Question for law enforcement about bicycle rules

[Bizaro]

Originally Posted by 130R

It's a big problem in the Santa Monica Mountains of So Cal., exactly as you describe: large groups of cyclists (or even just a few), that ride in the lane at significantly slower speed than the posted limit, side-by-side, and don't get out of the way when cars come up on them.

To make matters worse, a new law went into affect this year in Ca that requires cars to give 3 feet of clearance when passing a cyclist.

In many of these canyons, there's not 3 feet to give. In fact, sometimes the white line is within inches of the hillside.

On Mulholland Hwy, the speed limit is 45 MPH, with MANY blind turns, and less than a foot to the right of the white line in many places. Imagine coming around a blind corner and finding a cyclist pedaling uphill at 3 MPH, and you can't pass (blind corner). Now you're in a car, in a blind corner, practically at a stop, just praying someone doesn't come around the corner at 35 MPH and rear-end you.

On the flip-side, you get the impatient dimwits that DO cross the double yellows, in a blind turn, to get around the cyclist. There's an ever present fear of getting in a head-on collision with someone passing a cyclist in a blind turn.

IMHO, cyclists should not be allowed on ANY public road where there isn't at least 3 feet of shoulder; for EVERYONE'S safety... ESPECIALLY when there's a law requiring you to give 3 feet... Just common sense...

commiefornia

[tw78911sc]

When I was young, I did a lot of amatuer bicycle racing and thus rode hundreds of miles a week on public roads, 3/4 the times, people are scared to pass a person riding single. It is scary as a rider too, you are far right, no where left to go and they won't come around. You can tell a pack of experienced riders verses some bone head trying to walk the dog on a leash while riding a bike and roll around them. If there is opposing traffic they won't narrow out, tap the horn.

[DP Valentino]

In California the bicyclists are annoying, and be all in the street holding back traffic. Where I'm originally from in St. Louis. Bikes are not allowed in the streets, except in bicycle lanes. Other than that they ride on the sidewalk in local neighborhoods, or parks. I hate to hit a bicyclist riding in the street thinking he has a motorcycle.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by tw78911sc

When I was young, I did a lot of amatuer bicycle racing and thus rode hundreds of miles a week on public roads, 3/4 the times, people are scared to pass a person riding single. It is scary as a rider too, you are far right, no where left to go and they won't come around. You can tell a pack of experienced riders verses some bone head trying to walk the dog on a leash while riding a bike and roll around them. If there is opposing traffic they won't narrow out, tap the horn.

Only if tapping the horn worked. I have done that and when there is just a couple riders they move over but when there is a large group I had have someone at the back of the pack turn around ang give me the finger. I guess they think when they are in a big group that they can do whatever they want.

[Dizzy82]

Only if tapping the horn worked. I have done that and when there is just a couple riders they move over but when there is a large group I had have someone at the back of the pack turn around ang give me the finger. I guess they think when they are in a big group that they can do whatever they want.

Time for the truck horn mod.

[Iron Lung Jimmy]

Originally Posted by Angrybird 12

I live in an area that has many bicycle riders. Many times I come on groups of riders sometimes with 30 or more . They will be on roads with speed limits of 30-45mph riding at less than 20mph. They will be riding 2 and 3 wide and will not get in a single file or space themselves out for cars to pass.
I want to know if they could be ticketed for impeding traffic flow for their actions. I have seen cars line up behind these riders sometimes 10 cars deep.

Also when there is a bicycle path that parallels the roadway are they required to use it instead of the road.
Thanks.

I have been on both sides of that situation many times.

No, they cannot be ticketed for impeding traffic. Or maybe I should say they will not be ticketed because even if there is some obscure wording in some local law that says they can be, they never will be.

Why do they do that? Because it is safer. It is safer to make the car get in the other lane and pass the group as if it were another (large, slow) vehicle than it is to line up and let the car pass in the same lane.

Why is that safer? Because a surprising number of people have this like "instant anger" reaction to bicycles. So if you let them pass in the same lane they tend to get way to close to show you who's boss or something. Not every car, most are nice, but enough that there is no point taking any chances. Survival instinct. Make them go around.

