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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Apr 28, 2010 - 03:15am PT
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Well put, Ed, although the biggest dangers to bikers in Fresno are pedestrians who insist on walking or running in the bike lanes when adjacent to a sidewalk. I had a particularly unpleasant encounter with one about ten years ago. She was jogging toward me and refused to move out of the lane. Although I always ride with a rear-view mirror on my helmet, I did not appreciate being forced out of the bike lane into traffic, so I simply stopped and informed her that she should not be there.
I got a lecture about how I was operating a vehicle, and she was a pedestrian, so she had the right-of-way. The only problem with her reasoning was, of course, that the Vehicle Code says the opposite. Section 21966 states "No pedestrian shall proceed along a bicycle path or lane where there is an adjacent adequate facility." In addition, Section 21954(a) states; "Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard."
I guess this illustrates the old saw about a little knowledge. Pedestrians have the right-of-way at intersections and in crosswalks only. She remembered that pedestrians have the right-of-way, period.
Section 21200 states in part, "Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle . . .except those provisions which by their very nature can have no provision." Thus, we have the same rights to the road as a car, but we also have the same responsibilities, e.g., not to impede the flow of traffic. Specifically, Section 21202 provides in part, "Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway . . . ."
Common sense and common courtesy are what both motorists and cyclists need. Since a car will always "win" in a crash with a bicycle, we need to be the ones who are extra-vigilant. If we allow impeded traffic to pass as quickly as possible (whether we're driving or pedaling), we do much to alleviate road rage. This idea that it's my right, so I can be rude, whether by a motorist, cyclist or pedestrian, is despicable.
John
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okie
Trad climber
San Leandro, Ca
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Apr 28, 2010 - 08:36am PT
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Wish I could ride a bike- but I gotta drive the freeways every day. When I lived in Santa Cruz I rode everywhere-really miss those days, a simpler life.
For my part I was always a conservative rider, taking the safest line...didn't care much for helmets, or luxuries like night lights, reflectors...the worst danger at night was from the left turners...and there's always the dreaded...DOOR opening on a parked car!
Things I've had thrown at me: all forms of garbage, rocks, a tomato, a baseball...just to mention a few...Weekends were the worst- a high jackass factor.
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Jim E
climber
away
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Apr 28, 2010 - 10:09am PT
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A certain colorful North Conway character grew tired of being harassed by motorists on his training rides to the point where he began riding with a very LARGE caliber hand gun tucked into the back of his riding shorts. I don't believe he had any more problems other than chafing.
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james Colborn
Trad climber
Truckee, Ca
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Apr 28, 2010 - 11:37am PT
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I agree that commuter bikers are less obtrusive than the recreationalist. I've lived in Boston, San Francisco, and Chico, never owning a car, and riding a bike or a skateboard daily.
I think it is a concern that cyclists ride three abreast with the assumption that the cars should still give a wide birht for them. I find this slightly arrogant behavior.
Ed your right, it doesn't have to be dangerous but doesn't breaking the law increase the dangers?
I once recieved three tickets for blowing off stop signs, all within a 24 hr period in Chico.
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72hw
Trad climber
Pasadena, CA
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That's interesting news regarding NYPD settlement!
I ride every day and have more than once chased drivers down once they've stopped a lights after they attempt to murder, clip or otherwise place me in danger. I love it when their windows are down and they can hear me scream the laws at them - the look on passengers faces is priceless. I always remind my friends who bike commute that bikes do not have license plates - even made a graphic to drive home the point:
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 7, 2010 - 09:16pm PT
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Avid Bicyclists might want to look into local groups such as this, one of the very few groups of which I am a member;
East Bay Bicycle Coalition
http://www.ebbc.org/
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 14, 2011 - 06:28am PT
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Be careful out there!
I almost nailed a bike with my car this morning here in Moab.
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wayne burleson
climber
Amherst, MA (currently in Lutry, CH)
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Apr 14, 2011 - 08:32am PT
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In Switzerland, bikes are so integrated into the society
that you can get a DUI on your bike. I know someone
who got nailed. The weird thing is it is just a fine
and has no impact on his driver's license or record.
Does this make sense?
It's a bit of a disincentive for the person who is
debating riding their bike or driving while UI.
And presumably you are less of a risk to others while
on a bike rather than in a car.
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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Apr 14, 2011 - 11:55am PT
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that you can get a DUI on your bike
Hell, you can get that in the Valley or most american cities for that matter. No need to go all the way to Swizzy.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 14, 2011 - 12:16pm PT
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That is, weird.
You can get a DUI on a bike in the states, too, though.
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August West
Trad climber
Where the wind blows strange
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Apr 14, 2011 - 12:25pm PT
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In Switzerland, bikes are so integrated into the society
that you can get a DUI on your bike. I know someone
who got nailed. The weird thing is it is just a fine
and has no impact on his driver's license or record.
My understanding is that a DUI on a bike in this country does count on your driver's license record. I have no problem making it a crime, but I don't see why driving under the influence on a bike should jack up the person's car insurance. The cyclist made a previous obvious choice to not be in a car...
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WBraun
climber
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Apr 14, 2011 - 12:34pm PT
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As I recall,
Klaus got a DUI walking his bike .....
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jstan
climber
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Apr 14, 2011 - 12:41pm PT
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It may actually have been Jaybro who first posted this one.
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Urizen
Ice climber
Berkeley, CA
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Feb 28, 2013 - 10:43pm PT
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My flat bars are long, and they have no handgrips. Anyone driving a vehicle that strays too far into the zone is going home with some totally top-drawer creases and scratches in it.
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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Feb 28, 2013 - 11:40pm PT
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I've been tempted to install some sharp pointy steel in the bar ends to dissuade the side-swipers.
As far as the recreational bikers go; Why is it with only maybe a half dozen blind corners in 35 miles or so on the entire San Gabriel River trail, those are the ONLY places that they pick to stop for water, adjustments or kid issues?
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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^^^^ And then imagine the stuff they do after they load their bikes back onto their cars.
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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A friend of mine (BIG into road biking, not a noob) just got run off the road by an angry driver. The guy pulled up and started yelling at him, then swerved and ran him off the road. Apparently that has been happening quite a bit. I'd start carrying bear spray and the second they start yelling... blind the fukers at 30 mph!
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martygarrison
Trad climber
Washington DC
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I commute across DC everyday. It is actually faster than driving in this town. I never yell at the drivers as the likely hood of getting my ass beat or shot is actually fairly high.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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I do not go to the city very often,but,bicycle commuting around here has finally entered the new millenium.Bike lanes,Greenways and bike advocacy have opened new worlds around Rochester.Its not Vancouver,but it is good.I live 25 miles from downtown,i can ride 20 of that on a greenway,only crossing a few roads.I work in a bike shop and we have pushed hard for these improvements.
CONTINUE ADVOCACY!IT WORKS
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