Advice from cop - stay off the street
06-22-11 | 02:46 PM
#26
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From: central ohio
Bikes: 96 gary fisher 'utopia' : 99 Softride 'Norwester'(for sale), 1972 Raleigh Twenty. Surly 1x1 converted to 1x8, 96 Turner Burner
In a situation like that, if it's a busy intersection. I would do a box-turn.
...In bicycling, the box turn is what you do when you make a left turn by going straight across an intersection, turning sharply at the opposite corner then crossing again. A picture is worth a thousand words, so I drew the box turn in pink in the diagram below
ref: https://www.cyclelicio.us/2011/box-turn/
You can get other advice at https://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
also on YouTube they have good videos at the "Cyclist eye view". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFjCza5e1kw
...In bicycling, the box turn is what you do when you make a left turn by going straight across an intersection, turning sharply at the opposite corner then crossing again. A picture is worth a thousand words, so I drew the box turn in pink in the diagram below
ref: https://www.cyclelicio.us/2011/box-turn/
You can get other advice at https://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
also on YouTube they have good videos at the "Cyclist eye view". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFjCza5e1kw
Last edited by scoatw; 06-22-11 at 03:09 PM.
06-22-11 | 02:54 PM
#27
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From: Binghamton, NY
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.Since you weren't doing anything to warrant a ticket he tried to persuade you by saying what you were doing was "very dangerous" and used whatever excuse he could think of.
Very ingenious if you ask me. Fill quota and show how tough on crime they can be
.
06-22-11 | 02:58 PM
#28
Thoughts? Do any of you avoid making left turns, or stay off the street entirely, when there is more traffic? Or did the cop just not know what he was talking about? I also wonder if I were a man, and wearing full Lance Armstrong gear (jersey, bicycling shorts, etc.) if he would have said anything. I wonder if because I'm a woman, and was just wearing regular clothes, he assumed that I couldn't possibly know what I was doing by being in the street with cars.
I have to wonder how many car vs car crashes the cop has seen during rush hour and if he has ever advised motorist to stay off the roads during rush hour because it is dangerous for them.
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Land of the Free, Because of the Brave.
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06-22-11 | 03:24 PM
#29
It's true, man.
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From: North Texas
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Rule number 1: Cops are never, ever wrong.
You were doing right, smile, nod, and go about your day.
You were doing right, smile, nod, and go about your day.
06-22-11 | 03:34 PM
#30
Banned.
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From: Jamis, WA
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I try to practice vehicular cycling when feasible. If it doesn't look like it's safe for me to get into the left lane and make a turn, I will get off the bike and walk it across the crosswalk like a pedestrian. This morning, while I was riding, I felt it was safe to stay in the street. Although the streets were busy, there was a gap in the cars behind me, and few cars getting into the turn lane. So I signaled and got into the left lane. While waiting for the light to change, I stayed in the right side of the lane, and a cop car pulled up next to me.
The cop said that what I was doing was "very dangerous" and I should be riding in the sidewalk. I said, politely, that I had always heard one should bike in the street with the cars so that they can see you. He countered that because this was rush hour, the cars wouldn't be expecting me and I was more likely to get hit. I replied that I used to ride in the sidewalk, and I had twice almost gotten hit by cars turning onto crosswalks or driveways that didn't see me. He again said that this was dangerous during rush hour and I said nothing, and was glad when the light changed.
Thoughts? Do any of you avoid making left turns, or stay off the street entirely, when there is more traffic? Or did the cop just not know what he was talking about? I also wonder if I were a man, and wearing full Lance Armstrong gear (jersey, bicycling shorts, etc.) if he would have said anything. I wonder if because I'm a woman, and was just wearing regular clothes, he assumed that I couldn't possibly know what I was doing by being in the street with cars.
