Bike Commuters Rights? Do they exist?
 

Amazing! I live in Panama City Beach, Florida (Bay County). I only recently started commuting to and from work by bike. Bay County hosts two sizeable triathlons each year. The bike lanes are nearly non-existent except along our triathlon route. Panama City Beach sure doesn't seem to mind the money these events bring to the area each year. Queation: Am I the only one who thinks 'only' bicycle friendly communities should be allowed to host such events?

Additionally, Florida in general suspends and revokes it's fair share of driver licenses. Organizations such as 'MADD' have helped see to it that driving laws remain strict regarding 'Driving Under the Influence'. (Hello!!! Innocent motorists die in bicycle related accidents too!) Florida doesn't even allow individuals with a suspended license to drive a scooter on public roads. I'm all for irresponsible motorists having to use a bike to get to and from work. However, shouldn't states which don't allow scooters mandate adequate bicycle lanes for commuters, in order to make the roads safer for everyone? Shouldn't 'MADD' be pushing for this? After all, isn't their agenda, in part, to make streets safer by increasing bicycle traffic??? I emailed 'MADD' regarding this matter and they have not responded.

Who is responsible for mandating adequate bicycle lanes? (No one because there's no money in it for the state?)

Florida, Bay County, and 'MADD' are just my examples. Are there issues in your state too? Can you think of organizations who should be pushing for increased cyclist safety due to inflated gas prices and such? If so, let's start talking. Feel free to copy this post and place it in other forums if you think it will help.

"You can't fix stupid.", Ron White

I reckon it's more important to hold them in communities that aren't 'bike friendly'. They need the advertising.

Hello can o' worms.

Another coolaid drinker!:popcorn

shut up and pass the popcorn.

Probably not -- there are plenty of people who want the world to make itself over for their convenience, and who don't realize that in the case of many sporting events like triathlons, it's less a case of a community being "allowed" to host an event (like, um, who would be giving permission, somebody's mom?) as a few local folks who bust their butts to make it happen. The moral of the story is that when you're the one busting your butt, you get to vote on the outcome; if you're just sitting back in the peanut gallery, you can be as loud as you want, but don't expect anyone to take you seriously.

I brought some cheetos ... can i stay?

There you go.

+1

Typically these things aren't like the Olympics in that communities are fighting over the right to host them. There are a few prestigious triathlons that the host city wouldn't want to see moved someplace else but at the same time, these prestigious triathlons are tightly associated with their locations and moving them would be disastrous anyway.

Why would MADD care about bicyling? They want to stop drunk driving, not encourage bicycle use.

There are a lot of areas of the country where bike lanes aren't necessary, and where in fact they would be counterproductive. I don't want bike lanes in most of the places I ride. I certainly don't want to see some mandate come along forcing all counties/cities/etc to spend money on bike lanes when it's very likely (around here) that the roads are totally safe without them.

Sorry guys! I don't live way out in the country. Maybe it's just my city where bicycling appears to be dangerous. Maybe I'm the only one with a pair. Hell, I don't know! Guess you'd have to be familiar with Bay County to understand. See half a cyclist in the front seat of a car and the other half tumbling down the road somewhere. I wasn't suggesting a separate bike path, just a little room to the right of the white line, that's all. I mean... why even waste the paint if there's only two inches to ride.

I think some drivers think they own the road due to not having bike lanes.

If I saw a cyclist in two pieces I think I might just not be riding for a bit. As far as those two inches to the right of the white line that is probably going into A&S territory :eek: The paint probably wasn't put there for you to bike to the right of just to mark the right of the vehicle travel lane. I do miss my home state of Connecticut they always had wide outer lanes. I think it was mostly to ease exiting/entering the road to/from driveways and such not for bikes but it worked out great for bikes. Here in Texas alot of times there is just a drop off into a ditch at the edge of two lanes roads which are barely wide enough for cars to pass in fact alot of times you'll see one car with it's wheel half off the road. Sometimes we have a nice shoulder to the outside of the fog line sort of like this one
http://www.bicyclewatchdog.org/image...lestripbad.jpg

It could be that you have some truly exceptional conditions, unlike those of any of the many city commuters who post on this forum, but more likely it's a perception thing. You're a new commuter, and new commuters tend to white-knuckle it, particularly if they weren't riding recreationally on roads before. After a short while your skills improve, you don't get run over by a truck twice a day, and your perception changes.

