Neighborhoodtimes: Today's Letters: Not all bicyclists follow rules of road

I'm glad to read about the rules that bicyclists are "supposed" to follow. Most do, but in my experience the ones that ride in groups or with bicycle clubs think the road is theirs to ride three and four abreast. Even if there is a bike lane, they don't use it. I have had them yell and give me the finger when they think they aren't given enough room.

I'd get a ticket in a heartbeat if I rode my motorcycle in the incorrect way, but do the bicyclists get tickets? I think not. On Third Street S there is a bike lane, but every weekend a group of 20 to 50 bicyclists goes by at least four across and slows up traffic.

The cops can't seem to ticket people in vehicles that can't stop for the stop sign and flashing red light at 18th Avenue S and Third Street, so why would I think they'd make a group of bicyclists follow the rules of the road? It's not always the person in the motorized vehicle that is doing wrong on the road.

St. Petersburg Police Department spokesman Bill Proffitt omitted a critical element of Florida Statute 316.2065 in his piece on bicyclist safety and laws.

Bicyclists are not required to keep "as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway" when the lane is too narrow to share between a motorist and cyclist. The Florida Department of Transportation has defined such a "substandard width lane" as being less than 14 feet.

Keeping too far to the right puts cyclists at increased risk from the most common types of motorist-caused crashes: opposing left turns, overtaking right hooks and overtaking sideswipes. The statute gives wide latitude to cyclists to "avoid any condition ... that makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge," not merely the situations Proffitt described.

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Comments on this article

by Kimberly	07/19/07 07:27 PM
Idea for cyclists: When you're not on club rides, look for ways you can pay good drivers, bikers back. When out of shape motorists show up for club rides, do what you need to do to help them find a place to ride with you. I do.

by Kimberly	07/19/07 07:25 PM
Motorists & motorcyclists who know me usually like me. I pay them back for their patience & safe driving. I came upon crash, stayed with motorist to comfort her until cops came. Remove debris from road so drivers & bikers don't crash on it. Etc.

by Kimberly	07/19/07 07:21 PM
...working together to do what we need to do & be safe doing it.

by Kimberly	07/19/07 07:20 PM
I'm not against driving. It's just that people who are psychologically, physically, or otherwise not capable of safely driving, shouldn't be driving. As a teen, I was taught to use cooperative driving skills. We're all working together to do ....

by Kimberly	07/19/07 07:20 PM
...I give 2nd driver a form http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/forms/72190.pdf if 2nd driver wants to report 1st driver. Many drivers like/support cyclists because they cycle, too.

by Kimberly	07/19/07 07:19 PM
From comments, it seems like cyclists & motorists hate each other. Wrong. There've been times I'm cycling on the road. 1st driver does something bad to me & drives away. Down the road, 2nd driver has pulled over to hand me the 1st driver's tag...

by Randy	07/18/07 08:17 PM
I would encourage the motorist to spend an hour on our roads riding a bike. (if you can ride a bike for an hour). This will change your opinion toward cyclist. Most of us are also motorist, walk in your shoes if you can!

by Randy	07/18/07 07:59 PM
The next time youò019re sitting at a traffic light, count the number of motorist vs. cyclist breaking the rules. It does not take a rocket scientist to see the problem. Hello people!

by Kimberly	07/17/07 08:54 PM
Quote for many situations: "Behave in a manner deserving of respect & you'll eventually get respect. If all else fails, you'll at least have self-respect." It's hard defending someone who doesn't act in a manner deserving respect.

by Kimberly	07/17/07 08:26 PM
Cyclists wear cycling clothes for the same reason football players wear their clothes. The clothes help you perform your sport. Cycling clothes are aero-dynamic, wick, padded at the saddle. Shoes for clipless pedals ensure contact when pedaling fast.

by Kimberly	07/17/07 08:18 PM
Agreed, it's max of cycling two-abreast & in one lane on the roads. Concerning the bike lane, what was the condition of it? Motorists & cyclists aren't required to ride in a lane filled with debris. Bike lanes next to parked cars are suicide lanes

by Kimberly	07/17/07 08:15 PM
I'm a bicycle club member. Some of us do obey the road laws & do what we can to educate group bicyclists. It's not the clubs that are the problem; it's individuals who don't want to obey & ride in the groups, some riders aren't members of any club

by Joe	07/17/07 07:20 PM
Good article for the next "Letters to the Editor". Today's Letters: Not all motorists follow rules of road

by Herman	07/17/07 04:15 PM
could have roads just for cars, just for farm equipment, just for bikes, skaters, and joggers, but there just isn't enough room to do so. So we all have to share the roadways that are already there.

