time of day

When on the road, being aware of:

1. The traffic
2. The time of day
3. Rush or Non-Rush
4. AM or PM
5. Road position
6. Visibility
7. How the cyclist is effecting that visibility
8. The limitations of motorists' as human beings and how a cyclist can avoid becoming of those limitations i.e. not pulling out of a driveway onto a hi-speed road, when the direction you will be going has a green light with traffic approaching the driveway you are departing, that would cause the motorist to have to slam hard on the brakes.


Well, The traffic law in the State of Maryland is "as close as practicable", and, there are signs up all over now saying that a "Cyclist May Use Full Lane". This 'language' in the traffic law. Along with the signs, are two steps forward in the equality of a cyclist's right to be on the road.
Its not an accusation or comment directed at you, nor a criticism of intelligent, responsible, lawful lane positioning
I'm simply pointing out the fact that one may not enforce the law without duly appointed authority, and that it's illegal to interfere with lawlawful actions we personally disagree with.
The woman placing obstacles on the trail and the catch and release cyclists may feel justified in their actions, and not have malicious intentions, but they are still both wrong and potentially harmful acts with no guarantee of desirable results.

Last edited by kickstart; 01-12-15 at 05:53 PM.
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Old 01-12-15, 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Chris516
there are signs up all over now saying that a "Cyclist May Use Full Lane". This 'language' in the traffic law. Along with the signs, are two steps forward in the equality of a cyclist's right to be on the road.
I've only seen that once.


It was a hard hill climb on a narrow winding road.
And a wicked fast descent coming back down on a narrow winding road.

There were also lots of reminders for bikes to not cross the yellow line.

I found it difficult to hold a track along the edge of the road, either going up or down.

I suppose we're diverging from MTBs a bit, but it is an interesting point that the safety rules apply to both road and trail cycling.

Just like a car has to accept other road users, a bike on a trail has to accept other trail (and forest users), and has to go at a speed and with enough control to stop for pedestrians, pets, horses, and wildlife. And, of course, share the forest for everyone's enjoyment.

Apparently the Vancouver area has become a MTB tourist destination which is good for the economy in a sense, but also significantly increases the impact of the MTBs.
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Old 01-12-15, 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by CliffordK
I've only seen that once.


It was a hard hill climb on a narrow winding road.
And a wicked fast descent coming back down on a narrow winding road.

There were also lots of reminders for bikes to not cross the yellow line.

I found it difficult to hold a track along the edge of the road, either going up or down.

I suppose we're diverging from MTBs a bit, but it is an interesting point that the safety rules apply to both road and trail cycling.

Just like a car has to accept other road users, a bike on a trail has to accept other trail (and forest users), and has to go at a speed and with enough control to stop for pedestrians, pets, horses, and wildlife. And, of course, share the forest for everyone's enjoyment.

Apparently the Vancouver area has become a MTB tourist destination which is good for the economy in a sense, but also significantly increases the impact of the MTBs.
Those signs are up all over the county I live in.
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Old 01-12-15, 09:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Chris516
...
Well, The traffic law in the State of Maryland is "as close as practicable", and, there are signs up all over now saying that a "Cyclist May Use Full Lane". This 'language' in the traffic law. Along with the signs, are two steps forward in the equality of a cyclist's right to be on the road.
As far as I can tell, "catch and release lane taking" is the same as prescribed in traffic statutes of almost every state, except when practiced in excess. That's why I feel that the analogy is weak. One is encouraged by law and generally the safest course of action. The other, probably illegal for any of several reasons and certainly dangerous.
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Old 01-12-15, 09:36 PM
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Originally Posted by wphamilton
As far as I can tell, "catch and release lane taking" is the same as prescribed in traffic statutes of almost every state, except when practiced in excess. That's why I feel that the analogy is weak. One is encouraged by law and generally the safest course of action. The other, probably illegal for any of several reasons and certainly dangerous.
The law allows cyclists to choose their position in a lane as conditions and their relative speed dictate. Catch-and-release cycling goes beyond that into the realm of illegally interfering with other road users to compel them to act in a manner the perpetrator deem suitable without any clear and present need.
The former being ones own actions based on actual circumstances within the limits of the law, the latter making decisions for others based on assumptions of maybes and what ifs, or personal beliefs. I used the analogy because placing impediments on a trail, and being an impediment on the road, with the intent to disrupt others are both illegal acts of coercion.

The point being, its wrong to interfere with lawful activities one doesn't agree with regardless of ones personal perspective.

Last edited by kickstart; 01-12-15 at 09:41 PM.
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Old 01-12-15, 10:45 PM
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Originally Posted by kickstart
The law allows cyclists to choose their position in a lane as conditions and their relative speed dictate. Catch-and-release cycling goes beyond that into the realm of illegally interfering with other road users to compel them to act in a manner the perpetrator deem suitable without any clear and present need.
The former being ones own actions based on actual circumstances within the limits of the law, the latter making decisions for others based on assumptions of maybes and what ifs, or personal beliefs. I used the analogy because placing impediments on a trail, and being an impediment on the road, with the intent to disrupt others are both illegal acts of coercion.

The point being, its wrong to interfere with lawful activities one doesn't agree with regardless of ones personal perspective.
I think you misunderstand what catch and release is all about. It's not the catch that is the added feature from "normal" riding. The catch is simply taking a central position in a lane that is too narrow for a motor vehicle to safely pass while remaining completely in the lane and is perfectly legal. It really has nothing to do with interfering with others; the intent is simply to lawfully discourage a brain-dead motorist from making a cyclist truly dead by choosing the safest lane position.

The twist comes in the release step. This simply involves actively looking for opportunities to help overtaking vehicles effect a pass. Sometimes it's as simple as accepting a close pass (now that the speed differential is less) and moving to the gutter. Other times it may involve actually leaving the road, or just pulling all the way right and slowing down. The release isn't generally required by law unless a turnout is available, but many (most?) cyclists actively look to facilitate safe passing and we don't need a formal passing lane to make it happen.

Don't confuse someone doing something over and above the legal requirements with an obligation to do so. We're traffic, and like all other traffic we are in each other's way. Sometimes we can help another person out without adding to our risk, sometimes we can't.
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Old 01-13-15, 08:54 AM
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That all seems reasonable and within the law, but I have seen videos and descriptions of what some call catch-and-release that are indeed "over and above". The signs say "may use full lane", not "take", "control", or "catch".

I guess its a matter of semantics, I don't consider safe, lawful road use label worthy.
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Old 01-30-15, 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by SalsaShark
What could possibly be the motive for this, especially for an older woman to be endangering bicyclists?
maybe she's just nuts... which is quite a lot different than "insane" for the purposes of being held legally culpable for her actions.
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