Law Revision is Way Overdue

Though I do understand Jack's feelings on the proposed law change, I tend to feel differently on the subject. Simply changing the law to allow more discretion on the rider's part will not put the safety of the rider into the motorist's hands any more than it is now. Along the same lines, I do not believe that the passing of this law will cause an increase in bike law-breakers, as some have suggested.

Regarding my first point, Jack was worried that if the new law passed, there would be more of an opportunity for bikers to cross paths with reckless vehicles. In reality, a change in the law will not really affect our contact with reckless motorists all that much. As I am sure you already know, the only way we, as bikers, get through our daily rides and commutes safely, is by riding defensively. As long as we continue to be vigilant in our riding and aware of our surroundings, we keep our safety in our hands, irregardless of the situation.

As for the possibility of increased law-breakers, well, I'm not too worried about that. As is the case in any area of society/law, law breakers will always be law breakers, whether the law changes of not.

As long as we continue to think of our ability to ride on public roads as a privilege and not an inherent right, then we should easily be able to handle any added responsibility that is offered to us.

-guest post by Daniel Carter

Revision-A Bad Idea?

So basically, the idea is to allow bikers to use their common sense and their judgement when deciding whether to yield or stop at stop signs and traffic lights. On the surface, it sounds like an excellent idea. After all, you would hope that most people could be trusted to make the correct choice in that particular situation, and I, like you, believe that they would. You see, my problem with this idea is not with the biker, or his decision, its with the driver.

In my lengthy experience with biking in urban areas, I have been the unfortunate witness (and sometimes victim) to many car vs. bike arguments. I have seen quite a few variations under quite a few circumstances, and one thing is almost universally applicable; and that's the obtuse driver.

Unfortunately for us (the bikers), we are simply an annoyance to most drivers on the road. We occupy space (granted, a small amount) that the driver could be using to pass that lumbering Lincoln ahead of them. Because were not stuck in traffic and not full of pavement-produced rage, the driver tends to look down his steering wheel at us (and that's if he even sees us in the first place). Either the driver is yelling at you for riding to close, or hes screeching on the brakes to avoid plowing into your chain guard (either way, its a bad situation).

As I see it, neither choice is a good one. Either the driver resents you for being on the road in the first place, or he doesn't even know your riding a foot away from him. So if this is the situation on most roadways, do we really want to pass a law that would make it easier for us to leave our safety in the motorists hands?

-guest post by Jack O'Neil

Bike Safety Laws...Need Revision?

Portland resident Bjorn Warloe wants Oregon to take a cue from Idaho when it comes to how bicycles treat stop signs and traffic lights. Since last December, he has garnered interest and support from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and some lawmakers in Salem. Their plan is to implement the same laws that are in existence in Idaho, into their hometown of Portland.

In Idaho the law allows a bicyclist to slow down before a stop sign and then make the decision to continue through if there is no traffic, or to stop if another bicyclist or vehicle has the right of way. The stop sign law has been in place for over 20 years and has been shown to work very well. A few years ago they also passed a law allowing for bicyclists who are stopped at a red light to go ahead and go through if there are no cars coming. Mark McNeese, Idaho’s State Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator has told us that while the stop light law hasn’t really been around long enough to be sure of its effect its implementation went relatively smoothly.

To help push his goal through, Bjorn and his group, "Idaho Style" are working with the BTA, along with other bike groups. Every organization has to select their top priorities but it was an idea that didn’t make their list this year. Idaho Style is a group of people who wanted to make passing this legislation their top goal for the session.

Though the support was slow at first, Bjorn has found that once people understand what he's trying to accomplish the response has been mostly positive. The negative responses I have heard are usually from people who envision it being legal to ride your bike through a stop sign at 25 mph, or to run a stop light during busy traffic. This isn’t what we are advocating at all, and once people understand that the idea of the law is to allow cyclists to carefully yield at a stop sign, or proceed through a deserted stoplight at night after coming to a complete stop they usually get behind the idea.

"I think it is a mistake for bicycles and cars to be subject to all the same laws in all the same ways. It was convenient for lawmakers to just classify bicycles as a vehicle, but clearly there are big differences between a semi truck and a bike. In some ways this has already been recognized, no bicycle operators license/fee, lanes for bikes only, non motorized bike/pedestrian paths, these law changes represent an extension of that."-Bjorn Warloe

The BTA is working toward vulnerable user legislation that recognizes that ped/bikes are less protected in the road, and we are working on legislation that recognizes that ped/bikes are less dangerous, and less likely to cause injury to others.