The cop said that what I was doing was "very dangerous" and I should be riding in the sidewalk. I said, politely, that I had always heard one should bike in the street with the cars so that they can see you. He countered that because this was rush hour, the cars wouldn't be expecting me and I was more likely to get hit. I replied that I used to ride in the sidewalk, and I had twice almost gotten hit by cars turning onto crosswalks or driveways that didn't see me. He again said that this was dangerous during rush hour and I said nothing, and was glad when the light changed.
Thoughts? Do any of you avoid making left turns, or stay off the street entirely, when there is more traffic? Or did the cop just not know what he was talking about? I also wonder if I were a man, and wearing full Lance Armstrong gear (jersey, bicycling shorts, etc.) if he would have said anything. I wonder if because I'm a woman, and was just wearing regular clothes, he assumed that I couldn't possibly know what I was doing by being in the street with cars.
The cop is a dumbass. Do what you are doing. I can't speak for NY bike laws but his **** wouldn't fly in WA. He needs to go back to school.
06-22-11 | 03:44 PM
#31
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06-22-11 | 03:56 PM
#32
You gonna eat that?
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From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
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ref: https://www.cyclelicio.us/2011/box-turn/
You can get other advice at https://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
also on YouTube they have good videos at the "Cyclist eye view". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFjCza5e1kw
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
06-22-11 | 04:06 PM
#33
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If you pretty sure that you're right and the cop is wrong, it's a time-saver to simply say, "thanks, officer" and move on. No reason to debate.
But, maybe the cop was right? For instance, here it is legal to ride sidewalks (they're considered MUPs, basically) so perhaps the advice was not bad after all.
But, maybe the cop was right? For instance, here it is legal to ride sidewalks (they're considered MUPs, basically) so perhaps the advice was not bad after all.
Since it's so obvious that cycling law is obscure, I can only tell EVERYONE this:
"IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO, READ AND LEARN THE TRAFFIC LAWS AS THEY PERTAIN TO CYCLING IN YOUR CITY/TOWN/REGION/STATE. FORGET OPINIONS, GUESSES AND BELIEFS; LEARN IT SO YOU KNOW."
06-22-11 | 04:18 PM
#34
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From: Gaseous Cloud around Uranus
Let's explain the law to a cop,that always works well...There's a big difference between suggesting how to make the streets safer for bicyclists and telling them the law.
It's not my job to explain to cops what the law is,that's what we pay district attorneys for.Just like I don't want joe blow telling me how to do machine work.If Smokey Yunick comes back from the dead and wanders in my shop,I'll listen....
Right or wrong,they are the law at that moment,they have the car,handcuffs,sidearm and a radio with people listening that have alot more.
It's not my job to explain to cops what the law is,that's what we pay district attorneys for.Just like I don't want joe blow telling me how to do machine work.If Smokey Yunick comes back from the dead and wanders in my shop,I'll listen....
Right or wrong,they are the law at that moment,they have the car,handcuffs,sidearm and a radio with people listening that have alot more.
Last edited by Booger1; 06-22-11 at 04:28 PM.
06-22-11 | 04:20 PM
#35
Je pose, donc je suis.
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Back. Here.
Exactly.
06-22-11 | 04:49 PM
#36
Probably Injured
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Why is so much of the advice in this thread given as though the cop was ordering the OP around or arresting her? His being a cop did not enter into the situation at all except for possibly giving him a mentality where he thought it was appropriate to give out unsolicited advice. Maybe he would have given the same unsolicited advice if he was not a cop, in which case his being a cop did not enter into the situation whatsoever.
06-22-11 | 06:28 PM
#37
Why is so much of the advice in this thread given as though the cop was ordering the OP around or arresting her? His being a cop did not enter into the situation at all except for possibly giving him a mentality where he thought it was appropriate to give out unsolicited advice. Maybe he would have given the same unsolicited advice if he was not a cop, in which case his being a cop did not enter into the situation whatsoever.
I told you it was not safe riding on the road, what are you still doing on the road, pull over, your under arrest.
