Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Let Me Have It. I Am a Bicyclist

Well Hell, ole bicycle billy did ASK!

Just a few thoughts. I recently returned from a 3k mile roadtrip through Nv., Id. and Mt. and passed many bicyclists, few of whom pissed me off. I have observed over many years as a hiker, runner, biker and paddler that people on/in motorized conveyances have an attitude resentful of the self powered.

Jet skiers and Atv riders are worthy of a separate discussion by outdoors people.

mike r

Those guys look pizzed-some farmer must have butchered all their farm dates and made hamburger out of 'em.

There is no "the" law. Each state has different laws. Some states have laws that allow more than two abreast. I have never seen the issue of moving through together addressed legally. Even if it were illegal, I'd be inclined to do it if could do so without neglecting my duty to yield right of way.

I said earlier that I often break the law on my bike. Sometimes it's purely for selfish reasons. Sometimes it serves a greater good. I was stopped at a stop light the other day. The vehicle behind me honked. I noticed he had his right turn signal on. There was no cross traffic. I ran the red light. He honked and waved as he made his right. It worked out well for both of us.

If you are interested in looking at something, look at this. Google Pasadena Ave Metairie LA. Look at where it intersects with Metairie road. Then look across at Houma Ave. If I leave my house on Pasadena and want to take Houma because it leads me to the levee bike path, I have two choices. The legal way means I have to take a right and run down narrow congested Metairie road for several hundred yards, hit a U turn, then go back along congested Metairie road for several hundred yards before turning on Houma. Or I can do a quick sprint on Metairie Rd to the U, then when traffic clears go the wrong way on Metairie for 50 yards then turn on Houma.

If I follow the law, I am going to slow traffic considerably and expose myself to greater risks. If I break the law in the way I describe, it will not negatively affect anyone and I won't delay a soul for a second. I will be exposed to lesser risk. What do you think I should do? What do you think most motorists would want me to do?

To say they seldom obey traffic laws is being way too generous. They have a total disdain for traffic lights, stop signs, and even which side of the road they should be on. Turn signals are a mystery to them too, but then again, they are a mystery to most car drivers too.

I had never considered the 365 weather aspect of it. That surely contributes to the numbers.

In all 50 states, people on bikes are required to follow the same laws as other drivers.

Here are a few key principles that underpin all US traffic laws:

First Come, First Served
Everyone on the road is entitled to the lane width they need. This includes the space behind, to each side and the space in front. If you want to use someone else’s space you must yield to whoever is using it.

Ride on the Right
In the United States, everyone must drive on the right-hand side of the roadway.

Yielding to Crossing Traffic
When you come to an intersection, if you don’t have the right of way, you must yield.

Yielding when Changing Lanes
If you want to change lanes, you must yield to traffic that is in your new lane of travel.

Speed Positioning
The slowest vehicles on the road should be the furthest to the right. Where you position yourself on the road depends on the location of any parked cars, your speed, and your destination. Always pass on the left.

Lane Positioning
Bikes can share the same lane with other drivers. If a lane is wide enough to share with another vehicle (about 14 feet), ride three feet to the right of traffic. If the lane is not wide enough to share, “take the lane” by riding in the middle.

Intersection positioning
When there is a lane that is used for more than one direction, use the rightmost lane going in the direction you are traveling.

Follow all street signs, signals, and markings

http://bikeleague.org/content/traffic-laws

Don't blame me, I didn't write it................

I am a motor boater and a kayaker. Kayaks are to motor boaters as bicycles are to motorists.

That's not exactly right there Paul, the UN-powered vessel HAS the right-of-way.............

With all that lawlessness and reckless abandon, you'd think that bicycling deaths would be more common than they are. As it stands the numbers aren't much higher than accidental gun deaths. I suspect that the riders are more in tune to their surroundings than many realize. Do you unfailingly obey every traffic law?

Can you cite the navigation rule that sets that forth?

This is true but I believe I must be invisible when in a kayak, or just a slow moving target.


mike r

So far in this conversation, I don't think any of that has been the source of disagreement.

I thought the same thing. Pretty stupid!

Jerry

I have seen that before. In motorcycle speak I suspect it was target fixation. The rider looked at what he wanted to avoid rather than where he wanted to go. The bike follows the eyes.

I'm planning to get back on my bicycles after a decade of not riding. Motorists playing with their cell phones has scared me off from riding the road bike so I'll ride the mountain bike on some dirt back roads and two tracks.

I've seen bad manners from cyclists and from motorists.

The difference is a motorist with poor road manners can and has killed cyclists while cyclists can only irritate you.

I bike home from work. At least half the route is within a big greenway near the Salt River. It's one of the great blessings in my life. Dunno if I'm supposed to get spandex or not, but seeing as I've made due with regular shorts for about 45 years now, spandex is probably not on my shopping list.

As far as cardio goes, it's a whole lot kinder than running. And in the summer, biking is cooler than walking.

Follow the law and I'm ok with it. Bunch up and stop traffic and I'd just as soon see your ass run over.

Actually I have been held up quite a bit of time multiple times, but maybe it just me being too careful, as I would really hate to run over somebody no matter how inconsiderate he/she is. The slow downs are especially long on a local road that leads down to the nearby lake. The road is curvy and hilly with no shoulders and is frequented by cars pulling boats. Often there will be quite a backup as some of these cars with heavy boats cannot safely pass thus traffic backs up considerably. I would say 10 -30 minutes isn't uncommon. I know a lady that lives down that way and she leaves for work on 2nd shift an hour earlier than she would normally as this is becoming a popular spot with the local bikers. Think of that she is giving up 5 hours a week because of folks like you.

Also thank you for your response. regarding the sidewalk. I ask it often and always get some BS anecdotal reference that its too dangerous. Talk about screwed up logic a collision between a 220 lb bike and rider and a 175 lb person is too dangerous but a collision between a 3500 lb block of steel and the same 220 lb bike and rider at much greater speed is OK. Isn't what you are really saying is I don't want to have to maybe slow down and be inconvenienced by watching for pedestrians, Id much rather inconvenience everyone else so I can do what I want. Thats what I hear you saying , and frankly i consider you on the same level as the transexuals wanting to use the other sexes bathroom or any other special interest groups wanting special treatment at everyone else's expense.
If the bikers want some place to ride why don't you lobby for a law that requires adequate bike lanes be added or built to hwys and figure out some way to finance it thru taxes. I put forth the excise tax on firearms and ammo and hunting and fishing license fees as good examples. Put a tax on your equipment and require licenses for the roadway and use the money to build places to ride.
I also applaude the thought mentioned that all bikes should meet the insurance and safety requirements , (lights, turn signals brake lights etc.) requirements the same as autos on the road. Sorry Bud but your wrong and you know it and no matter how trite your answers and justification is its BS.

I'm a little late to this but fu ck anyone riding a bike in the middle of the road. Thanks that is all