by Herman	07/17/07 04:14 PM
to every story. We bike riders have been harrased and threatened the "arrogant" drivers more often then drivers have been by "arrogant" cyclers. We need more bike clubs to champion our cause and more and wider bike lanes. It would be nice IF we

by Herman	07/17/07 04:12 PM
we ride??? "you again?" a lot of the folks who ride to work or on their own are also members of the aforementioned clubs. And the same is true about the "swarms" of arrogant drivers being a menace on the road. There are always at least two sides

by Herman	07/17/07 04:10 PM
Warren, where would you have us ride if not on the street? The same discriptions that you use for bicyclists can also be applied to drivers. That "silly" costume as you call it allows us to ride without overheating. So againe Warren where should

by John	07/17/07 02:00 PM
My experience of club bicycling is quite different from some of you. When I joined, veteran riders watched me to be sure I followed the rules, and coached me when I strayed. Some even are certified road-safety instructors.

by Road Rider	07/17/07 11:24 AM
Drivers...bikes have the same right to the road as you do. Get over it. It's the law. If you don't like it, try to get the law changed.

by Jack	07/17/07 10:03 AM
Contrary to Warren's sentiment, I would say that arrogant, disrespectful drivers who don't appreciate the great risk inherent in operating a motor vehicle are the MOST dangerous thing on the rode. So sorry to annoy you. Frankly, you annoy me.

by Ray	07/17/07 08:40 AM
Warren, you're right. We are nothing but cycling idiots. Your level of intelligence is so common that it blinds good judgment. Just remember that we cycle for fitness and many of us DO follow the rules of the road. So, MY LIFE does matter my friend.

by Dave	07/17/07 06:33 AM
Over 41,000 people are killed on American highways every year - killed by car drivers, not bicyclists. Careless drivers run red lights and stop signs, drive too fast for conditions and fail to yield the right of way. Who is the real hazard?

by you again?	07/16/07 01:29 PM
Drop it, Kimberly. The beef is with the bicycle CLUBS, not someone who bikes to work on their own--unless they're blatantly breaking laws while doing it. Swarms of arrogant cyclers are the menace on the roads, not you.

by Kimberly	07/16/07 06:22 AM
After 19 yrs of minimum wage, I had nothing & had to make up for it. Instead of buying a car, I saved & paid the down payment on a house, paid extra on the principal, paid it off in less than 10 years. Others have home forclosures; but I'm set.

by Kimberly	07/16/07 06:18 AM
I spent 19 yrs living on minimum wage or less. $6.76 an hour times 40 hours a week times 52 weeks a year, less 15% for taxes. Some people who haven't had to tough it out don't umderstand that bicycles provide essential transport to survive.

by Kimberly	07/16/07 06:15 AM
Letters to the editor get printed if they are short enough, normally about 200 words. There isn't enough room to touch on all subjects. Mighk touched on one subject. Other writers will need to touch on other subjects.

by Pete	07/15/07 06:29 PM
Unfortunately more and more bikes are going to be on the road as gas prices increase. There is room for BOTH vehicles on the road. BOTH car and bicycle drivers must learn to be AWARE of each other. Share the road drivers itò019s theirs too.

by John	07/15/07 02:06 PM
Aren't bike riders supposed to go with the flow of traffic. It seems more often than not I see them riding on the road INTO oncoming traffic. Let's ticket these people.

by Sal	07/15/07 10:12 AM
You GO Warren! If there was an anonamous poll taken MOST would voice Warren's same opinion.Add them to the growing list that STARTS with telemarketers!!

by Doe	07/15/07 09:21 AM
Mt. Wilson, how nice fo you to share the law with us drivers. How about sharing those about stopping at stop signs and lights, turn signals, and right of way with the FBA? How man of those accidents are the fault of the bicyclist? Was it 76%?

by Warren	07/15/07 05:26 AM
Bicuyclist are the WORST thing on the road. They have no business where motor vehicles are driving and they are obnoxious, overpowering idiots. "Share the road," not on your life. If they want to dress in a silly costume and ride, do it elsewhere!