"How do We Get Bikers to Obey Traffic Laws"? (Article)
10-24-09, 08:40 PM
#27
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
Oh, gosh, FOUR drivers out of up to a couple dozen THOUSAND. Quick, we need a CM ride to stick it to 'em!
10-24-09, 08:58 PM
#29
member. heh.
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10-24-09, 09:25 PM
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I'm not even sure what we are arguing about. I was simply supporting lambo vt's argument with my own experiences. I suppose I should read the thread.
10-24-09, 09:37 PM
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But then, we live in different townz.
I gotta get one of the on-board cameras. Oh the things that I've seen...
10-24-09, 09:40 PM
#36
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10-25-09, 07:11 AM
#37
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too much caffiene?
Last edited by iforgotmename; 10-25-09 at 07:15 AM.
10-26-09, 10:09 AM
#39
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4 in 1 week? LOL!!!! Come to L.A., you can see AT LEAST 4 cars run a red,everytime the light cycles in each direction.
Last edited by Booger1; 10-26-09 at 10:15 AM.
10-26-09, 10:52 AM
#40
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guess its all about education... spend more money on commercials, flyers, articles of awareness... many cyclist dont know their rights and obligations. same gos with cars, most forget the importance of some rules and attitudes towards other road ussers.
When GAS prices REALLY rise, caused by sacarsity then, all the world will turn upsidedown, the bicycle-renaisance.
When GAS prices REALLY rise, caused by sacarsity then, all the world will turn upsidedown, the bicycle-renaisance.
10-26-09, 12:23 PM
#41
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Point #1
I saw this comment on the Yehuda & Moon comics page
https://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=2009-09-1
And I liked it so much I wrote it down, but paraphrased it. It goes like this:
Point #2
In response to jeffpoullin
- The two absolutely worst bike accidents I've ever witnessed were on bike paths. I agree with you - I like them too and I wish they were everywhere, but do not, for one second, think you are any SAFER on a bike path! You are NOT.
Point #3
There was a great article written in the Florida Bicycle Association newsletter a few months back by a lawyer who described the history of traffic laws, and how they evolved to what we have today. Originally, traffic laws were written expressly for pedestrians and horse traffic. As cars came into existence, only a few wealthy people owned them, and the majority of traffic deaths were pedestrians hit by cars (versus car on car mayhem we have today). So those wealthy few used their influence on elected officials to pass laws to favor vehicular traffic and get these pesky pedestrians off the road. Today we don't even remember what a world was like when the walker (and cyclist) ruled the roads and cars were second class users of the nations roadways. Conclusion: We need to support our local Political Action Committees to make our agendas known in the government.
I saw this comment on the Yehuda & Moon comics page
https://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=2009-09-1
And I liked it so much I wrote it down, but paraphrased it. It goes like this:
What puts more people at risk and shows less responsibility for the safety of other people is careless driving, not careless biking. Simply choosing to put the car on the road creates the possibility of harm that is not there if you were on a bicycle.
In response to jeffpoullin
I like dedicated bike paths which separate me from traffic. I find it's not only safer, but prettier and the air is cleaner too.
Point #3
There was a great article written in the Florida Bicycle Association newsletter a few months back by a lawyer who described the history of traffic laws, and how they evolved to what we have today. Originally, traffic laws were written expressly for pedestrians and horse traffic. As cars came into existence, only a few wealthy people owned them, and the majority of traffic deaths were pedestrians hit by cars (versus car on car mayhem we have today). So those wealthy few used their influence on elected officials to pass laws to favor vehicular traffic and get these pesky pedestrians off the road. Today we don't even remember what a world was like when the walker (and cyclist) ruled the roads and cars were second class users of the nations roadways. Conclusion: We need to support our local Political Action Committees to make our agendas known in the government.
10-26-09, 02:33 PM
#42
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10-26-09, 02:44 PM
#43
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In houston, the lowered the speed limit to 55 from 70 on an interstate, going slower than the speed limit was a good way to put yourself in danger because people will go around you, leaving others to run into you who didn't see you there.
Should there be a law about minimum speeds for vehicles for safety?
Should there be a law about minimum speeds for vehicles for safety?
