Comments on: Cycling and the Law: Where Does Education Begin? http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/06/cycling-and-the-law-where-does-education-begin/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:01:47 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Matt O'Toole http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/06/cycling-and-the-law-where-does-education-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-67613 Matt O'Toole Fri, 08 May 2009 01:01:52 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6079#comment-67613 Where does education begin? Virginia Beach would be a good start! Daniel Wayne Hersh was killed a few weeks ago when he was hit from behind by a careless driver. Virginia Beach authorites have decided not to file charges against the driver. Would this case would be prosecuted if a motor vehicle were hit from behind, killing its occupants? VBF has established the Daniel Wayne Hersh Memorial Fund, to promote bike safety education for motorists and bicyclists -- and police. Where does education begin? Virginia Beach would be a good start! Daniel Wayne Hersh was killed a few weeks ago when he was hit from behind by a careless driver. Virginia Beach authorites have decided not to file charges against the driver. Would this case would be prosecuted if a motor vehicle were hit from behind, killing its occupants?

VBF has established the Daniel Wayne Hersh Memorial Fund, to promote bike safety education for motorists and bicyclists -- and police.

]]> By: Paul Chenard http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/06/cycling-and-the-law-where-does-education-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-67576 Paul Chenard Thu, 07 May 2009 17:49:25 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6079#comment-67576 Sorry for the double post. I'm not trying to spam. Sometimes the posting system on SB doesn't post right away and disappears and I end up thinking I lost my posting. Then I only find out later that my posting got lost some where in the shuffle and I end up getting two postings due to me reposting. Sorry about that. Sorry for the double post. I'm not trying to spam. Sometimes the posting system on SB doesn't post right away and disappears and I end up thinking I lost my posting. Then I only find out later that my posting got lost some where in the shuffle and I end up getting two postings due to me reposting. Sorry about that.

]]> By: J. Mork http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/06/cycling-and-the-law-where-does-education-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-67551 J. Mork Thu, 07 May 2009 15:25:16 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6079#comment-67551 Further, traffic laws exist because of and for cars. Were there traffic lights at every intersection, before cars? No. The traffic lights were put in to make cars usable and to get other users out of their way. (I think I should break down and buy a copy of Peter Norton's _Fighting Traffic_.) Further, traffic laws exist because of and for cars.

Were there traffic lights at every intersection, before cars?
No. The traffic lights were put in to make cars usable and to get other users out of their way.

(I think I should break down and buy a copy of Peter Norton's _Fighting Traffic_.)

]]> By: Paul Chenard http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/06/cycling-and-the-law-where-does-education-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-67531 Paul Chenard Thu, 07 May 2009 06:02:37 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6079#comment-67531 I agree with you Ian. Killing someone with my bike would probably take a lot of speed and determination. We can hurt people and ourselves none the less when we don't obey the law and it doesn't help our cause. Like I said in my earlier posting, we need to move away for the hypocrisy for the better good of all cyclist and getting more cyclist amenities from the city. I agree with you Ian. Killing someone with my bike would probably take a lot of speed and determination. We can hurt people and ourselves none the less when we don't obey the law and it doesn't help our cause. Like I said in my earlier posting, we need to move away for the hypocrisy for the better good of all cyclist and getting more cyclist amenities from the city.

]]> By: Paul Chenard http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/06/cycling-and-the-law-where-does-education-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-67529 Paul Chenard Thu, 07 May 2009 05:58:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6079#comment-67529 I agree with you Ian. Killing someone with my bike would probably take a lot of speed and determination, but we can hurt people none the less and it makes us look bad when we're pushing our cause and not obeying the law. Like I said in my earlier statement, we should try to move away from Hypocrisy. I agree with you Ian. Killing someone with my bike would probably take a lot of speed and determination, but we can hurt people none the less and it makes us look bad when we're pushing our cause and not obeying the law. Like I said in my earlier statement, we should try to move away from Hypocrisy.

]]> By: Ian Turner http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/06/cycling-and-the-law-where-does-education-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-67528 Ian Turner Thu, 07 May 2009 02:37:08 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6079#comment-67528 Paul / Rhywun, The difference, of course, is that when pedestrians and cyclists disobey the law, innocents are not killed as a consequence. This cannot be said of motorists. Paul / Rhywun,

The difference, of course, is that when pedestrians and cyclists disobey the law, innocents are not killed as a consequence. This cannot be said of motorists.

]]> By: Rhywun http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/06/cycling-and-the-law-where-does-education-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-67525 Rhywun Thu, 07 May 2009 01:03:51 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6079#comment-67525 Absolutely. I imagine the posters here are a little more responsible than the average, but I'd venture to say about 90 percent of the cyclists I see follow their own rules. Absolutely. I imagine the posters here are a little more responsible than the average, but I'd venture to say about 90 percent of the cyclists I see follow their own rules.

]]> By: PaulCJr http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/06/cycling-and-the-law-where-does-education-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-67522 PaulCJr Wed, 06 May 2009 23:52:50 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6079#comment-67522 We as cyclist also need to obey the law too. For instance I was riding down 9th ave in the nice bike lane with bike signals and there were my fellow cyclist blowing through the red bike stop lights. If we're going to talk the talk, we need to walk the walk. I know its a stupid cliche, but its the truth. We can't be hypocrites if want to get equal rights on the road. Please my fellow cyclist walk the walk, you only hurt all of us when you don't. We as cyclist also need to obey the law too. For instance I was riding down 9th ave in the nice bike lane with bike signals and there were my fellow cyclist blowing through the red bike stop lights. If we're going to talk the talk, we need to walk the walk. I know its a stupid cliche, but its the truth. We can't be hypocrites if want to get equal rights on the road. Please my fellow cyclist walk the walk, you only hurt all of us when you don't.

]]> By: Rhywun http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/06/cycling-and-the-law-where-does-education-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-67503 Rhywun Wed, 06 May 2009 16:38:44 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6079#comment-67503 Huh. Where I grew up (Rochester, NY) I was perfectly within my rights to ride in traffic, especially when making a left turn. Huh. Where I grew up (Rochester, NY) I was perfectly within my rights to ride in traffic, especially when making a left turn.

]]> By: Jamie Carrington http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/06/cycling-and-the-law-where-does-education-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-67497 Jamie Carrington Wed, 06 May 2009 15:17:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6079#comment-67497 Another way to look at it is the need for the Feds to take a stronger role in setting national standards for bicycle circulation networks. Because of Federal regulations and USDOT standards, the basic rules and practices of driving a car (with a few exceptions) are the same nationwide (you don't pass on a double yellow; traffic signs are white-on-green; drive on the right). With the bicycle network, the huge range of local standards complicates awareness by cyclists and law enforcement (which side of a one-way street to ride on? required helmet? sidewalk riding? markings for bike routes?). Obviously cycling laws need to be tailored to the local conditions, but basic national standards need to be in place to improve awareness. Ray? Another way to look at it is the need for the Feds to take a stronger role in setting national standards for bicycle circulation networks.

Because of Federal regulations and USDOT standards, the basic rules and practices of driving a car (with a few exceptions) are the same nationwide (you don't pass on a double yellow; traffic signs are white-on-green; drive on the right). With the bicycle network, the huge range of local standards complicates awareness by cyclists and law enforcement (which side of a one-way street to ride on? required helmet? sidewalk riding? markings for bike routes?). Obviously cycling laws need to be tailored to the local conditions, but basic national standards need to be in place to improve awareness.

Ray?

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