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Off Topic: Cyclists Rights

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      CommentAuthorVelo Cult
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2009
     
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      CommentAuthordanarel
    • CommentTimeMay 16th 2009
     
    we really need to send things like this to the city. if we all work together, they will take notice.
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      CommentAuthorSigurd
    • CommentTimeMay 16th 2009
     
    If one reads the full text of the bill, there are some additional interesting details in it relevant to bicyclists, notably the numerous exceptions to the general rule that bikes should stay to the right:

    A BICYCLIST MAY USE A LANE OTHER THAN THE RIGHT-HAND LANE WHEN:
    (A) PREPARING FOR A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION OR INTO A PRIVATE ROADWAY OR DRIVEWAY;
    (B) OVERTAKING A SLOWER VEHICLE; OR
    (C) TAKING REASONABLY NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID HAZARDS OR ROAD CONDITIONS.
    (III) UPON APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WHERE RIGHT TURNS ARE PERMITTED AND THERE IS A DEDICATED RIGHT-TURN LANE, A BICYCLIST MAY RIDE ON THE LEFT-HAND PORTION OF THE DEDICATED RIGHT-TURN LANE
    EVEN IF THE BICYCLIST DOES NOT INTEND TO TURN RIGHT.

    A BICYCLIST SHALL NOT BE EXPECTED OR REQUIRED TO:

    (I) RIDE OVER OR THROUGH HAZARDS AT THE EDGE OF A ROADWAY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO FIXED OR MOVING OBJECTS, PARKED OR MOVING VEHICLES, BICYCLES, PEDESTRIANS, ANIMALS, SURFACE HAZARDS, OR NARROW LANES; OR
    (II) RIDE WITHOUT A REASONABLE SAFETY MARGIN ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE ROADWAY.
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      CommentAuthoril Pirati
    • CommentTimeMay 16th 2009 edited
     
    .

    ^all of those exceptions, and more, are already part of the California vehicle code 21202
    • CommentAuthorbilld
    • CommentTimeMay 17th 2009 edited
     
    Our safe passing distance rule, C.V.C. 21750 does not specify an exact distance. It simply uses the vague term "safe distance" without defining it. Three feet would be nice. I have several times been passed so close that I can't believe I wasn't actually hit. Of course, we would need a lot of publicity about it and even then a lot of people would ignore it, and they'd have to do it in front of a cop to get nailed for it.

    I'm pretty sure that the "throwing things at cyclists" rule would fall under multiple assault rules and I bet you could even get a judge to go for the rule against throwing things at other vehicles (C.V.C. 23110). The real problem, of course, is evidence and proof, which I never seem to be able to get as they speed by. I guess I had "evidence" when I got egged last December (the egg on my jacket and the bruise on my arm) but I didn't get license plate and had no way to identify my attackers. The same goes for the water balloon throwers (who thankfully missed) the month before.

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