Looks like I was right; a Bike Pittsburgh representative was on KDKA this morning stating bicycle riders are required to adhere to traffic laws. If motor vehicles and bike riders follow the laws and respect each other, we will all be much safer. I would like to see it mandatory to see bike riders wear safety equipment, allows drivers see them and in case they fall off. No bike riding in the middle of the lane and dont sneak up on a vehicle just as its turning right. Hard to stay 4 ft from the rider if the rider closes distance on the vehicle.
Dave makes a good point. Everyone knows this is a law that cannot be enforced (same as the cell phone texting law). Please explain to me how a vehicle is going to keep a 4' distance with a bicycle rider when the bicycle rider does not have a designated lane (other the bike lane). More often than not, bicycle riders ride in the middle of a lane. The law should require bike riders to stay to the far right, no weaving in and out of traffic, stop for stop signs and red lights, etc. Bicycle riders have to have some responsibility when riding on roads. Heck, lets go all the way, bring back horse and buggies on the road - they have the same rights to vehicles & bicycles right?
Paproy: This is your mistake - the debate is not about vehicles and how terrible emissions are; its not how eco a bicycle is and that operating a vehicle is a privelage. These are facts we already know and its an old story, a weak defense. Come up with something that would stick. Stop focusing on motor vehicles. The debate here is bicylces and safety! How can motor vehicles share the road with bicycles in todays world and be safe. Its more than painting bicycles on the road and expect motor vehicles to bow down to the ole mighty bicycle. Click your heals, your in Kanasa. I wish I could give a bicycle rider more than 4 feet for safety reasons. Bottom line the bicycle rider is like the car going 50 mph on the highway; you are hindering traffic and a safety issue. When I ride my motorcycle, all the vehicles around me are bigger and it will hurt much more if they hit me. Traffic laws are enforceable to a motor vehicle, they are not to a bicycle rider. Bike riders need to follow traffic laws as well. If you can, then thats a start. I want my car covered if a bicycle rider hits me or if they hit a pedestrian crossing the street. Safety should be the point of your message. Like I said, vehicles don't want to share the road with motorcycles, bicycles will get less love. Sorry for the bad news. You know, we have side streets that work just as well.
Paproy: is that your best defense? Your reference appear to be Myths based on bogus data from tree huggers in Seatlle that want you to drive a Prius. You didnt provide comment on the insurance or a license? A bicycle wants to share the road, they must follow traffic laws, make insurance and safety equipment mandatory. I wear a safety equipment all the time riding my motorcycle to help save my life against vehicles that wont share the road with me. Bicycle rider should do the same, atleast for themselves. As a motorcycle rider I understand a bicycle rider wants to share the road. Until motorcycle riders are given fair share of the roadways, bicycle riders have to wait their turn. Besides busy downtown roads are not big enough for cars, trucks, motorcycles, buses, delivery trucks and then you want to add bike lanes? Sorry, just not enough room.
With all due respect to bicycle riders, do you think you diserve any road respect? Motor vehicles have very little for motorcycles so how does a bicycle fit in? A motor vehicle pays road fees such as registration and inspections, a bicycle does not. Motor vehicles have safety equipment, a bicycle rider in most cases does not. A state license fee is required for a driver of a vehicle, a bicycle rider does not. A motor vehicle is required to obtain insurance, a bicycle is not. A bicycle rider does not adhere to traffic laws such as red lights, stop signs, one way, etc. Bicycle riders need to register the bicycle, get it inspected, obtain a license and insurance, and adhere to traffic laws. Until then, bicycles need to stay off the roads and leave them to those paying for using them.
Recent Comments