Rick Johnson
David,
It does come across as a bit of a rant. Personally I find motor vehicle
drivers that race me to the roundabout only to slam on their brakes are
a more annoying hazard. And don't even get me started about all the red
light runners around here!
But I digress. Please remember that the law has to be written to
accommodate all bicyclists - be they seniors or children, experienced or
not. I am sure you didn't mean to suggest a parent riding with their
elementary school aged child to the local park should wobble their way
through the middle of the roundabouts on Reed Market. Nor do I expect
you meant that all senior citizens on their comfort bikes should be
expected to be able to pace with traffic up Galveston Avenue.
And there are even times when making use of the crosswalks improves the
flow of traffic for all concerned. An example is going up Newport during
busy traffic periods at the 14th Street roundabout. There is no need to
enter the flow of traffic and delay motor vehicles if the cyclist is
proceeding up Newport since the spoke that is the dead end of 14th is
rarely used. This effectively makes the crosswalk a bypass to the
roundabout and helps keep things moving in the roundabout. That's better
and safer for all concerned.
Of course we should all respect both the letter and the intent of
traffic regulations - I wish everyone did. But I disagree with the "one
size fits all" interpretation you advocate in this case.
Rick Johnson
Bend Oregon
* * *
Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self esteem, first make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounding yourself with assholes.
- William Gibson
On 1/22/2013 10:10 AM, David D wrote:
> I will try to not make this a rant...
>
> I live in Bend, home of many a round-a-bout with crosswalks, and this topic drives me nuts. I have personally nearly killed bicyclists who use crosswalks at 20mph, giving the car/truck driver just about 0 reaction time to see them and keep from hitting them. REGARDLESS of the laws, common sense guidelines would make this area of life far safer and create a much more harmonious interaction between bicycles and motor vehicles:
>
> If you are on a bike, you are a vehicle. You have rights to ride in the road with traffic and you should exercise those rights by riding as if you were a motor-vehicle. Note: motor vehicles do not use crosswalks.
>
> If you want to use crosswalks (for safety, preference, whatever), then you are a pedestrian. That's what crosswalks were created for. Walk your bike, or peg-leg it, and expect motor vehicles to treat you like a ped. If that is too slow for your taste, then get out of the crosswalk and be a vehicle in the road.
>
> Blurring these lines for one's own convenience is what creates the vast majority of problems. Regardless of laws and guidelines, think about responsibilities first and rights second.
>
> Our biking community does such a huge disservice to ourselves by claiming bicycle rights without practicing the responsibilities. I see this constantly in Bend and then listen to bicyclists complain about vehicles not "obeying the law".
>
> Personally, I don't care who is right and what the law says. If you choose to ride a bicycle on the road, you have less protection around you, and that leaves the onus on the you to manage yourself for your own protection, whether other vehicles are around or not. If you get whacked by a vehicle, at least 2 people are going to have a really bad day. If it was the bicyclist's fault, the vehicle driver (i.e. ME) is STILL going to have a really bad day.
>
> Let's ALL work on having GOOD days. Being right rarely guarantees a good day. Awareness, common courtesy, and a bit of practiced responsibility almost always produces a good day.
>
> Just sayin'
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