At 2:48 PM -0500 9/16/06, George Hesselberg wrote: >Here are the relevant paragraphs from the Wisconsin Bicycle Federation >website summary of Wisconsin traffic laws as they relate to riding single >file. (The WBF does a nice job on all its law summaries.) The laws do >not, in fact, mention "single file." They refer to "riding 2 abreast." >However, they are quite simple. Though some believe there is a vast media >conspiracy involved in this, there is not. Whining about conspiracies >does not - and in this case did not - answer the question.
GeorgeH, GeorgeP's main concern, which I share, is that neither of the columns clearly answered the answer; and I think you would have to agree. As you point out, the state statutes are very simple. So, if the question is "Do bikes have to ride single file?" The answer is "No. According to state law, bicyclists may ride two abreast, except when doing so would impede traffic." Is that so hard? A few examples might have helped to illustrate the point. But I also share GeorgeP's concern that the 'interpretation' given by Lt. Hansen was not helpful. Mr. Perkins's second point is about the inferred editorial slant to the column. He was not 'whining' about any conspiracies, vast or otherwise. I don't pretend to know what the author(s) intended, but I do have first-hand knowledge of ignorant, hostile motorists who feel entitled to threaten my safety because they think I am breaking the law. My concern is that the sub-text of the question is 'why the hell are those bikers in my way?'. Regardless of what the author(s) were trying to say, or how they quoted a State Patrol officer, the take-home message for these would-be vigilantes is that the columns have confirmed their suspicion that 'bikes are not allowed to get in my way'. A simple 'bicyclists are entitiled to an entire lane' would have been helpful. -darin -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Darin Burleigh [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
