Do you follow the traffic laws?

Since 2001, over 90,000 cyclist's have joined Cycling Forums to discuss topics from general cycling to equipment, training, racing and travel or vacation destinations (especially in europe during the tour de france). We also feature an great deals in our online store, 100's of articles, classifieds and product reviews.

I'm an "almost always" guy. I stop at all traffic lights and stop signs, unless I'm on a group ride, in which case most people will roll through slowly while checking for traffic, or stop/check/yell "clear."'

However, I believe that the drivers should be subject to the same awareness that we are when looking out for those coffins on wheels. So I make it a point to represent cyclists in a positive light as much of the time as possible, but if a driver is blatently disregarding a cyclists (or my) safety on the road, I make that person aware of it if possible. Luckily there can be quite a bit of stopping in my area, so it gives me time to catch up. Usually it pisses them off to be told in a calm voice that they are wrong by some skinny, spanex-clad guy with no more than 2 wheels to propel himself forward. But oh well...

**end of my post - rant on drivers below**
I hate when cars (or big ass, ugly, gas guzzling, SUV's) come up behind us, get pissed, roar around us, and then get to the next stop light or sign 3.2129 seconds before us and have to sit there for another minute anyway. So for those people, I ride right up next to (or in front of) them and give a little smirk to show how stupid it was to rush like that.

Here is a question for you all. Do you follow the traffic laws when cycling?

Always

Never

Most of the time

Occassionally
The only law I have a problem with, is where they leave a major judgement call up to the cyclist by, the use of vague, ambiguous language in the traffic laws.

Minnesota Statutes from 2004

Chapter 169
169.222 Operation of bicycle

Subdivision 1. Traffic laws apply. Every person operating a
bicycle shall have all of the rights and duties applicable to the
driver of any other vehicle by this chapter, except in respect to
those provisions in this chapter relating expressly to bicycles
and in respect to those provisions of this chapter which by
their nature cannot reasonably be applied to bicycles.
:mad:If we have the rights, the drivers AND, the cops don't care!!!!:mad:

Subd. 4. Riding on roadway or shoulder. (a) Every person
operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as close as
practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except
under any of the following situations:

(3) when reasonably necessary to avoid conditions, including fixed
or moving objects, vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards,
or narrow width lanes, that make it unsafe to continue along the
right-hand curb or edge.

:mad:THAT IS HOW IT IS ALL OVER THE CITY(DULUTH, MINNESOTA)!!!!!:mad:

(c) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway or shoulder shall not
ride more than two abreast and shall not impede the normal and
reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall
ride within a single lane.

:mad:WHILE THE 'TWO ABREAST' PART MAKES SENSE, A CYCLIST ONLY IMPEDES
THE TRAFFIC WHEN, IT IS TOO HAZARDOUS TO RIDE ON THE SIDE OF THE
ROAD!!!!!:mad: THAT MEANS I HAVE TO 'TAKE A LANE', WHETHER THEY LIKE
IT OR NOT!!!!:mad:

:mad:THE MAJORITY OF DRIVERS.....THE COPS AND, SOME CYCLISTS EVEN,
DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LAW AND, THINK OF IT AS 'ABSOLUTE'!!!:mad:

:mad:I GUESS VAGUE AMBIGUITY IS 'ABSOLUTE'!!!!:mad:

:mad:I BLEW BOTH MY TIRES OVER THE WEEKEND, FOLLOWING THE
'ABSOLUTE'!!!!:mad:

Christopher

I usually follow the traffic laws when on busy streets around LSU when the school year is in session. In the summer time though, the university is a ghost town, so there aren't many cars out. Joggers on the other hand ... ;)

I hardly ever follow traffic laws, only when I have to for my own safety. I'm not stupid about it, but I consider myself a "pedestrian" when I am on the road and battling traffic. I've been riding on the road for 30 years and the last time I was hit by a car was probably about 20 years ago, and that was when someone was coming out of a parking garage at full speed. Some things you just can't avoid.

To be honest I love to piss off motorists; I more or less give them the same courtesy they give me on the road, which is nil.

