Are you sick and tired, as I am, of seeing bicyclists constantly violating the California Vehicle Code and having our somniac, apparently vision-impaired law enforcement officers doing NOTHING about it even though the violations happen right under their noses?
Now Sunnyvale has stupidly passed an ordinance that virtually puts all the responsibility for the safety of these errant cyclists on the motorists. Idiocy!
I cannot drive two blocks anymore without seeing bicyclists failing to stop for red lights or stop signs, riding on the wrong side of the road, riding on the sidewalks, cutting in and out of traffic, making improper turns without signalling, riding at night without lights, riding (not walking their bikes) in pedestrian crosswalks and more.
In fact, during the newscast announcing Sunnyvale's loss of sanity on TV, a bicyclist was seen riding on the wrong side of the street right behind the reporter! And I'm not necessarily talking about juveniles. A large portion of these riders have grey hair! Also, some of the worst are what appear to be veteran riders with the tight shorts, colorful club jerseys, and helmets.
It seems that almost all of the cycling population, as well as our law enforcement officers, are totally ignorant of the fact that there is a large section of the California Vehicle Code that is dedicated entirely to the regulation and proper operation of bicycles on our roads.
Basically what it says is that bicycles are to be subject to the same rules of safety and proper operation as automobiles. I am also assuming that, because of the existence of this section, it is assumed that law enforcement officers are bound to uphold it, something that is NOT happening.
If I, with my automobile, violated as many of these laws in a day as I see cyclists do, I would lose my driving privileges for a very long time. Yet, for some unknown reason, cyclists put themselves and motorists in positions of jeopardy and danger almost on a minute-to-minute basis and get a free pass!
I am not a stranger to bicycling. I rode for many years, even riding my bike to work on a daily basis for a period of time until a health issue caused me to stop riding. Now my transportation is primarily by automobile but, all to frequently, I have close encounters with bicyclists because of their irresponsible actions named above.
And I implore the police to possibly save some lives by doing ALL of their sworn duty and citing dangerous bicycle operation with as much vigor as they do errant motorists. After all, isn't their job to enforce ALL the laws, not just the ones that they choose, which seems to be their present mode?
While all this is very critical of bicyclists, it is not intended to let the motorists off the hook. I see drivers do some very stupid things, not only around bicycles but also around other motorists. We all have to share the same roads so let's try to make it better and safer for everyone but obeying the rules.
I have friends who are avid bicyclists. They enjoy the bicycling clubs, seeing new parts of the state and country, the health benefits (folks in their 50's -70's are riding the damn things) and so on. One time I asked a close bicycling enthusiast friend if she ever had trouble on the road with "road-rage" motorists. Gratefully, her answer was "no." However, she said that she and her fellow riders do tend to get nervous when passing or being passed by old beat up pick-up trucks on country roads. My two cents. ;-)
Developing populations like those in China and India are following us in our skid marks... I agree with Carol that cars (especially at higher speeds) and bikes don't mix and the bicyclist nearly always pays the higher price. Dedicated bike lanes are ideal - but they require the political will and space needed to construct. I lived in Seattle for several years near the University of Washington. A decade or so before my time there, urban planners and government representatives had turned an unused railroad track into a major dedicated bike and pedestrian trail which 1000's of commuters used everyday. I got my first trail bike and never owned a car there. Try that at UCLA. Berkeley - Albany has a very nice dedicated path that follows the elevated BART tracks in that area. My understanding is that parts of East Oakland and San Leandro are following suit.
...and especially watch out for this Bay Area mom making news today. :) http://www.baycitizen.org/bikes/story/bike-commuting-passengers/?utm_source=Newsletters&utm_campaign=df44582b1d-August_22_Daily_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&mc_cid=df44582b1d&mc_eid=bc4f1c7480
The first abandoned rail corridor in the United States converted into a recreational trail was the Elroy-Sparta State Trail in Wisconsin, which opened in 1965. Perhaps in another 20-50 years, the state will catch up to other progressive issues like school vouchers (established in Wisconsin, and the Euro socialist state of Holland), privatized social security (Sweden) etc.
Of course, until our vehicle codes acknowledges the differences between bicycles and automobiles, both are required to follow the same rules. In the meantime, when parallel parking on the street, please take a quick glance back for approaching bicyclists prior to opening your car's door.
