The question addressed by the editorial was "Do cyclists have to ride single file on roads?". It was not "What is required of motor vehicle drivers when passing bicyclists on roads?". But George is right to point on the subtle biases expressed in the editorial.
To answer to question of whether bicyclists have to ride single file on roads is, I would say this: "Bicyclists must ride single file on two-lane roads if riding two (or more) abreast would impede traffic; bicyclists are not required to ride single file on roads with two or more lanes in each direction". But the editorial goes on to state that: "A minimum distance of three feet should be used by cyclists when passing a moving or parked car" and that "Disregarding these rules can land someone a $135.60 fine each time." While this is true, it raises concerns whenever there is not sufficient space between live traffic and parked cars for bicyclists to navigate. For example, on muli-lane roads (such as Midvale Blvd on the west side) which do not allow sufficient space between the traffic lanes and parked cars and bicyclists, the only other choices bicyclists have to avoid riding too close to parked cars is to either: (1) ride out in the right lane of traffic where the speed limit is often much higher than most bicyclists can ride (30 mph on Midvale Blvd.) and the road is often heavily congested in both lanes; or (2) ride on the sidewalk (seldom a safe choice). This is why I have proposed that car parking be eliminated along Midvale Blvd. in my neighborhood. There is simply not enough space for bicyclists to ride safely next to parked cars, or in the live stream of traffic (traffic moves too fast), and riding on the sidewalk is unsafe for bicyclists and pedestrians in most areas along Midvale Blvd.. Mike Neuman ------------- Original Message ------------- From: "George J. Perkins" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Dane County Bicycle Transportation Alliance" <[email protected]> Date: Sun, 3 Sep 2006 18:03:21 -0500 Subject: [Bikies] Disinformation from the WSJ: Do cyclists have to ride single file on roads? As evidenced by the "safety" question in last week's Wisconsin State Journal, we continue to have an unmet need to educate the public (and newspaper columnists) about what is legal and what is safe use of the roads. The columnist, DJ Slater, clearly is unqualified to be answering these type of questions since he failed to interpret the Wisconsin statutes correctly. But what really bothers me is the subtle editorial propaganda here. The column pretends to be about safety, yet the leading question and the so-called "answer" both imply that bicycles are the problem. The proper, safe and legal method for automobile drivers to pass bicyclists wasn't even mentioned. *sigh* http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/wonder/index.php?ntid=97177&ntpid=1 FRI., SEP 1, 2006 - 11:53 AM Safe & Sound: Do cyclists have to ride single file on roads? Q: I had always been told that cyclists have to be single file on roads. Has that changed? A: According to Wisconsin's rules of the road, it is legal to ride side by side on any road with at least two lanes in each direction. As long as the two cyclists remain in a single lane, they are following Wisconsin law, said Capt. Ruth Ferg of State Patrol. On a road with only one lane in each direction, cyclists are expected to ride as close to the edge or curb as practical. A minimum distance of three feet should be used by cyclists when passing a moving or parked car. Disregarding these rules can land someone a $135.60 fine each time. Cyclists always can ride in large numbers side-by-side on any path, trail or lane designed exclusively for bicycle use. Common sense is the best rule of thumb. - DJ Slater Have a concern? Look for Safe & Sound on Fridays in the Local section. Send questions to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; 608-252- 6192; Just Ask Us, P.O. Box 8058, Madison, WI 53708. _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
