Comments on: Californians: A Call to Action

By: BluesCat

BluesCat — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 19:40:24 +0000

The purpose of the law is really to give a police officer a "hook," a genuine infraction he can use to write up Dirtbag Cagers who terrorize bicyclists. In a posting on my own blog, I reviewed the Arizona traffic deaths of bicyclists for calendar year 2009: Shocking Arizona Statistics. The original reason for the post was to refute this fantasy that ONLY around 4% of bicyclists who are killed in traffic accidents are struck from behind, it's actually closer to 40%! But a side revelation is how difficult it is determining whether it was the driver or the cyclist who was at fault. In a confrontation between a bike and a car which results in a fatality, it isn't hard to guess who dies. A lot of times there are no other witnesses, and since the dead don't testify, and a driver will hardly say anything to accept blame if he or she has KILLED someone, it also isn't hard to guess who "gets the blame."

By: Jaime Roberto

Jaime Roberto — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 02:28:38 +0000

I have mixed feelings about this.

First, it’s worth noting that the proposed law has a couple of details that are left out of the summary description. 1) It applies only on highways (which I assume means what it says, but maybe it’s a legal term of art I’m unaware of). 2) It explicitly allows cars to cross a double yellow to give the cyclist room, which I think is a good thing.

On the other hand I can see this as giving cyclists untouchable status allowing some of the less considerate to ride side by side and blocking traffic. I know it’s legal, but I don’t think it should be encouraged.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 23:33:54 +0000

I am a native Nevada and we have a expansive/expensive bike trail system along the flood wash channels including bike bridges over dirt washes and roads. When I ride all I see are homeless alcoholics using the bike bridges as a sun block. More and more people are riding bikes because of the “recover summer”. These new riders do not know the rules/etiquette or DEFENSIVE riding. A new rider jumped out in front of me on a blind corner (did not look in me face). If you want to cycle then you need to have a social security number and a thought process.
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By: Dan Connelly

Dan Connelly — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:14:18 +0000

If a collision occurs it makes it, in theory, much easier to assign fault to the driver.

By: Kevin Love

Kevin Love — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:12:07 +0000

Nice in theory, but how is it going to be enforced?

Why do I suspect that this is just going to be another “feel good” law that won’t be enforced and therefore will provide zero benefit.