Bikes and cars...

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

I'm reprinting an article written by Plain Dealer columnist, John Horton because, as a cycling advocate, I found it completely appropriate and very informational.  Here's what he had to say:

Bicycles belong on Ohio roads. That's not an opinion, by the way. That's the law.

State regulations clearly give pedal-powered bikes the right to roll in traffic . . . and that access is guaranteed. A section of the Ohio Revised Code actually prohibits communities from passing laws that ban bikes from local streets. (There is one common-sense exception, though: Bicycles are not to be ridden on freeways.)

Essentially, that creates a forced relationship between cars and bikes --which may explain why it seems so contentious at times. So how can these two very different modes of transportation learn to peacefully co-exist? Well, understanding the rules seems like a good start.

Here are the most common questions Road Rant gets asked regarding bikes on the road . . . and the answers to 'em.

Q: There's nothing worse than getting stuck behind a slow-moving cyclist in a no-passing zone. Am I allowed to cross a double-yellow line to pass?

A: State law permits drivers to pass cyclists in this situation provided it is safe to do. The Ohio Bicycle Federation advocated for this change in 2006 so as not to impede traffic and create backups that frustrate drivers, according to Steve Magas, a member of the organization and an attorney who specializes in bicycle-related cases.

Q: Going around one cyclist can be a pain. Going around two riding side by side is even worse. Are they allowed to do that?

A: Ohio permits cyclists to ride two abreast, according to the State Highway Patrol. Cycling advocates say they encourage riders to break into a single line when traffic is heavy, though they are not required to do so.

Q: Cyclists often ride toward the middle of the lane like they own the street. Don't they have to stay next to the curb?

A: State law requires cyclists to ride "as near to the right side of the road as practicable," which gives some leeway. The code specifies that a cyclist does not need to stay at the edge of the road if it is "unreasonable or unsafe." They may move over to avoid potholes or broken glass, for instance, or if the road is too narrow for a car to pass without crossing the centerline. As a rule of thumb, many cyclists try to ride in the right tire track of car traffic.

Q: Why don't cyclists just use the sidewalk?

A: While state law allows bikes on sidewalks, many communities prohibit it given safety concerns for pedestrians and cyclists. And besides, as mentioned earlier in the column, bikes belong in the street according to state law.

Q: If bikes are vehicle, don't cyclists they have to follow traffic laws like drivers?

A: Absolutely. Cyclists can be ticketed if they run a stop sign or speed or pedal around town while drunk.

Q: Do cyclists know they can be irritating to drivers?

A: Yes, but that's really not their goal. Cyclists just want to get from Point A to Point B like everyone else on the road -- and they want to do it safely. "No cyclist wants to tangle with a car," Magas said. "If you're the one on the bike, you lose in that situation. You always lose." State statistics show that nearly 1,900 crashes involving cars and bicycles took place in 2012. Seventeen cyclists died and more than a 1,000 were injured.

Q: What's the key to cars and bikes sharing the road?

A: Courtesy. Drivers need to show it to cyclists, and cyclists need to show it to drivers. In the end, that will resolve almost every question on this issue.

For more information, click on the following links to check out the Ohio Department of Transportation's Cycling Smarter Guide or go to the Ohio Bicycle Federation's Digest of Ohio Bicycle Laws.

A couple of points I'd like to add and make.  First, as a cyclist who has put some 100,000 miles on the roads of this state and many others, cyclists can and are their own worst enemies.  Personally, I try hard not to be obnoxious.  Yes...I have the right; the legal obligation to ride in the road and two abreast if with someone, but why would I do anything so foolish?  It only perturbs people with heavy, fast moving steel objects that could crush me like a cockroach.  I ride the white line or on the shoulder as much as I can and NEVER ride two abreast.  You really have to be a moron to do this.
I've been known to roll through a stop sign or two on my bike over the years (frankly...I can't remember ever stopping for one if there were no cars present).  I know this bothers drivers, though I'm not sure why.  I've sat at intersections where I've seen them get upset that cyclists roll through and seen over 80% of the cars do the same thing.  Seldom does anyone come to a complete stop...it's just how we do things.  I'm not saying it's right to do on a bike, but stopping the bike, unclipping feet from pedals and looking all ways and then riding away isn't going to happen.  Red lights are another story, and I obey those religiously.
Finally, I'll say this.  We're in America.  In most parts of this country, cycling is still not the norm and on most busy roads, seeing a cyclist can be surprising to a motorist.  Like almost all experiened cyclists, I know this and I take precautions.  I tell anyone who will listen that I EXPECT the motorist to do something stupid and thus avoid collisions...something I'll lose on my bike...with them.  For the most part, they don't do foolish things and certainly not on purpose, but if you want to stay alive and unharmed on a bike...watch your ass.