Now on the other side of the equation, when I am in a car I, too, hate coming up on a pack of bicycles. But I also hate to coming up on a huge tractor pulling some piece of equipment, giant RV's lumbering along sightseeing, or any other manner of road impediment.

So just understand why they are doing what they are doing, realize that it may cost you, what, a minute or two out of your day and wait to pass them safely.

A small attitude adjustment making everybody's day better.

[jrhagen]

Originally Posted by Dizzy82

Time for the truck horn mod.

Blasting your horn to startle another is an act of terrorism in all 50 states. Look it up.

[jrhagen]

Originally Posted by Iron Lung Jimmy

I have been on both sides of that situation many times.

No, they cannot be ticketed for impeding traffic. Or maybe I should say they will not be ticketed because even if there is some obscure wording in some local law that says they can be, they never will be.

Why do they do that? Because it is safer. It is safer to make the car get in the other lane and pass the group as if it were another (large, slow) vehicle than it is to line up and let the car pass in the same lane.

Why is that safer? Because a surprising number of people have this like "instant anger" reaction to bicycles. So if you let them pass in the same lane they tend to get way to close to show you who's boss or something. Not every car, most are nice, but enough that there is no point taking any chances. Survival instinct. Make them go around.

Now on the other side of the equation, when I am in a car I, too, hate coming up on a pack of bicycles. But I also hate to coming up on a huge tractor pulling some piece of equipment, giant RV's lumbering along sightseeing, or any other manner of road impediment.

So just understand why they are doing what they are doing, realize that it may cost you, what, a minute or two out of your day and wait to pass them safely.

A small attitude adjustment making everybody's day better.

+1

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by Iron Lung Jimmy

I have been on both sides of that situation many times.

No, they cannot be ticketed for impeding traffic. Or maybe I should say they will not be ticketed because even if there is some obscure wording in some local law that says they can be, they never will be.

Why do they do that? Because it is safer. It is safer to make the car get in the other lane and pass the group as if it were another (large, slow) vehicle than it is to line up and let the car pass in the same lane.

Why is that safer? Because a surprising number of people have this like "instant anger" reaction to bicycles. So if you let them pass in the same lane they tend to get way to close to show you who's boss or something. Not every car, most are nice, but enough that there is no point taking any chances. Survival instinct. Make them go around.

Now on the other side of the equation, when I am in a car I, too, hate coming up on a pack of bicycles. But I also hate to coming up on a huge tractor pulling some piece of equipment, giant RV's lumbering along sightseeing, or any other manner of road impediment.

So just understand why they are doing what they are doing, realize that it may cost you, what, a minute or two out of your day and wait to pass them safely.

A small attitude adjustment making everybody's day better.

Bikes have more choices than cars do. Many areas it is not safe to get into the other lane and pass a group of bikes spread out farther than the length of a semi too many hills and curves around here to see that far ahead. It's not Safe for the biker or the car.

[shibbs]

If bicyclists pay the taxes that I do to drive, then and only then can I take them seriously.
That being said - I'm not going to endanger their lives, but at least get the hell out of my way.

[Iron Lung Jimmy]

Originally Posted by shibbs

If bicyclists pay the taxes that I do to drive, then and only then can I take them seriously.
That being said - I'm not going to endanger their lives, but at least get the hell out of my way.

What taxes do bicyclists not pay that you do?

Keep in mind that every bicyclist in one of those groups has a vehicle (it's how they got to the meet-up point of the ride) and burned gasoline they otherwise wouldn't have had they not met up for the ride.

So I guess now you have to take them seriously.

[Muscle Car Memories]

Originally Posted by tw78911sc

When I was young, I did a lot of amatuer bicycle racing and thus rode hundreds of miles a week on public roads, 3/4 the times, people are scared to pass a person riding single. It is scary as a rider too, you are far right, no where left to go and they won't come around. You can tell a pack of experienced riders verses some bone head trying to walk the dog on a leash while riding a bike and roll around them. If there is opposing traffic they won't narrow out, tap the horn.

They should get on the sidewalk....

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by Muscle Car Memories

They should get on the sidewalk....

It's actually against the law here for bicycles to be operated on a sidewalk, anyway there are not to many sidewalks where they want to ride.

[Camaro_Corvette]

Those don't bother me as much as the ones that ride against traffic