Bike Cops Ticketing Cyclists
#76
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Here is the CVC pertaining to prohibiting commercial or vehicles exceeding a max weight limit.
CVC 35701. (a) Any city, or county for a residence district, may, by ordinance, prohibit the use of a street by any commercial vehicle or by any vehicle exceeding a maximum gross weight limit, except with respect to any vehicle which is subject to Sections 1031 to 1036, inclusive, of the Public Utilities Code, and except with respect to vehicles used for the collection and transportation of garbage, rubbish, or refuse using traditionally used routes in San Diego County when the solid waste management plan prepared under Section 66780.1 of the Government Code is amended to designate each traditionally used route used for the purpose of transporting garbage, rubbish, or refuse which intersects with a local or regional arterial circulation route contained within a city or county's traffic circulation element and which provides access to a solid waste disposal site.
#77
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[QUOTE=squirtdad;14007788][QUOTE=Vlaam4ever;14006651]
I had to read thru all the posts to see if anyone posted this. Now I don't have.
All it takes is one lapse, one time, one second.
When someone is killed in a railroad crossing accident, the psychological damage to the engineer is so great, they usually quit the railroad.
but not all the same responsibilities
I always have a problem with this argument.... Because it ignores other consequences. Yes if a cyclist makes a wrong decision by running a red they have more exposure than a person in a car does, but it does not end there. You run a red light and make a judgement error. Now a driver either hits you and suffers psychological issues for something is not their fault or trys to avoid you and hits another car or object.
There is no more justification for the selfcentered argument " I am inconvenienced by the red light, and can make my own judgement if it is safe and break the law" for a bicyliest than there is for a motorcyclist or auto driver.
I always have a problem with this argument.... Because it ignores other consequences. Yes if a cyclist makes a wrong decision by running a red they have more exposure than a person in a car does, but it does not end there. You run a red light and make a judgement error. Now a driver either hits you and suffers psychological issues for something is not their fault or trys to avoid you and hits another car or object.
There is no more justification for the selfcentered argument " I am inconvenienced by the red light, and can make my own judgement if it is safe and break the law" for a bicyliest than there is for a motorcyclist or auto driver.
All it takes is one lapse, one time, one second.
When someone is killed in a railroad crossing accident, the psychological damage to the engineer is so great, they usually quit the railroad.
#78
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Twice. One ticket.
Back in the mid 90s I got a ticket for running a stop sign. I was doing a right hand turn while climbing a hill. I did my signal but didn't want to stop or slow down. (I was just being lazy.) Motorcycle cop (who I had just seen go through the intersection going to my left) saw me do it in his rear view mirror. He turns around with his flashing lights on and pulled me over. Since I was a teenager with no licence he gave me a lecture and a $30 fine.
A couple years ago I was "lectured" (more like yelled at) by an off duty officer in his SUV. I was in a hurry and filtered between two lanes of cars stopped at a red on a fast 6 lane arterial road. I didn't want to admit it at the time but in hindsight the officer had a point. If the light had turned green before I had gotten to the front I would have been trapped in between two lanes of 80kph traffic!
Back in the mid 90s I got a ticket for running a stop sign. I was doing a right hand turn while climbing a hill. I did my signal but didn't want to stop or slow down. (I was just being lazy.) Motorcycle cop (who I had just seen go through the intersection going to my left) saw me do it in his rear view mirror. He turns around with his flashing lights on and pulled me over. Since I was a teenager with no licence he gave me a lecture and a $30 fine.
A couple years ago I was "lectured" (more like yelled at) by an off duty officer in his SUV. I was in a hurry and filtered between two lanes of cars stopped at a red on a fast 6 lane arterial road. I didn't want to admit it at the time but in hindsight the officer had a point. If the light had turned green before I had gotten to the front I would have been trapped in between two lanes of 80kph traffic!
#79
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#80
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If you tried to out run them, do you think they would have put the helicopter up?
-G
-G
#81
Cycle Year Round
#82
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So?
The argument that you are the only one at risk is both selfish and false. JABs are just as irresponsible as JAMs. The person that tatoos you when you blow a light WILL be traumatized. You may not care (particularly if you are on a slab getting your complexion spray-painted on and your guts sucked out thru a tube so you won't stink at the viewing), but your irresponsibility will traumatize someone.
And, it is old WIVE'S tale....
The argument that you are the only one at risk is both selfish and false. JABs are just as irresponsible as JAMs. The person that tatoos you when you blow a light WILL be traumatized. You may not care (particularly if you are on a slab getting your complexion spray-painted on and your guts sucked out thru a tube so you won't stink at the viewing), but your irresponsibility will traumatize someone.
And, it is old WIVE'S tale....
#83
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One of my younger brothers is an engineer for the railroad.
While he was still a conductor, one of the senior engineers he liked working with hit a stalled church bus half full of kids.
After he was brought back to yard, he got in his car and left, forever.
My brother says 3 other engineers he has worked have quit after hitting stalled vehicles and he would probably do the same.
