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?