10-26-09, 02:59 PM
#44
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While it is possible for a bicyclist to kill someone by running a stop sign or red light, it is orders of magnitude less likely than if a person driving a car were to do it. If you assume that traffic laws are there to promote safety then it makes sense for cops to focus on going after those violations that create the biggest potential for causing harm to others. A cyclist doing a rolling stop at a stop sign who looks both ways before proceeding, is not endangering anyone.
Personally, I think the cops should enforce the following bike rules (based on my estimate of potential harm): running red lights at speed, riding on sidewalks, riding the wrong way in the bike lane or on a one-way street, and riding at night without lights. Rolling stop signs or stopping/looking/and proceeding through clear intersections during a red light should not be prosecuted as they do not have much potential for harm.
Personally, I think the cops should enforce the following bike rules (based on my estimate of potential harm): running red lights at speed, riding on sidewalks, riding the wrong way in the bike lane or on a one-way street, and riding at night without lights. Rolling stop signs or stopping/looking/and proceeding through clear intersections during a red light should not be prosecuted as they do not have much potential for harm.
10-26-09, 07:47 PM
#45
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You candyasses. Whenever I encounter a red light, I dial it up to 1.15 gigawatts and Doppler that red light green.
Be careful, though - if you dial it up to 1.21 gigawatts you end up in 1955.
Be careful, though - if you dial it up to 1.21 gigawatts you end up in 1955.
10-26-09, 09:00 PM
#46
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ok, i also break the law when (on a bike) i slow down and do not completely stop at a stop sign... and guess what, that is also generally tolerated... (if nobody (pedestrian, car, other bike) had to break or stop because of me...)
Last edited by jaysea; 10-27-09 at 07:53 AM.
10-27-09, 01:48 AM
#47
Every lane is a bike lane
No, it's about enforcement. Zero-tolerance policing of traffic laws would make both motorists and cyclists follow the law quick smart, and would simply remove those who fail to comply. Until that happens, both motorists and cyclists will continue to break the law while pointing the finger at each other.
__________________
I am clinically insane. I am proud of it.
That is all.
I am clinically insane. I am proud of it.
That is all.
10-27-09, 05:47 AM
#48
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When I lived in New Orleans, at any given 4-lane intersection, every time the light turned red there were 4-5 cars that ran it. Every single time. It got so bad they started putting up red light cameras at these intersections. And it hasn't stopped them at all. And the speeding and rolling stop signs... LOL. Even cops speed, run red lights, do illegal manouvers, etc. on a regular basis there for no good reason. In ten years living there, I've NEVER seen anyone get pulled over for running a red light, even when they do it right in front of a cop, which happened on a daily basis in my neighborhood.
It really depends on your environment. In the town I live in now, I follow the rules, because there's not much traffic, and I don't really need to break them to survive. In N.O. if you don't run red lights and stop signs, you could get mugged or worse.
It really depends on your environment. In the town I live in now, I follow the rules, because there's not much traffic, and I don't really need to break them to survive. In N.O. if you don't run red lights and stop signs, you could get mugged or worse.
Last edited by FunkyStickman; 10-27-09 at 05:52 AM.
10-27-09, 07:06 AM
#49
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No, it's about enforcement. Zero-tolerance policing of traffic laws would make both motorists and cyclists follow the law quick smart, and would simply remove those who fail to comply. Until that happens, both motorists and cyclists will continue to break the law while pointing the finger at each other.
agreed enforcement is needed, yet enforcing most be accompanied by education of both rights and dutys...i cycle and dont want to feel militarized at all.
10-27-09, 11:59 AM
#50
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I will admit to rolling stops at stop signs, less than 3 MPH. I stop at stop lights and will only go if there is absolutely no traffic that could possibly be inconvenienced. If I knew the stop light would eventually change, I would wait for the light to change.
Just a reminder in most places, it is NOT illegal to ride on sidewalks outside of downtown areas(just unsafe). Don't get TOO holier than thou.
Also while bike paths are nice, they rarely go where I need to go. The streets amazingly seem to go everywhere I need to go without any extra rare taxpayer dollars being spent.
Just a reminder in most places, it is NOT illegal to ride on sidewalks outside of downtown areas(just unsafe). Don't get TOO holier than thou.
Also while bike paths are nice, they rarely go where I need to go. The streets amazingly seem to go everywhere I need to go without any extra rare taxpayer dollars being spent.