bikes

[CaptainMikey]

What is your opinions on bicyclists using the road?
Should they abide by the same traffic laws that we do in a vehicle?
Should they start being ticked and fined for not following these rules?
And should they require a special license.

WHat sparked this is that localy a person was struck by a car. And alot of people started chiming in on those questions above.

The way i see it is that if you run a red light on a bike and I hit you I hope you have a good laywer.

Going to work today I saw a bike rider just blow through an intercection without stopping and obeying the laws of the signal.

Also has anyone seen the rise of red light runners in the past few months. Today alone i saw 23 people just make a left turn on red because they wanted to. SOmeday someone is going to come flying over a hill and splat. The lesson why not to run red lights is learned.

IF there is allready a thread on this please direct me to it.

[Halligan84]

I don't have a problem with following the rules of the road, I try to behave like a car. In my opinion it is easier for cars to figure out what I'm going to do. I will cut around and sometimes through a red light when safe to do so to get myself out of traffic and in my opinion make it a little easier for everyone. I ride alot on congested roads and haven't had any issues. As far as a special license, no I don't think we need more government intervention.

[DaSharkie]

I love riding, I follow the rules. Unfortunately many riders do not. If you ride in the street, you must follow traffic rules as if you were a car or truck (not that many drivers follow the rules either.)

Thus, other than riding to school on some days, I restrict my riding to weaving around rocks and trees at high velocity while bouncing through the air.

[JackTee09]

I fall off bikes into traffic - thus I feel as though one should walk, run, or drive.:D

[LeuitEFDems]

Originally posted by CaptainMikey
What is your opinions on bicyclists using the road?
I don't mind them as long as they are single file (if multiple riders)and don't ride in the center of the road with vehicles approaching.
Should they abide by the same traffic laws that we do in a vehicle?
Most definately...I believe (have to check the drivers manual, etc) that it is state law here in MA that bicyclists must obey all traffic laws..imcluding stoplights, signs, crosswalks.
Should they start being ticked and fined for not following these rules?
Yes. If they are using the roads, they should be held to the same standard as motorized vehicles...including fines, tickets. I know a few of the officers here have issued tickets to bicyclists for blatant disregard to the rules of the road.
I have had serval incidents over the years with bicyclists not yeilding for emergency vehicles, running red lights in front of us (we had the green, had L&S on).
I know this may sound harsh...I ride my bike quite frequently and obey ALL traffic laws and I am courteous to the "motorized folk" by moving as far over to the right as I can.

[Farmun]

This is kind of a sore issue for me since we have a ton of bicyclists around here in central KY...

I don't think bicyclists should be allowed on the road unless there is a dedicated bicycle lane on the road. The reason I say this is that they travel SO much slower than normal traffic and create a dangerous situation for the riders and the drivers alike. The roads around here are narrow enough that to pass a cyclist you must move far into the opposing lane. There are laws against cars driving more than 20mph below the speed limit due to the obvious hazards and bicyclists should be included.

That being said I do ride motorcycles and have ridden bicycles on the road. I feel strongly that the most dangerous position you can be in on a public road is on the seat of a bicycle.

[PattyV]

Over here a bicycle is considered a vehicle and you have to obey the road rules. I once almost got booked for speeding on my bike :D I was doing 73km/h in a 50 zone. The cop just told me not to do it again and let me off with a warning.
Also on footpaths, if someone is coing the other way, you have to go to the left of them.
We dont have a license system, but i personally think that you should have to have one to go onto any main roads. Council roads i suppose you cant enforce cause that would be kids riding their bikes around the neighbourhood. But they should have to do a similar test to what motorists have to do to receive their learner licenses.

[adamkhalil]

I bike alot -- and i admit at stop signs and red lights if i'm going right i kind of just....go, but i stay in the shoulder and make sure you know, no traffic's coming or that anyone who sees me doesn't think i'm coming into their lane and swerve or anything. I don't see the big deal really of bikers. Most of them ride on the shoulder and just go to near the yellow line and your fine. I alays see people nearly swerve into the other lane for bikers/runners but that is just dumb.