Is This Acceptable To Do On A Road?
 

When these bicyclists cut in front of me on 54th Avenue South in Tierre Verde Florida (in Pinellas County) on 6-28-12, I was more than a little pissed. Instead of going to the light and crossing, they rode in front of me for probably 1/8 of a mile. So when bicyclists complain about motorists giving them a hard time, well.

Yes, I do it every day (in a straight only lane) when I need to legally proceed through an intersection and the right lane is right turn only. It is recommended for safety reasons and required by law in Pennsylvania if you want to legally proceed through an intersection. Most other states have similar laws.

Granted, if I were to hug the shoulder and risk getting hit by a right turning car, I would never get pulled over and most drivers would assume I was doing the right thing by hiding on the shoulder from cars.

I don't understand what the complaint is.

You're complaining that cyclists were riding safely and legally on the road as they are required to do by law, for 1/8th of a mile?

What, exactly, is worthy of complaint about this situation?

I have no idea. Perhaps that they weren't sharing the lane.

Bicycles are vehicles too, you know.

+1 on asking what exactly the complaint is? Are you angry that they made a left turn and actually used the turning lane?

As Doohickie said, bicycles are vehicles. I'm not going to suddenly become a pedestrian on wheels when I want to make a left turn. What I get really tired of is drivers in my city who believe cyclists should never make left turns because it inconveniences them for 10-20 seconds.

+1000

I saw nothing wrong in the pictures. There were TWO left turn lanes and they used the right hand one to make the turn safely as a group as they are suppose to do.

Looks like there are two left hand turn lanes. Get behind the truck.



I ride on this residential island on part of my regular ride. One of the main thoroughfares is a divided road and the lane isn't very wide.

Lots of golf carts on this island.

I turn off the bridge road just as a pickup truck gets up to me so he's just behind me at the beginning of this narrow stretch. Can't safely pass me. It's a 20mph speed limit and I'm doing maybe 17. He starts honking his horn and yelling out the window. Up ahead a golf cart comes out of a driveway and proceeds to do about 10mph. We pull up to it and I pass it. The pickup truck now very patiently follows the golf cart.

Seriously. The picture on the right picture looks like something the DMV would use in its driver's manual to show exactly how cars and bicycles should safely share the road.

Agree with the other posters that I see nothing wrong with the actions of the cyclists in the two pictures. Riding in a left turn lane when preparing to turn left is exactly what they should be doing. And they caught up to the truck in the other left turn lane while the light was still red. So all they did was keep the OP from reaching a red light a few seconds earlier. Doesn't seem like justification to feel "more than pissed off" - or upset at all for that matter.

Hi Neighbor. Tierra Verde is a popular spot for cyclists. You're going to see lots of them there out all the time. It looks like from your pictures that they are riding legally according to Florida's laws, so I'm a little foggy as to what it is you thought they should have done. Crossed at the crosswalk? Is that what you meant?

God forbid someone use a left turn lane to turn left.

Seems reasonable to me.

They moved into the left turn lane when it was safe to do so and are all bunched up so they're likely to get past the light without the last guys riding through the intersection after the light has turned yellow or red.

They didn't cause you to miss a light cycle and stayed in the right left turn lane so faster traffic could pass on the left.

I personally find it less aggravating to have a bike in front at a light than a car since all too often the car driver is digging for something or looking at a phone... At least the biker is focused and accelerates quickly.

"These Yahoos cut me off" implies they were travelling faster than you. You were slowing them down if they passed you. As it appears to me, you and that group are travelling in the same direction and also turning at the same intersection. Does it really matter to you that much that you got passed before the light instead of after it?

??? You're not really serious are you? If so, you have a completely different set of "Rules of the Road" than I do.

I don't know about Florida, but, in California, bicycles are not vehicles. (Еxcept that they are required to obey most laws that apply to vehicles.)

That's basically the gist of it. Though 'bicycles' and 'vehicles' may have different definitions and requirements when it comes to regulation, the operators of both must follow posted traffic control signage and follow established traffic laws.

I'm out before the move to A&S.

Hmm... to my mind, it means they were ahead of him, but moving slower, and literally cut him off by moving into his lane forcing him to brake.

That's how I read it, anyway... I don't mind cyclists taking the lane when turning, as these did, but if they actually cut him off instead of waiting for him to pass then moving, they're perpetuating the stereotype that all cyclists are a**holes on the road...

do you often get your panties in a bunch when a vehicle merges into the turning lane in front of you to make a turn? Get over it before you have a stroke. :rolleyes:

Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of vehicles. In every state.

Some states don't define bicycles as vehicles but that isn't really significant to the operation of bicycles on roadways.

They are required to follow the general traffic laws unless an exception is indicated for bicyclists or bicycles.

Cut him off my butt...cyclists, especially roadies, tend to shy away from putting themselves directly in the path of a speeding hunk of metal that would squoosh them like a bug. Come on, this may be the General forum, but it's not the "fell off the turnip truck" forum. Let's be honest here, the OP is wailing because of the perceived inconvenience of cyclists being in front of him. Anyone who expects cyclists to go to the light and cross, like a pedestrian or a kid, doesn't have much credibility. :lol:

Perhaps. But then the language of "instead of going to the light and crossing, they came rode in front of me for probably 1/8 mile"... kinda implies the OP has a double standard going on. Wants the group to change lanes AT the light, when he's already in the turn lane at least 1/8 mile away from the light??

Wait, is this what it's like in A&S?

If you look into the OP's posting history it looks like he rides exclusively on trails or MUPs and as such may not be aware of how to properly proceed with a bicycle during regular riding on a road.

In Ontario it's illegal to for cyclists to ride in pedestrian crosswalks. The way these guys are riding is the safest and most legal way. OP, I suggest you learn the rules of the road. I'd expect a "senior member" of a biking forum to be a bit more familiar with how to ride a bike.