Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Bikes and the Law
Has anyone even noticed that Bikers don't mind sharing the road with cars, as long as they don't have to follow the same rules as the cars? Bikers it seems can cross an intersection if there are no cars coming, even if they are crossing against a red light. Does this bother anyone? How is it the Bikes are allowed use of the road, without having to follow its rules? Does anyone have any stories about this kind of event? I know that there have been several times when I was going to turn right at a red light, but if I had tried I would have run over a biker crossing the street against a red light. Who would have been at fault there? The biker not following any rules, or me, the person in the car? I hope I never have to find out. I believe that some of the explanation to this biker hypocrisy is due to specific laws that bikers rights that cars don't have, but still allows then the same privilege of using the road. Do you think this is the case? Have you any familiarity with any laws that might fall into this category? As part of my research I would like to discover whether or not there actually is legal impetus for people to ride their bikes. Is it just the 'go green' climate that we live in, or are there legal factors here at work? And do we even live in a 'go green' climate? Is it possible that all these people who are biking are just trying to save on gas money? Which way do you think I should investigate this topic... is the driving force behind the increase in biking legal, environmental, or economic?
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I bike and drive, so I kind of have a mixed perspective. On one hand, when I am driving I can't stand most bicyclists. You have the guys who ride their bikes as if they ARE a car. Meaning, they are in the middle of the lane, and they use their hand signals. Thing is... you are NOT as fast as a car. They are so slow. There is no reason for that. The speed limit works both ways. If you are too fast you can get a ticket, and if you are too slow you can get a ticket. I think that if it is a busy road, or a congested area, bicyclists should defer to the automobile. I mean, after all, if I am in a car I am encased in a ton of metal.... bikes are not. I think I win.
ReplyDeleteHowever, when on a bike, I wish there were more options for me. Most often, I feel like I am in the way. Or I feel like I am in danger. Boise does not have very many bike lanes. I mean, all of Federal Way has a bike lane, but as you turn on to protest to go down to BSU, the bike lane dissappears.