Bicycle question

[sseelhoff]

While I agree with most of your comments I take exception to your comment abut maintaining your line on the edge of the road. I don't know what your roads are like in Texas but in Michigan we have potholes on the edge of the road that make it possible to ride the "fog line" so I will ride just to the left of it until I hear a car coming and then move over as it approaches. The reason for this is that there are new studies showing that if you "ride the line" most car drivers assume you can stay on it and will never slow down and move around you (as they are required to do by law) rather they will maintain their speed and split the lane inches away from you. One false move on your part and you are dead.
I got hit by a little old lady who clipped me with the mirror, apparently because I was so far to the right I was out of her deteriorated peripheral vision.

Obviously, if the pavement is not there (due to potholes), you can't maintain the line. That seems pretty clear. I understand why you can't, and that's why I bolded, underlined and italicized the work practicable. Sometimes debris, road conditions, obstacles, etc... just don't permit it. I think we actually agree.

I know the study you are talking about-it was done by British scientists, if I recall. I still think it's better to wear bright clothing, and stay out of the way. And always wear a helmet.

 

[Sigarms]

How am I wrong? I follow the law and move over when a car approaches what am I doing wrong?

You're doing nothing wrong. My point was that you're doing everything I did when I rode.

That was supposed to be a funny comment

 

[Sigarms]

When I ride group rides, we are all on constant watch for traffic. When a car approaches from behind, we all start shouting "car back" so everyone is aware, and make every effort to get into a single file line, and yell at those haning out to get their asses over to the side. When we get to an intersection, we always a) stop, and b) let motorists get by before resuming our ride.

You know what? If any effort was made that I could observe by a "group" of riders, I wouldn't even get upset if I couldn't pass. The fact is I know that they knew I was behind them and was, in my opinion, showing me the respect of at least trying to let me pass them. Needless to say, on Saturday mornings when I go for the paper and I get behind 15 or more riders on the daily Saturday road ride, from what I can observe, they make no attempt at all to let me pass them, and believe me, I'm looking.

Perhaps this is a larger issue of mine per a rule my father taught me, "to get respect you have to give respect".

 

[sseelhoff]

Sounds like you have fallen in behind the wrong group of riders. if you get stuck behind my crowd, you won't get stuck for long-we go out of our way to get out of your way.

But I know that's not always the case, because I have seen the idiots you are complaining about.

 

[turbo36]

You're doing nothing wrong. My point was that you're doing everything I did when I rode.

That was supposed to be a funny comment

Oh, I'm sick as a dog right now so I'm a little slow to get things.

 

[davitk]

I was riding with a friend in his car one day when he encountered a bicycle that would always ride the middle of the road. My friend cured him of this with no damage done. He got up to about 50 mph, got close behind him, and absolutely locked up the brakes, screeching and swerving to a stop. This guy had no clue what was going on and swerved almost into the ditch. My buddy stopped and told him that next time his bike is in the middle of the road, he may not be able to stop his car in time. I never saw the bike in the middle of the road again.

I know I shouldn't but I'se just gotta try this sometime

 

[Wayne County Hose]

"Kids who hunt, trap, and fish don't mug little old ladies or do drugs" This is probably true unless she was riding a bike!

Ahhhhh, some of you bikers need to put the seat back on. You might not be so uptight.

 

[turbo36]

Obviously, if the pavement is not there (due to potholes), you can't maintain the line. That seems pretty clear. I understand why you can't, and that's why I bolded, underlined and italicized the work practicable. Sometimes debris, road conditions, obstacles, etc... just don't permit it. I think we actually agree.

I know the study you are talking about-it was done by British scientists, if I recall. I still think it's better to wear bright clothing, and stay out of the way. And always wear a helmet.

You are right, but most people think practicable is the same as possible but there is a big difference as you know.

I used too ride in a weekly race series that was held on a local 2 mile long sportscar track, it's quite something to be riding 25-30 MPH in a group of 200 bikes just inches off the wheel in front.

 

[Bird]

I've never worn any spandex, but I did have some clips to put on my pants leg to keep that chain from grabbing it. Does that count?

 

[turbo36]

I've never worn any spandex, but I did have some clips to put on my pants leg to keep that chain from grabbing it. Does that count?

I'll send you some, what size?

 

[Bird]

I remember the case. She was convicted and disbarred. She was also a law professor at SMU and stripped of her tenure.

Ah, yes, that was the one.

