I was riding my new Specialized Tarmac yesterday at the Cabrillo National Monument at Pt. Loma in San Diego and got pulled over for speeding by a national park police officer. I was going 40 in a 25 zone. I think he wanted to give me a ticket until he found out I did not have a drivers license w me. Instead he chewed me out. I said I would watch my speed in the Monument in the future. He said a speeding ticket on a bike would give me a point against my drivers license. I do plan to watch m speed there in the future. He gave me a break so I will keep my word. Also, I already know how the new bike handles at speed. IT HANDLES GREAT!. It is the new SL4 ultegra w Dura Ace wheels. It is faster, smoother and better handling than my old Tarmac SL(1).

So, that 40 mph was on a descent?

S

Yes. A descent. Depending on the wind, my speed has ranged from 38 to 50 at that spot. I spin out before 40 and relay on gravity.

great post. would read again. a++

****! This guy is fast!

cool story hanzel

I've always wondered how this situation might play out..

You're lucky. He could have ran your name, etc, and obtained your drivers license number and still issued a cite, or if you couldn't prove who you were, he could have arrested you and taken you to jail until you provided proof. A speed limit is for all vehicles, and bicycles are vehicles.

I'm still a noob but I always wanted to ask this question. So yea, cyclists on the road are required to obey all traffic signs and lights, therefore, we have to watch our speeds just like when we're driving a motor vehicle. When you go buy a bike, bikes are not required to come with a built-in speedometer (like your car). A cyclocomputer is and has always been an accessory and law does not mandate cyclists to put one onto their bikes while they're riding. That being said, let say I don't have a cyclocomputer, I'm going on a descend (like the guy who started this post) and I happen to be traveling over the speed limit. Can one fight a speeding citation in court stating there was no way to know how fast I was going, therefore, I shouldn't be issued a citation for speeding?

I think they are using their own instruments to detect your speed. It is not like "Hey, this guy seems to be too fast. Let's check out his computer".

That is actually a really clever defense I had not thought of. I wonder what the precedent for this is
if you were " going with the flow of traffic" I wonder if it's a valid defense. Interesting thought!

I think you have a misunderstanding of my question. If i don't have cyclocomputer, how would I (myself, the rider) know to slow down if I don't know how fast I was going? For example, in a motor vehicle, you have a speedometer that tells you how fast you're going. So when a cop pulls you over for speeding, there's no excuse because you have a speedometer (or indicator) to let know you how fast you were traveling. For a cyclist who doesn't have s speedometer (cyclocomputer), there's no indicator to let you know your current speed.

Yes, sorry. Seems a valid argument.

A speeding ticket while riding a bike is on my bucket list.

You didn't even get the rubber glove treatment? What a missed opportunity.

Same here. I would frame it and put it on the wall. Points be damned.

Even though it seems absurd for a cop to give a bicycle rider a speeding ticket, you were probably putting yourself if not others at risk by riding 40-50 mph in a 25 mph zone....almost 2x's the speed limit. A pedestrian or little kid could easily step out and not see or hear you.

shame on you.

Ignorance of your speed is not a valid defense. It would allow someone with a broken speedometer to speed with impunity. If you are traveling at a rate that puts you at risk of breaking the law, it would be in your best interest to have a means of detecting your speed.

And the "it isn't sold with it" defense is meaningless. If you ride within a half hour of sunset or sunrise, you are required to have headlights, taillights, and white reflectors. Very few bikes are sold with headlights or taillights, yet you will still get a ticket for failure to comply.

Dude, get your license and go back and ask for the ticket!!!!! Frame it and hang it on the wall!!!

I guess cyclist must follow the same rules of the road as motorist. However, me being in that line of work but not as a patrol officer I would never pull a cyclist for just going fast. Only if they were being a Jackwagon weaving in between traffic which is my pet peeve as a fellow cyclist.

Carry on and I guess the officer has nothing better to do on a federal property. I have to say alot of the park rangers do get bored and rightfully so. Here on the BRP where they patrol they will pull a marked police unit if speeding when they use the BRP as a cutover to major roads. Can't figure that out but if they will pull a marked unit low and behold they will pull you I guess.

True! Hey ranger..............across the mountain from you here in Asheville. I need to get up your way to do some riding soon!

In which case it would be illegal for you to cycle on the regulated streets in the case you actually yet unknowingly exceeded the speed limit. Ignorance of the law (or your breaking it) is no defense. Basically the answer to you question is you must have some way of complying with the law, so you must have a cycle computer to properly ride on the streets.

You should!! I've done some riding in A'ville too.... and the Assault on the Carolina's down in Brevard. Come up and ride the Blood Sweat & Gears!! it's a killer ride!!