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Land of the Free, Because of the Brave.
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06-25-11 | 01:41 PM
#40
In the right lane
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From: Des Moines
Bikes: 1974 Huffy 3 speed
In a situation like that, if it's a busy intersection. I would do a box-turn.
...In bicycling, the box turn is what you do when you make a left turn by going straight across an intersection, turning sharply at the opposite corner then crossing again. A picture is worth a thousand words, so I drew the box turn in pink in the diagram below
ref: https://www.cyclelicio.us/2011/box-turn/
You can get other advice at https://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
also on YouTube they have good videos at the "Cyclist eye view". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFjCza5e1kw
...In bicycling, the box turn is what you do when you make a left turn by going straight across an intersection, turning sharply at the opposite corner then crossing again. A picture is worth a thousand words, so I drew the box turn in pink in the diagram below
ref: https://www.cyclelicio.us/2011/box-turn/
You can get other advice at https://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
also on YouTube they have good videos at the "Cyclist eye view". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFjCza5e1kw
06-25-11 | 10:14 PM
#41
nashcommguy
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From: nashville, tn
Bikes: Commuters: Fuji Delray road, Fuji Discovery mtb...Touring: Softride Traveler...Road: C-dale SR300
06-25-11 | 11:54 PM
#42
Acts 2:38
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From: San Jose, CA
Bikes: '10 Marin Lucas Valley, '13 Scott Speedster 20
06-26-11 | 02:01 AM
#43
Bicikli Huszár
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From: Fresno, CA
Bikes: '95 Novara Randonee
You did fine, both in terms of action and cop interaction. As long as you're polite and respectful (some people are the former, but miss the latter, and that's where problems start), you won't generally have problems. Keep in mind he's at least trying to be helpful, even if he is wrong.
It might not hurt to write a letter of concern to the police department or city representative (or other authority) about police being misinformed. Probably no need to stir the pot and point fingers with an angry letter, but just a polite letter of concern. You never know, sometimes something so simple can lead to fixing the problem, maybe with a simple memo, or more police education. Even though it might be a case where they won't fix it, they can't fix it if they don't know it's a problem, even if they have the will to. Might be a simple piece of advocacy. Just $.02.
It might not hurt to write a letter of concern to the police department or city representative (or other authority) about police being misinformed. Probably no need to stir the pot and point fingers with an angry letter, but just a polite letter of concern. You never know, sometimes something so simple can lead to fixing the problem, maybe with a simple memo, or more police education. Even though it might be a case where they won't fix it, they can't fix it if they don't know it's a problem, even if they have the will to. Might be a simple piece of advocacy. Just $.02.
06-26-11 | 09:45 AM
#44
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From: Los Alamos, NM
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06-26-11 | 07:02 PM
#45
[QUOTE=scoatw;12825928]In a situation like that, if it's a busy intersection. I would do a box-turn.
...In bicycling, the box turn is what you do when you make a left turn by going straight across an intersection, turning sharply at the opposite corner then crossing again. A picture is worth a thousand words, so I drew the box turn in pink in the diagram below
ref: https://www.cyclelicio.us/2011/box-turn/
love the jug handle. use it a lot. use the box turn also. I never use the vehicular. just not worth the ****ing trouble. The Cop was just worried about your safety. just say "yes, officer" and be on your way (on the sidewalk until he's out of sight)
...In bicycling, the box turn is what you do when you make a left turn by going straight across an intersection, turning sharply at the opposite corner then crossing again. A picture is worth a thousand words, so I drew the box turn in pink in the diagram below
ref: https://www.cyclelicio.us/2011/box-turn/
love the jug handle. use it a lot. use the box turn also. I never use the vehicular. just not worth the ****ing trouble. The Cop was just worried about your safety. just say "yes, officer" and be on your way (on the sidewalk until he's out of sight)
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"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
Last edited by rando; 06-26-11 at 08:22 PM. Reason: adding