Though the law has been successfully passe din Idaho for some time, making it a reality in Portland may be another issue. The biggest hurdle will be educating all roadway users of the change. My biggest concern is not that the change will produce more accidents because I honestly don’t think it will. No one wants to get hit by a car and so I think you will see people on bikes being just as careful before crossing the street.

-article excerpts taken from BikePortland.org

Sharing the Road

If you own a bike, sharing the road is just something you have to deal with. Whether you are on the street or on the sidewalk, being aware of your surroundings (pedestrians and traffic) is an absolute necessity.

Traffic can be unpredictable, so if you plan to ride your bike in it, you must be alert at all times. It takes times before you can ride on major roads with confidence, but it is worth it. Bicycles save gas and help the environment, so if you own a bike, you should consider riding it in the city.

Alertness is important if you want to ride your bike in traffic because you need to know where you are in relation to traffic at all times. You never want to wake up in the morning and then go biking on highly congested roads, especially if you are a little tired or sleepy. Tired people's alertness levels are low and sounds such as horns and people's voices can seem distant. If early riding is a necessity, you should make sure you are adequately alert before you get on your bike in the morning.

Biking in traffic also requires common sense because most of the obstacles you see on the road can be avoided. For example, if you see a car that is speeding and passing other cars in your rear view bike mirror, you should get out of the way. If the car is choosing different random lanes to pass the other cars, when it reaches you, you might get hit. Using your common sense will come in handy many times during your ride in traffic, so always make smart decisions.

Aggression helps in tough spots, so you have to use it if you want a good spot in busy traffic. There will be times when you are in a lane and need to get into another one, but the cars will not give you the space. You may have to be aggressive if you want to get into the spot you need so that you do not miss your next turn. It will not be easy, but once you learn how to stand your ground, you will be able to feel and move more comfortably on the roads.

If riding on the street and through busy traffic makes you uncomfortable, sidewalk riding maybe more your speed. Though it is illegal to ride on the sidewalk in some areas (Los Angeles for example), many people prefer the reduced congestion and smoother riding surfaces.

Sidewalk bicycle riding is different from riding on the streets because it is narrower and people walk there as well. Besides the people, there is also a risk of a car's driver not seeing you from the street; however, sidewalk bicycle safety varies depending on where you live.

Small suburb areas are the best places to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk for two reasons, fewer pedestrians and less traffic. A city's sidewalks stay packed with people, particularly during the weekends, so it will be tough to ride there. A sidewalk in the suburbs however will not have many people walking, so you will be free to ride without dodging as much. If you decide to ride on a sidewalk in the city or the suburbs, there may be times when you have to pass people, so you must know how to ride safely to reduce injuries.

To ride safely on city sidewalks, you must maintain a slow speed so you can go around anyone you meet without falling. If the sidewalk is crowded, it is best to use the streets, unless you want to walk your bike around the crowd. In the suburbs, you can ride at a reasonable speed and if you see someone walking, you will still have a chance to slow down to safely pass him or her.

The sidewalk is a great place for kids to ride their bikes in the suburbs because they would not have to worry about cars as much. Children should only ride on a sidewalk that you are familiar with; they should learn to stop and look both ways before crossing to another sidewalk. Children must also learn to respect anyone that walks there and they must slow down for them. Some kids may like to ride their fast on sidewalks, however, they must be aware that elderly people sometimes use the sidewalks to stay out of the streets. Unlike younger people, an older person will not react quickly enough to dodge a fast moving bike. Kids must watch out for them and other things such as dogs, squirrels, or a broken bottle that causes a tire to go flat. Kids must also avoid sidewalks that have a ditch on one side and a fence on the other. If someone is walking on the sidewalk and the child's bike is moving fast, the only way to dodge that person is to drive into the ditch. The best kind of sidewalk to ride on is the type with a bit of grass between the sidewalk and the street.

If you ride your bike on the sidewalk in the city, you must make yourself be seen because most drivers' eyes stay on the street not the sidewalk. You should always ride on the sidewalk during the day (if legal in your area), particularly in the city to remain safe. If you have to cross the street to get into another sidewalk, be sure that you watch out for cars and let them see you.

It is important to remember to never take unnecessary risks, whether on the sidewalk or the street, no matter what other pedestrians or drivers may do to you while you are riding. Navigating through people and traffic in the suburbs and the city is not easy, but if you stay alert, use your common sense, be aggressive when need be, be seen and avoid risks, you will be able to safely share the road.