While he was still a conductor, one of the senior engineers he liked working with hit a stalled church bus half full of kids.
After he was brought back to yard, he got in his car and left, forever.
My brother says 3 other engineers he has worked have quit after hitting stalled vehicles and he would probably do the same.
#84
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I think you should do that. And then when you earn a trip to jail you'll probably come back here and complain about how you're a victim of the police. Also, be sure to teach your children it's OK to lie to the police. That way, they can be arrested when they get older too. Stupid people like you keep the police employed.
#85
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Especially at stop signs, I often jump on the sidewalk and cross via the crosswalk. In Washington, when a cyclist is on the sidewalk, s/he is a pedestrian. Pedestrians have no duty to stop at the stop sign, only to not enter the crosswalk so suddenly that a vehicle couldn't stop for them. I jump on the sidewalk then I don't have to stop. I'll often stop and wait for cars that were there first, though, even though I don't have to. This is especially useful when there are no vehicles around. It allows me to lawfully run the stop sign.
#86
Cycle Year Round
One of my younger brothers is an engineer for the railroad.
While he was still a conductor, one of the senior engineers he liked working with hit a stalled church bus half full of kids.
After he was brought back to yard, he got in his car and left, forever.
My brother says 3 other engineers he has worked have quit after hitting stalled vehicles and he would probably do the same.
While he was still a conductor, one of the senior engineers he liked working with hit a stalled church bus half full of kids.
After he was brought back to yard, he got in his car and left, forever.
My brother says 3 other engineers he has worked have quit after hitting stalled vehicles and he would probably do the same.
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#87
Cycle Year Round
So?
The argument that you are the only one at risk is both selfish and false. JABs are just as irresponsible as JAMs. The person that tatoos you when you blow a light WILL be traumatized. You may not care (particularly if you are on a slab getting your complexion spray-painted on and your guts sucked out thru a tube so you won't stink at the viewing), but your irresponsibility will traumatize someone.
And, it is old WIVE'S tale....
The argument that you are the only one at risk is both selfish and false. JABs are just as irresponsible as JAMs. The person that tatoos you when you blow a light WILL be traumatized. You may not care (particularly if you are on a slab getting your complexion spray-painted on and your guts sucked out thru a tube so you won't stink at the viewing), but your irresponsibility will traumatize someone.
And, it is old WIVE'S tale....
And, different regions use the variation of wise tale as opposed to wive's tale, just for your information. Not everyone walks lock step with your background, maybe broaden you experience/knowledge.
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#88
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I think you should do that. And then when you earn a trip to jail you'll probably come back here and complain about how you're a victim of the police. Also, be sure to teach your children it's OK to lie to the police. That way, they can be arrested when they get older too. Stupid people like you keep the police employed.
Maybe it is the same reason that they do not believe they need to obey the same laws they enforce.
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#89
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Aside from my brother, several of my neighbors and a few acquaintances work for the various railroad companies. I hear all kinds of horror stories.
Being an engineer is very stressful in itself and most of the railroads are short on engineers because of the stress. Maybe the knowledge that one or more people have just commited suicide by train pushes them to quit.
Maybe it was not their first loss of life accident, just the last one they were willing to suffer.
My brother has not had a loss of life accident, and I hope he never does.
#90
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Uh, old wise tail makes absolutely no sense.
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#91
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#92
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You refuse to acknowledge that it is even remotely possible that a driver of an auto might be traumatized by hitting a bicyclist. I don't have as broad a background as you do (), so my limited sample of folks involved in auto crashes with deaths involved is probably not of the same scope as your experience. However, the family and friends I have known that were involved WERE messed up, and never got over the fact that a life was lost in the crash - and in most cases the only fault they had was being on the highway at that moment (hit by drunk drivers).
Folks that have killed without remorse are sociopaths - you paint with a very wide brush when you imply that drivers are such. When you blow a red light and get injured or killed, maybe you will be "lucky" enough to be hit by a sociopath, but most likely it will be a "normal" someone that will feel plenty of remorse, even though the accident will be your fault.
And folks want "fair." When we as cyclists ignore the rules of the road, drivers consider it unfair and paint us all with the brush of being JABs. You should understand that, since you are so attuned to watching JAMs. If nothing else, following the rules allows some degree of predictability and order, and that is a good thing. With gasoline prices climbing and more folks commuting to work (at least in my small town), an anarchistic approach to cyclists mixing with cars is a bad thing. Forget the legality, the cars win.
But we ain't gonna change each other's minds, are we now?
#93
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#94
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I got lit up a couple off week ago, country road 25 mph tail wind flat section of road coming to a T intersection. I was making a left hand turn and could see a white car a 1/2 mile down the road hit the corner as hard as I could and as I blew the sign I saw the lights come on. He only flipped them on and offf but i was enough to know that I had been busted. Sat up in the saddle, soft pedled and waited for him to roll up. He rolled down his passenger window and read me the riot act at 10 miles an hour. He explained that this was my free one, next time it would be "press hard your signing your name through 5 copies". I told him yes Sir I understand, and I"ll be to your house in a half hour. It was my training partner in the crusier, he knows my work schedule and has been at that intersection twice since then. Will he write me for it next time.? Yes he will.
