Do Cylists irritate Motorists & Vice Versa?

[Geonz]

In my effective cycling class our instructor noted that a cop told him it amazed him... bike riders are rather rare in that they;'re likely to say "I wish laws would be enforced more strictly on cyclists!" How many truckers or motorcycle riders would feel that way about their respective fellow travelers?

[MomOnBike]

bike riders are rather rare in that they;'re likely to say "I wish laws would be enforced more strictly on cyclists!"

I've thought that off and on for years. It's a matter of legitimacy. I wonder if bikes would be considered as a legitimate vehicle with rights and responsibilities if we were really treated like a vehicle by law enforcement. (If I ever got a speeding ticket on a bike, I'd frame that puppy.)

We'll probably never find out, though...

[Grog]

I've thought that off and on for years. It's a matter of legitimacy. I wonder if bikes would be considered as a legitimate vehicle with rights and responsibilities if we were really treated like a vehicle by law enforcement. (If I ever got a speeding ticket on a bike, I'd frame that puppy.)

If you have a police officer point a radar at you, you'll have great grounds for a complaint!!! These things are meant to be directed to cars, not humans.

[Geonz]

I don't think so. It's being pointed at a *vehicle* - a bicycle. Violating the speed limit is violating the speed limit. If you want to be treated as a vehicle, then you don't want to make a complaint when it actually happens. (I'd still frame it :-))

[Grog]

I don't think so. It's being pointed at a *vehicle* - a bicycle. Violating the speed limit is violating the speed limit. (I'd still frame it :-))

What I mean is that the thing can be harmful to humans (wheras they are not to cars and to humans sheltered in cars).

The appropriate way to find out whether a bike is violating the speed limit is to have it followed by a police car/bike (who can then evaluate the speed) or to ticket it for "excessive speed" if it can be determined by plain eyesight. Not sure about the law in the various US states but there is usually a general clause to ticket speeding vehicles even if their speed is not determined precisely.

[Geonz]

Really? The windshield...? what about the ossifer handling the implement? (something I've just never considered)

[Dianyla]

I think a policeman would have a hard time measuring your speed with a radar gun anyway, from what I understand they usually need a good flat reflective surface to bounce the signal back. Usually they aim at the license plate of the car. (Which is why you see a lot of tinted bubble-shaped license plate covers for sale.)

[Grog]

Really? The windshield...? what about the ossifer handling the implement? (something I've just never considered)

I imagine you mean "officer" (having found not definition for ossifer in google!).

Where I'm from there was at some point a concern that radar guns were causing testicular cancer in male police officers. In that same place, I have always seen the officers sitting in their cars to do the radar thing. Here in BC they are always standing outside of their car. Maybe there's a connection.

Anyway I have no idea what happened with their concern...

If anyone has info please let us know!

[ladyjai]

What I mean is that the thing can be harmful to humans (wheras they are not to cars and to humans sheltered in cars).

lovely... Almost every cop I pass who's out to catch speeders, points at me with his radar gun. Maybe they were acting silly and not actually firing it?

[Deanna]

I don't think they're harmful enough to passing humans for you to worry about it. They have been used for years to time baseball pitches and tennis hits.