1 Minneapolis 26 Boston 2 Portland, OR 27 Philadelphia 3 Boulder, CO 28 Pittsburgh 4 Seattle 29 Charleston, SC 5 Eugene, OR 30 Arlington, VA 6 San Francisco 31 Sioux Falls, SD 7 Madison, WI 32 Boise, ID 8 New York City 33 Kansas City, MO 9 Tucson, AZ 34 Columbus, OH 10 Chicago 35 Tulsa, OK 11 Austin, TX 36 Grand Rapids, MI 12 Denver 37 Billings, MT 13 Washington, DC 38 St. Louis 14 Ann Arbor, MI 39 Cleveland 15 Phoenix/Tempe, AZ 40 Greensboro, NC 16 Gainesville, FL 41 Lexington/Fayette, KY 17 Albuquerque, NM 42 Omaha, NE 18 Colorado Springs, CO 43 Salt Lake City 19 Salem, OR 44 Miami 20 Scottsdale, AZ 45 Indianapolis 21 Louisville, KY 46 Fargo, ND 22 Chattanooga, TN 47 Anchorage, AK 23 Long Beach, CA 48 Baltimore 24 Cary, NC 49 Little Rock, AR 25 Milwaukee 50 Rochester, NY Lots of lists out there and the order shouldn't be written in stone. This one was published by Bicyling Magazine in 2011. http://www.bicycling.com/news/featured-stories/bicyclings-top-50
However, bikes should NOT stop at all stop signs. Slow down, and proceed carefully, but they should NOT entirely stop. There is a huge difference in slowing to less than 5 mph, and stopping to a dead halt, requiring a rider to unclip his pedals and start from zero, especially on hills. If you don't care to understand that, then I don't care what you think about me NOT slowing to zero mph at stop "signs". Stop Lights are different. Tired of drivers who know so little about biking, such that they are alway moaning and groaning. You need to get out a little bit and ride a bike in the real world.
Why do Patch commenters have such a hard time staying on the subject?
I don't care what you say or what law is passed, I won't come to zero mph. It is idiotic, especially when we're talking about residential areas and less traveled intersections. Many of us who ride with clip-in pedals are NOT going to come to a complete halt and put our feet down just to make you feel good about the vehicle code. In that instance, cars and bikes are different. No skin off your rear if someone only slows to walking speed. Or do you want pedestrians to come to a halt before they can step off a curb at a intersection where there is a stop sign?
As for me, I refuse to continue wasting my time replying to comments that seem to have little thought behind them or incomplete comprehension of what I wrote. This will be my last comment on the subject. Good day!
In my opinion, the police are exercising good judgment when they ignore de minimis violations that pose no hazard. Rolling stops are common for cars as well as bikes, but the consequences of being hit by a car, as many cyclists can attest, are enormous. In contrast, flying through a crowded intersection, even on a bike, can be deadly for pedestrians and deserves strict enforcement. Thank goodness police are exercising a little common sense. Now if the rest of us could exercise a little more common courtesy while on the roads, we all would be better for it.
It clear to see that you are fixated on all the evils of bike riders. How often are drivers or even pedestrians killed by bike riders? Very seldom. Now look at the number of cyclists killed by errant car drivers. I'm guessing the ratio is over 100 to 1 with cars being the real danger. Yet you keep your focus on the bike rider. Sounds like you need some perspective. Study the data. Bad bike riders are normally only a danger to themselves.
Yesterday I see some woman picking a teenie tiny piece of spinach out of her teeth in the rear view mirror. When that happened I stuck my head out of my car window and I say to her "Hey, Princess 580 Interstate, what are your trying to do, make me sick or something?
You know, they don't have to do that for you. If you are stuck behind them, that is your problem. Again, most riders make way for cars to pass, but it is not required of them to do so as long as they stay in their own lane. They certainly don't have to ride 6 inches from the dirt and through glass and other objects on the side of the road. If there is a white line on the right hand side of the road, they do NOT have to stay to the right of that line. Their first priority is to stay alive, not to make your journey faster.
http://www.sanleandro.org/depts/transit/bicycle.asp Personally, one of my biggest concerns is how many parents and grandparents I see riding with kids and no one's wearing a helmet. People - keep your kids safe! And be a good example! -- Naomi Armenta, BPAC Chair
I vote for the system that I saw in Germany in the 80s: very wide sidewalks with a pedestrian icon in one portion and a bicycle icon in the other; pedestrians were free to walk in the bike lane until hearing a bell. Everyone knew this system. It makes much more sense for walkers/cyclists to share a space, and leave the roadways to cars. Until something like that happens, I think the onus is on the motor vehicle operators to exercise care and compassion for people with no hard shell to protect them.
No, I don't ALWAYS come to a full and complete stop at every sign, but I will never ever assume or demand to be given the right-of-way, when it would not be mine if I were in a car. The point is that people often are not able to see cyclists and it is the responsibility of the cyclist to keep that in mind. Personally, I would find NO satisfaction or comfort in the knowledge that the person driving the car that maimed me should have seen me and anticipated my moves. Where is your sense of self-preservation, people????