#95
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I get your point. But a bike does not carry the same responsibility as a car. The damage you do on a bike has significantly less consequences then a that of motor vehicle in the same manuever. Hence a cyclist is not required to carry liability insurance.
Not arguing that anybody needs to run stop signs or redlights. These should only be argued on a case-by-case basis, as I also have many lights that I stop at, and many stop signs that I treat as yield signs on my regular routes.
Not arguing that anybody needs to run stop signs or redlights. These should only be argued on a case-by-case basis, as I also have many lights that I stop at, and many stop signs that I treat as yield signs on my regular routes.
#96
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Yrs ago on a motorcycle I walked over to the walk button and pushed it. As I did a city engineer pulled up and asked me why. I told him the light wouldn't trigger for my bike. He insisted that all lights were on a timer. I just had to wait. I knew that light. He was fibbing.
Nowadays, I pull up to a light at 5ish and the don't walk sign starts blinking like it's going to change so I wait. When it's counted down and stops counting it goes back to "Walk" for the other direction and I don't get the light. I've tried to get to the button before it stops counting down but each time it ignores me and must start a timer before changing the light. If there's no traffic in any direction I go (most of the time). If there is anybody coming, going or waiting with me I walk my bike to the walk button. I'm not telling others what to do. It's what I do.
Nowadays, I pull up to a light at 5ish and the don't walk sign starts blinking like it's going to change so I wait. When it's counted down and stops counting it goes back to "Walk" for the other direction and I don't get the light. I've tried to get to the button before it stops counting down but each time it ignores me and must start a timer before changing the light. If there's no traffic in any direction I go (most of the time). If there is anybody coming, going or waiting with me I walk my bike to the walk button. I'm not telling others what to do. It's what I do.
And then contacting the city engineers office and letting them know that if the problem isn't addressed that you'll be sending a copy of the video to all of your local news outlets.
That might put a "burr under their saddle" and get some action.
#97
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On foot and on a bicycle I totally disregard traffic rules IF I AM SURE IT IS SAFE. I know I'm only putting myself in danger when breaking the rules and It's my fault-my ass on the line.
When driving a car: I couldn't forgive myself for killing/hurting anyone. So I respect all the rules. And it is frustrating to see how badly, slowly, carelessly most people drive in my country.
On a motorcycle I respect most rules, except for filtering bans - I filter whenever I believe it is safe (cars are stopped and I see where the drivers are looking).
North of Italy was a driving paradise for me. Almost all the drivers drive fast, safe, respecting bicycles, motorcycles (allowing filtering whenever possible by making space for them). Good roads, good drivers, good speed limits, few cameras and cops. Dolce vita!
When driving a car: I couldn't forgive myself for killing/hurting anyone. So I respect all the rules. And it is frustrating to see how badly, slowly, carelessly most people drive in my country.
On a motorcycle I respect most rules, except for filtering bans - I filter whenever I believe it is safe (cars are stopped and I see where the drivers are looking).
North of Italy was a driving paradise for me. Almost all the drivers drive fast, safe, respecting bicycles, motorcycles (allowing filtering whenever possible by making space for them). Good roads, good drivers, good speed limits, few cameras and cops. Dolce vita!
#98
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Such as a couple of years ago as I was headed to the library, if I hadn't been paying attention I would have "nailed" a gal who immediately after getting off of the bus she puts her cell phone to her ear and is so engaged in her conversation that she wasn't paying any attention to what she was doing, or where she was going. She just blindly stepped off of the curb into the street without a care in the world.
If I had been driving or even riding a motorcycle I would have either hit her full on, or if I'd been on a motorcycle I probably would have clipped her with a mirror as I tried to avoid her.
#99
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I at least notice the a$$holes on bikes more (unless they're directly affecting me, then I notice the cars more). Not sure which annoyed my on the commute home last night more, the a$$holes cyclist salmoning in the bike lane who tried to force me out into traffic on a bad road or the guy in the minivan who tried to infringe on the bike lane when I was riding next to him.
Edit: I'm allowed to say ass but not a-hole? Odd.
Edit: I'm allowed to say ass but not a-hole? Odd.
Last week, I politely tried to tell an elderly (looking) woman that she needed to be riding on the other side of the road. Her response was "go to hell."
#100
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Blowing a light only works if you think you're the ONLY cyclist at the intersection. If another is coming through the cross-street, who blows first? Or do you just close your eyes and hope for the best?
Most people who don't want to abide be traffic rules don't consider themselves to be traffic, and are, by definition, being elitist and arrogant.
Most people who don't want to abide be traffic rules don't consider themselves to be traffic, and are, by definition, being elitist and arrogant.