A pair of what, pray tell?

And you saw this on your commute, did you? Or at any other time?

Because that's not what that white line is for. Look, you can complain all you want over the fact that the road infrastructure in your city is not designed with cyclists in mind, and we'll agree and sympathize. Where you'll meet some disagreement, though, is in how to solve the problem. Read the answers you've been given more closely -- there are all kinds of reasons why you can't simply lay a white line down on the pavement and say, "Presto, bike lane, problem solved."

It is the rider who makes cycling dangerous, not the location. Take up space. Be seen. Don't ride over on the curb. Stay out in the lane left of the white line. About 2 feet left of the line would be a start. Be out in the lane enough that people need to change lanes to pass you. Get a mirror and use it. Stop at stops and lights. Don't let a car be in your lane at a stop or stop light. People may beep their horns. GOOD! That means they see you.

While it has been 20 years since I have ridden in Panama city, I have all over Florida in the last year including Miami. It is a good place to ride. You need to gain some courage, and get out there on the road. Use the road, and don't let anybody push you off it.


edit- The most dangerous places I have ever ridden were places with bike lanes. When you are marginalized over on the edge of the road people forget about you. And intersections are DEADLY when using bike lanes.

Welcome to cycling in Florida. I'm not sure of how things are out in the pan handle but down in South Florida there is very little going for bicycle commuters. (Although, occasionally you see a city here or there getting the idea.)

There are ways to get involved. There may be a cycling advocacy group in your area. Your county may have someone who plans for bicycle traffic - go and have a friendly meeting with them. My county actually hosts monthly meetings with cyclists who want to give input. (I know this from their website, I haven't gotten off my rear to go.)

MADD thinks drunks are a bigger threat than poorly marked bicycle lanes, and spends their time, money, and efforts where they see fit.

MADD's been a free meal ticket for the legal system for quite some time now. The politicians saw an opportunity to increase profits through this particular organization and jumped on it. It's not MADDs place to fix the problem but the individual states could take the extra money this organization generates for them and apply it to the road conditions. MADD in and of itself is a great organization. I just hate that the legal system thrives on making these "Mothers" relive horrible situations in order to put more money in their own pockets. The extra money belongs in the streets and in all aspects of street safety, not in someone's pocket. Ever seen an itemized list accounting for where all this "ticket" money goes? Me either! Seems like it should be a matter of public record. TrackYourTicketMoney.com, lol Now that's a laugh! I guess WheresGeorge.com will have to do for now.

BINGO! Don't have bike lines by me but I view them similarly to the way I view the sidewalk..

And this is exactly what I tell my coworkers. I feel safer biking in the street/road than on the sidewalk.

Cars pull out, block the sidewalk.. they aren't looking there before they turn.. but if I'm in the street I am in their direct line of sight.

Bike Commuters Rights? Do they exist?

Yes, they do. You have the right ... and responsibility ... to behave like the vehicle of the road you are when you are on a bicycle.

Agreed. I don't really want a dime spent on bike lanes until they fix the damn roads. Not to argue that resurfacing acres of central austin costs the same as painting a white stripe on an already-too-small 2 laner...

word. I've never once been afraid that the honking guy at the front of the line of cars impatiently creeping along behind me was going to lose patience and ram me from behind. But I have been known to feel a little compassion for their impatient a**es and glide over to the right only to be buzzed by EVERY car in the line.

I have to do that now and then to remind myself how not to get killed -- TAKE THE LANE.