HB 91-- A bad Bicycling Bill

Blue in Red Zion has pointed out a bill being run by Representative Carol Spackman-Moss that "allows bicycle riders the right to blow through intersections when no other cars are there. No having to legally wait for the light to change in a downtown commute, no need to stop in a residential area with a stop sign, no riders can simply keep on riding, provided it is safe for them to do so."

I used to ride my bike a lot. Anyone who has seen my calves can attest to that. However, anyone who has seen the rest of me can probably guess that I haven't been on a bike much since getting home from my mission a decade ago. My parents and I have been involved in the local cycling community in varying degrees since the late 80's.

I think this is a bad bill for many reasons. I feel that one of the problems cyclists face today is that they don't get any respect from drivers, compounded by the fact that they many in their ranks don't respect the laws that are out there. How many times have I seen a cyclist just about get themselves killed blowing through a stop sign or a red light. Now, having times that they are allowed to is just foolhardy. Even fewer cycling laws will be enforced.

You see, in Utah, a bicycle is a vehicle, and has the right to be on the road (at least in the right half of the right-most lane of traffic) with a few exceptions (freeways when there is an alternate road, some local restrictions). With that right, bicyclists have to obey the same laws as everyone who drives a car. Yes, I have heard of cyclists getting cited for speeding and running stop signs.

So, creating a special set of rules for cyclists is a dangerous path to go down.

-Bob

Cyclists ticketed for running stop signs-- HORAY!

My family has been involved in the local cycling community for many, many years. In my younger days, I rode in some of the big rides, before they were popular. And, over the past 15 years, I have volunteered to provide support for many, many rides.

Both while helping on those rides, and at other times, I have seen several cyclists nearly miss getting injured while running through a stop sign. I have also seen the many news stories here locally where someone was seriously injured or killed while disobeying the rules of the road while on their bike.

As a pedestrian, I have been hit by cyclists twice in the past year. One ran a red light (at the intersection of Main and South Temple, one of the only roads cyclists aren't allowed on) and by a cyclist riding on the left-hand sidewalk (two laws violated) on 400 South. Both cyclists tried to argue with me, like I was an idiot. In the second instance, a police officer saw us arguing and stopped. While he took my side, he didn't issue a ticket.

I've seen this cyclist riding the same way numerous times (without a helmet, which makes it even more stupid), and I've seen her almost get hit again. The mean part of me wants to see her learn her lesson.

So, I was excited to see this story from the Washington Post:

More than 700 cyclists were on the roads of Loudoun County over the weekend, some pedaling up to 150 miles, trying to raise money for a debilitating disease, multiple sclerosis.

But as they made their way Sunday in the untimed event, several rolled into an obstacle few foresaw: the long arm of the law.

According to cyclists and Loudoun authorities, several cyclists failed to come to complete stops at some intersections, and a county sheriff's deputy was waiting to pounce. Eight cyclists were ticketed for running stop signs that day in the Lovettsville and Purcellville areas, authorities said.

I wish this would happen more often.

-Bob

From The SideTrack

Share the Road -- it's the law

Misty over at Saintless shares the following story:

I had just dropped my oldest son off at his day care, and was taking my younger son over to his, when I was stopped at a traffic light. I watched in horror as a small sedan made a left turn at the light and ran over a bicyclist. The bike was in pieces, and the cyclist was laying in a very unnatural position. I can’t remember feeling such horror in my life as I did right then.

I see people all the time doing careless and dangerous things when behind the wheel. Someone in a hurry speeds up to make their turn in front of oncoming traffic, doesn’t stop for the pedestrian who was already crossing the road, sends text messages while driving, the list goes onl.

[...]

I hear people bitching about cyclists, grumpy that they have to share the road with them, especially with all the new bike lanes in Salt Lake. It really makes me mad when I hear this, because those people on bikes have every right to be there.

It also makes me mad when I see cyclists doing stupid things, and give other people any reason to bitch about sharing the road. When a cyclist doesn’t wait for a light, runs a stop sign, uses a pedestrian walkway to avoid obeying the rules of the road, or anything else like that, they make me mad, too. The rules are there for safety, and a cyclist has to obey them, too. (The cyclist this morning was obeying those rules, btw).

While it has been years since I personally have been on a bike, mt family is big into cycling. We have many many friends who are cyclists, so I take bicycle safety seriously.

Also, as a pedestrian, I have almost been hit multiple times. I even almost got hit by a Sheriff's deputy while in a crosswalk once. I'm sure he didn't see me, what with my bright yellow jacket I had on. And I'm such a small person.

Keep your eyes peeled. Please don't hit me. I'd like to live.

-Bob