Why isn't there 'Sharing the Road with Bicyclists' on DMV Papers?

[Ravi]

Hi,
I do not remember any where in the DMV Handbook or driving test,
seeing anything that advocates proper treatment of Bicyclists on the
Road. Why not these Bicycle Advocacy Organizations push for such an
inclusion - that way, atleast it is embedded in the young minds that
bicyclists are also legit road users.

my 2 cents,
+ravi

 

[Matt O'Toole]

Ravi wrote:

> Hi,
> I do not remember any where in the DMV Handbook or driving test,
> seeing anything that advocates proper treatment of Bicyclists on the
> Road.

It depends on which state you're in. Some have as much info as can be expected,
while others apparently do not. Which state are you talking about? Since
you're posting to ba.bicycles I assume you're in CA. Last time I looked, there
was "as much info as can be expected" in both the drivers' manual and the
written test. You might want to read it again.

Keep in mind there's a lot to cover in too few pages. For the message to sink
in at all, it can't be too comprehensive or complicated. Same with the test.

> Why not these Bicycle Advocacy Organizations push for such an
> inclusion -

Of course they do.

Matt O.

 

[Pat]

: Hi,
: I do not remember any where in the DMV Handbook or driving test,
: seeing anything that advocates proper treatment of Bicyclists on the
: Road. Why not these Bicycle Advocacy Organizations push for such an
: inclusion - that way, atleast it is embedded in the young minds that
: bicyclists are also legit road users.
:
: my 2 cents,
: +ravi

it's all in the Texas drivers' handbook. You should not assume that because
it isn't done a certain way where you live that it applies to every place.

Pat in TX

 

[max]

"Pat" <[email protected]> wrote:

> : Hi,
> : I do not remember any where in the DMV Handbook or driving test,
> : seeing anything that advocates proper treatment of Bicyclists on the
> : Road. Why not these Bicycle Advocacy Organizations push for such an
> : inclusion - that way, atleast it is embedded in the young minds that
> : bicyclists are also legit road users.
> :
> : my 2 cents,
> : +ravi
>
> it's all in the Texas drivers' handbook. You should not assume that because
> it isn't done a certain way where you live that it applies to every place.
>
> Pat in TX

The WORD in Illinois:
<http://www.sos.state.il.us/publications/rr/rr_chap09.html>

and from Da Mare:
<http://www.cityofchicago.org/Transportation/bikemap/road.html>

..max

--
<blink>

 

[Matthew]

Ravi <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:1113510249.519443@sj-nntpcache-5...
> Hi,
> I do not remember any where in the DMV Handbook or driving test,
> seeing anything that advocates proper treatment of Bicyclists on the
> Road. Why not these Bicycle Advocacy Organizations push for such an
> inclusion - that way, atleast it is embedded in the young minds that
> bicyclists are also legit road users.
>
But what if they are successful? How long would it take a legislator
to propose licensing bicycle riders?

FWIW in my neck of the woods I see far more irresponsible cycling than
driving.

Matthew

 

[Ravi]

Matt O'Toole wrote:
> Ravi wrote:
>
>
>>Hi,
>> I do not remember any where in the DMV Handbook or driving test,
>>seeing anything that advocates proper treatment of Bicyclists on the
>>Road.
>
>
> It depends on which state you're in. Some have as much info as can be expected,
> while others apparently do not. Which state are you talking about? Since
> you're posting to ba.bicycles I assume you're in CA. Last time I looked, there
> was "as much info as can be expected" in both the drivers' manual and the
> written test. You might want to read it again.
>
> Keep in mind there's a lot to cover in too few pages. For the message to sink
> in at all, it can't be too comprehensive or complicated. Same with the test.

my bad. I should have googled properly - found it on CA DMV handbook...
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs55thru57.htm#bike

also DMV is per state so, each state has to make a call as to how much
info they want to put in - so as to keep the book size relatively
managable...

pardon my err....

thanks,
ravi

>
>>Why not these Bicycle Advocacy Organizations push for such an
>>inclusion -
>
>
> Of course they do.
>
> Matt O.
>
>

 

[Ravi]

Pat wrote:

> : Hi,
> : I do not remember any where in the DMV Handbook or driving test,
> : seeing anything that advocates proper treatment of Bicyclists on the
> : Road. Why not these Bicycle Advocacy Organizations push for such an
> : inclusion - that way, atleast it is embedded in the young minds that
> : bicyclists are also legit road users.
> :
> : my 2 cents,
> : +ravi
>
> it's all in the Texas drivers' handbook. You should not assume that because
> it isn't done a certain way where you live that it applies to every place.

apologies. my bad. looked at
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/ftp/forms/DLhandbook.pdf, on page 9-7, it
actually explains the cases where a bicycle can take a full lane.... it
is more comprehensive than CA

again my bad,
+ravi

> Pat in TX
>
>

 

[Pat]

: > it's all in the Texas drivers' handbook. You should not assume that
because
: > it isn't done a certain way where you live that it applies to every
place.
:
: apologies. my bad. looked at
: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/ftp/forms/DLhandbook.pdf, on page 9-7, it
: actually explains the cases where a bicycle can take a full lane.... it
: is more comprehensive than CA
:
: again my bad,
: +ravi

I was just getting that lecture this week. We were riding two abreast on a
farm to market road in the country when about 4 trucks came up behind us. I
started to get into single file and my companion gave me an earful! He says
we have every right to ride two abreast--thus taking up the entire lane. I
replied that most drivers expect bicyclists to get into single file. His
reply was a "#$%@ 'em--I know the law!" Still, it seems to me that if we
"flaunt it" by taking up the entire lane, the drivers will just get
irritated and we aren't really "winning" anything.

Pat in TX

 

[Pat]

:
: FWIW in my neck of the woods I see far more irresponsible cycling than
: driving.
:
: Matthew

I think you would have to break that down into categories. All cyclists? or
juveniles riding on the sidewalk or in the road riding against traffic? Car
drivers are more cautious because a slip up could cause severe injury or
death; bicyclists, especially the kids, seem to think "nothing will happen
to me". When I was in Germany, the kids had to take a course in responsible
bicycle riding when they were 10 years old. They even got a "driver's
license" at the completion of the course. I think we should have something
like that in the States.

Pat in TX
:
:
:

 

[Arthur Harris]

"Ravi" wrote:
> I do not remember any where in the DMV Handbook or driving test, seeing
> anything that advocates proper treatment of Bicyclists on the Road. Why
> not these Bicycle Advocacy Organizations push for such an inclusion - that
> way, atleast it is embedded in the young minds that bicyclists are also
> legit road users.

New York State covers bicycles in it's DMV handbook.
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/dmanual/chapter11-manual.htm

New York also puts out a booklet about sharing the road.
http://www.dot.state.ny.us/pubtrans/share.html

Art Harris