Rights and Duties of Cyclists

[wickedwords]

Just an interesting little PSA about cycling in traffic, and what with getting back on the road and all, I can use the reminders.

Comments

[brynwulf]

Actually, thanks for this! I'm starting to bike to work for the first time ever as soon as Spring decides to actually stick around here.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Good for you! I'm going to try commuting into work once a week, once the weather improves. it's still a little too cold and rainy for me in the mornings.

[http://users.livejournal.com/tesserae_/]

You mean running red lights from the sidewalk *isn't* in the handbook? My favorite is when I'm stopped at a light to make a right turn on the red and a cyclist speeds up to do that... of course, mothers with strollers do the same thing here, so they are in good company.

I really, really try to be aware of everyone on the road, and give cyclists room, but some of the people bicycling in Los Angeles have the self-protective instincts of voles and, I think, put themselves in more danger than necessary. And now that everyone is on the phone, including the cyclists, it's gotten worse, too. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that motorists will understand the concept of "controlling the lane" - not to say it's not a good tactic, but you'll need to be aware that some of them will try to cut you off. I see them try to pass cops running traffic breaks on the freeway, which is *really* stupid. Just be careful...

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

The right hand slot next to a car is the death slot, that's for sure. Cyclists forget that they can't be seen there, and more accidents occur from the 'car turning right' into a cyclist who is trying to sneak past going straight than any other situation being tracked. Everyone has to be careful about that as with the price of gas going up and the weather improving, more and more people are choosing to get out their bikes for commuting to work.

Oh, and I get that motorists get pissed off at you for "controlling the lane"; been on both sides of that equation myself. But it's something we're all going to have to learn to be better about, given the current economic environment. Refreshers for everyone would be a good thing.

[http://users.livejournal.com/tesserae_/]

Refreshers for everyone would be a good thing

I suspect that motorists don't actually know that's what bicyclists are doing, or that it's a safety measure. It would be useful if someone like Lance Armstrong could do a few public-safety type announcements, just to remind people that watching for & respecting cyclists is in everyone's best interest. After all, who *wants* to hit someone?