Bike laws

[redrhodie]

I just read the RI rules of the road for bicycles, and I'm breaking some laws! Oops. I bet a lot of you are too.

In this state, turns out every pedal must have a front and rear reflector, and it's against the law to sell a pedal without them. How many of your clipless pedals have them? Mine don't. I really can't believe my LBS is breaking the law by selling them. No wonder I had to get them after midnight in the back alley.

I'm also breaking the rear reflector law and the wheel reflector law. I hope you'll all write to me when I'm in prison.

The law also states that left turns by bicycles must be made from "as close as practicable to the right-hand curb". Well, if ticketed, I'd argue in court that that means from the middle of the left lane, as if I'm going to turn left from the right-hand curb, there's a good chance I'm ending up in the ER, which is just not practicable to me. I'm still taking the lane when I need to. That's the kind of rebel I am.

This one sounds fun--turn signals must be started 100 ft from the turn, and held the entire time through the turn, and even when stopped at a traffic signal. Ouch, my arm hurts just thinking about it. You can let go of the signal if you need to to make the turn safely.

You can't carry any bundle or package with one hand, and it's illegal to ride without at least one hand on the handlebars at all time. Yes, that does make it sound like it's illegal to ride no-hands, one of my favorite past times.

You know what's not breaking the law? Riding without a helmet. You only need to wear one until age 15 here.

Have you all read your state's bicycle laws? Are these pretty standard? How do you feel about breaking some of them, like the one that says clipless pedals are illegal?

[redrhodie]

Turns out I'd only be breaking the wheel reflector law if I ride at night, which I never do. I wonder if the reflective patch on the back of my saddle bag counts as a rear reflector? I may not be as bad as I thought I was .

[Zen]

Isn't it wonderful when those who know nothing about a subject make the laws that govern it?

I'll bring you cigarettes in prison. You can use them to barter

[Thorn]

Actually, I did read our state laws. I credit our BikeFed group for us having a rather progressive summary page on the DOT site (http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/...cle/rules.htm). Just general, basic, assertive riding information. I wish my local government would read it.....the local government wants to add "bikeways" to roads instead of paved shoulders. Bikeways, really sidewalks that are asphalt and allow bicycle traffic, are more dangerous than riding on the road when there are a lot of driveways and cross streets....grrr....

The one state law I break (besides rolling stop signs at 8-10mph on my bike if there is no auto traffic in sight...sorry...but if there are cars, people, other bikes, I stop) is the right hand turn signal. Depending upon the situation I often use the right hand straight out. In WI that is not a legal right-hand signal, but I find it more effective if the car I'm signaling is coming out on my right. But, we don't have to hold the hand signal, nor do we have to do it if conditions are not safe to release one hand from the handlebars.

[boy in a kilt]

I've read them, such as they are.

I was out after a night of carousing with my friends and passed a City Of Seattle Cop. Had the cop chosen to stop me, here would have been a list of charges:

-No helmet (violation of Seattle Health Code)
-Wearing Headphones
-Open Bottle violation (had an open beer in my water bottle cage)
-Public intoxication (it's not actually illegal to ride a bike drunk in washington although they can transport you somewhere, turn you over to a responsible person or impound your bike at no cost). I'm not sure how drunk I actually was, but I probably would've blew higher than 0.08.

The cop just waved at me as I rode by.

Basically, as long as you aren't being truly stupid and running lights in front of cops, or riding on the trail through Lake Forest Park, it's pretty hard to get cited for anything on a bike in seattle. I keep trying to get a speeding ticket but haven't been successful yet.

[Mr. Bloom]

Silver and I nearly have them memorized...it's been a hot topic over the last few weeks here...

They can be viewed online here

The only law that we neglect is the one that requires :

IC 9-21-11-8
Bell or other audible signaling devices; sirens; whistles
Sec. 8. A person may not ride a bicycle unless the bicycle is equipped with a bell or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least one hundred (100) feet. A bicycle may not be equipped with and a person may not use upon a bicycle a siren or whistle.

I actually take the law very seriously...but I believe I comply with this one by assuring that I have my larynx each time I ride...

[Beane]

The one state law I break is the right hand turn signal.

I only signal if there is someone or something who needs to see. That seems fair, no?

(besides rolling stop signs at 8-10mph on my bike if there is no auto traffic in sight...sorry...but if there are cars, people, other bikes, I stop)

FYI: my DH got pulled over for not stopping at a stop sign near campus. I'm not sure if there were cars around.. but he didn't get a ticket, just a stern warning.

I'm not surprised the RI laws are so bizarre.. Buddy and his mafiosos probably wrioe them..

..and regarding riding drunk. I did that a few weeks ago and it was scary. I think. I don't really remember that well. anyway, it would have been a lot more dangerous if it hadn't been so late that there were no cars around. I'm planning on riding drunk tonight which should be interesting given Madison's crazy halloween party and the pepper-spray happy cops that will surely be out en force

[boy in a kilt]

I've never gotten piss-drunk and ridden my bike. There comes a point when even that becomes a bad idea.

I have a basic premise that governs such things. My actions should not put someone in any danger they haven't agreed to. Once I reach a point where I can't even steer straight, it becomes a risk to others and that is where it becomes unacceptable.

[onimity]

unless the bicycle is equipped with a bell or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least one hundred (100) feet

I definitely think that the human voicebox is such a device! Cars with rolled-up windows and a stereo blasting may not hear a bike bell but they sure can hear me yelling 'HEY!' (stopped one from running into my front wheel last night.)

The laws in CO are pretty practical, probably thanks to a lot of bicycle advocacy. But you can definitely get a DUI for biking under the influence, and I know a fair number of people that have been ticketed for failing to have a front light.

Anne

[Tuckervill]

This--other than the new 3-ft passing law that I didn't copy--is the entire content of the law regarding bicycles in Arkansas: (There are many references to "motorized bicycles".)

~~~
(a) Every bicycle shall be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500") to the front and with a lamp on the rear exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet (500") to the rear.

(b) A red reflector meeting the requirements of § 27-36-215 may be used in lieu of a rear light.

27-49-111. Use of bicycles or animals.

Every person riding a bicycle or an animal, or driving any animal drawing a vehicle upon a highway, shall have all the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except those provisions of this act which by their nature can have no applicability.
~~~

All the rights and all the duties.

Karen