Following the rules gets you there in one peice. It also makes you a faster rider. You'll learn to time lights well and build sprint muscles stoppign for every light/sign you come across. Plus you represent properly, anything else and you're instantly part of the problem.
Representing and safety are my main reasons for riding that way, not sure which comes first. I can tell you that in 11 years and 250G+ miles I've ridden in the back of an ambulance 14 or 15 times, each time looking after a cyclist not as disciplined or just wrong place wrong time/driver at fault, bout 50/50. Never needed one myself, had to get checked out of one once, it's best to let tthem look you over if you're not sure.

btw a few weeks back i was rear ended by a commuter that didnt believe he should stop for a ped crosswalk with people in it, that was hilarious! He was scrapped up nicely, and there may have been a small bruise on my back but for the most part he deflected and went for a nice tumble. We (the peds, a driver witness and myself) were all nice to him, made sure he was ok, but boy was his face red! Not just the blood either :p
I did have to mention to him that he was quite lucky I'm a full grown, very fit fellow. If I had been frail older cylist or smaller/out of shape etc he would have landed himself in more than just a minor accident. It was as hard as a real good body check. One of the hardest things to break is a bad habit, and I think bad cycling habits do become bad driving habits. I think we owe it to our fellow earth dwellers to be courteous and considerate and that traffic laws are something that have a lot of careful thought behind, based on often bitter experience.
I note that I have traveled overseas very little, but I have heard a lot of people say in the USA we handle traffic very well.

One of the hardest things to break is a bad habit, and I think bad cycling habits do become bad driving habits. I think we owe it to our fellow earth dwellers to be courteous and considerate and that traffic laws are something that have a lot of careful thought behind, based on often bitter experience.
I note that I have traveled overseas very little, but I have heard a lot of people say in the USA we handle traffic very well.
Well, I have lived in Europe(I now live in Duluth, Minnesota) on two different occasions and, I think they handle the traffic, better, over there. I have also travelled to Europe, many times.

I do agree about being courteous n' considerate, where the driving laws are concerned, except that, I don't drive.

Christopher

Laws are not guidelines or suggestions. If you are using a vehical in public, you are accepting that you have an obligation to obey all the laws relating to the use of that vehical. If you can't do that; walk. And be careful crossing the road.

Laws are not guidelines or suggestions......Except here in Malaysia where not even the Police obey the Road Rules. The one time that the Police do remember the Road Rules is when they are on their collection drives - "You were driving at 90kmh. You must pay me RM100." "I was not driving at 90kmh. I have not gone above 80kmh." "OK, sir, move along..."

Why not just ride on the sidewalls to be safe? I live in a rual area on a fram. The closet town to me is 8 miles. I will be moving to probably Americus GA once i get married in May. I want to ride my bike there to the store and so forth but i am scared to rid in traffic. I will not even ride on the main highway by my house. I just ride on county roads. What are the rules for bikes? I know we have the right of way but that scares me when a car running 70 mphs come up behind you when your going 10mph

Laws are not guidelines or suggestions. If you are using a vehical in public, you are accepting that you have an obligation to obey all the laws relating to the use of that vehical. If you can't do that; walk. And be careful crossing the road.
Tell that to the stupid motorists who never care to read the Driver's Manual 'accurately'.

Why not just ride on the sidewalls to be safe? I live in a rual area on a fram. The closet town to me is 8 miles. I will be moving to probably Americus GA once i get married in May. I want to ride my bike there to the store and so forth but i am scared to rid in traffic. I will not even ride on the main highway by my house. I just ride on county roads. What are the rules for bikes? I know we have the right of way but that scares me when a car running 70 mphs come up behind you when your going 10mph
First of all, stay off the 'highway'!!:eek: That is, unless, you are talking about the state highway system that, goes along regular roads, as opposed to the U.S. highway system, that is not part of the state highway system. As for, my riding on sidewalks, forget it!!!!:eek: The width on the sidewalk, between a parking meter and, the front door of a proprietor, is not as wide as you think. Anyway, Here in Minnesota, it is illegal to ride on the sidewalk. Personally, I wouldn't ride on the sidewalk because, while there may be more hazards in the street, there is wider berth, in which, to avoid them. I also wear a reflective windbreaker when I ride, regardless of the temperature.

Grant another you said was "I know we have the right of way but that scares me when a car running 70 mph come up behind you when your going 10mph".

Also, I pulled up some info from the Georgia Dept. of Motor Vehicles

Basic Speed Rule:

No person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard for the actual and potential hazards than existing.


Statutory Speed Limit:

70 MPH on interstate system or on physically divided highways outside of urban areas with a population > 50,000


Noting these two details, you should not even be riding in an area where, the posted speed limit is anywhere near that fast!!!!


While I can go 50MPH in some situations, that is only when, coming down a hill. The speed limit all over the mid-size city I live in, is 30MPH.