 

[Bird]

I'll send you some, what size?

It's been so many years ago that I didn't even know they made different sizes. I'd be inclined to think now that you'd pulll the pants leg tight and just clip it with something similar to a paperclip???? But the kind I had years ago, was simply a spring type clip that went around the ankle or leg.

 

[turbo36]

It's been so many years ago that I didn't even know they made different sizes. I'd be inclined to think now that you'd pulll the pants leg tight and just clip it with something similar to a paperclip???? But the kind I had years ago, was simply a spring type clip that went around the ankle or leg.

They use fancy Velcro straps now, but the upside is you can also use them to organize your extension cords.

 

[Egon]

Bird; if you had been riding long distances for hours at a time I can assure you you would have had Spandex.

But clips do count!

 

[wushaw]

There have been several group rides in the past few years on the road I take to work, 50 - 100 riders group sizes.
I never had a problem with them, I rode for years ( mt bike) and know a little about bike edicate and how to pass even if they are taking up the whole lane.

 

[Sigarms]

There have been several group rides in the past few years on the road I take to work, 50 - 100 riders group sizes.
I never had a problem with them, I rode for years ( mt bike) and know a little about bike edicate and how to pass even if they are taking up the whole lane.

Can you let me in on the secret on how to pass the cyclists when they're taking up your whole lane, without having to go into the opposing lane to pass them, particularly when it's a no passing lane?

 

[scott_vt]

What is it with these bikers today?

Good Evenin Joe,
A few years back I put lots miles on my Cannondale
R-600 ! I never road abreast another rider for any length of time, we allways rode single file alternating the lead... fast foward to today ! What your explaining is what has happened to society as a whole in this thread, as unfortunate as it may be, no one seems to care about the concerns of others today !

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I was riding with a friend in his car one day when he encountered a bicycle that would always ride the middle of the road. My friend cured him of this with no damage done. He got up to about 50 mph, got close behind him, and absolutely locked up the brakes, screeching and swerving to a stop. This guy had no clue what was going on and swerved almost into the ditch. My buddy stopped and told him that next time his bike is in the middle of the road, he may not be able to stop his car in time. I never saw the bike in the middle of the road again.

So tell us exactly how this gentleman harmed you so that you feel justified in having attacked him?

 

[quicksandfarmer]

As a cyclist, let me let you in on a little secret. The folks most critical of the road hogging cyclists are actually other cyclists.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner. Couldn't agree more, brother.

The rules of the road are this (Per Texas Transportation Code): A bicycle is a vehicle, and is permitted to operate on the public roadways, unless specifically excluded (i.e. highways). A bicycle is, however, required to operate as far to the right as practicable, and cannot operate in such a manner as to impede other traffic lawfully on the roadway, get your *** out fo the way. Most states prohibit more than two bicycles riding abreast at any time.

I have to quibble with you here though. There is no requirement not to impede other traffic and the keep-right requirement is pretty narrowly defined. Here's what the code actually says:

Sec. 551.103. Operation on Roadway.

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person operating a bicycle on a roadway who is moving slower than the other traffic on the roadway shall ride as near as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway, unless:

(1) the person is passing another vehicle moving in the same direction;

(2) the person is preparing to turn left at an intersection or onto a private road or driveway; or

(3) a condition on or of the roadway, including a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, pedestrian, animal, or surface hazard prevents the person from safely riding next to the right curb or edge of the roadway.

(4) the person is operating a bicycle in an outside lane that is:
(A) less than 14 feet in width and does not have a designated bicycle lane adjacent to that lane; or
(B) too narrow for a bicycle and a motor vehicle to safely travel side by side.


(b) A person operating a bicycle on a one-way roadway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near as practicable to the left curb or edge of the roadway.

(c) Persons operating bicycles on a roadway may ride two abreast. Persons riding two abreast on a laned roadway shall ride in a single lane. Persons riding two abreast may not impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic on the roadway. Persons may not ride more than two abreast unless they are riding on a part of a roadway set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles

So the restriction on impeding traffic only applies when riding two abreast. As to keeping right, as long as you are in the right lane you only have to keep right if the lane is more than 14 feet wide -- which is a huge lane.

I'm not advocating impeding traffic unnecessarily, or riding further left than necessary, just pointing out that the law is much more cyclist-friendly than most people would imagine. This code is actually pretty typical, a lot of the language comes from the Uniform Vehicle Code.