Darin wrote < I hope this action doesn't obscure what I think is a more important issue: That cyclists should be able to ride safely in the middle of the lane, far enough from parked cars to avoid getting doored. That motorists should respect bikes as vehicles that are entitled to an entire lane, as clearly spelled out in the . . . drivers manual.>
The current Wisconsin law both protects bicyclists riding further left in the lane and encourages bicyclists to do so in order to avoid getting doored. The problem seems to be that too few people, motorist and bicyclists alike, are aware of these laws, where on the road to ride for safety, and how to react to bicyclists riding safely and legally. In terms of Darin's first concern, the law that everyone is concerned about [346.80(2)(c)] specifically tells bicyclists to ride at least three feet from parked cars. You have to do this, no questions asked about lane position. The general law on where to ride on the roadway [346.80(1) and (2)] tells bicyclists to ride "as close as practicable to the right−hand edge or curb of the unobstructed traveled roadway, . . . except . . . When reasonably necessary to avoid unsafe conditions, including . . . parked or moving vehicles, . . . " I think both of these are pretty clear, yet I see most bicyclists riding way to close to parked cars for comfort. What is missing from the statutes is a section on opening car doors similar to the recommendation in the Uniform Vehicle Code 11-1105 Open and closing vehicle doors No person shall open any door on a motor vehicle unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers. I don't think the Wisconsin Statutes has the following section, either, which would be beneficial to add as well 11-603 Starting parked vehicle No person shall start a vehicle which is stopped, standing or parked unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety. Darin's second concern, getting motorists to respect bicyclists for riding further out in the lane for safety for whatever reason, is another story. One thing that would help is more bicyclists riding safely. In a way, it's hard to blame a motorist for getting mad at me for taking the lane when parked cars create an unsafe condition and the lane is too narrow for a parked car, bike and moving motor vehicle to all share, when the driver just passed 6 bicyclists riding closer to the parked cars. I can hear the driver thinking "what is that bicyclist doing riding way out in the lane, why doesn't he ride closer to the parked cars like the rest of the bicyclists?" There are several trained LAB League Cycling Instructors in Madison, including myself, but no one, to my knowledge, is currently teaching classes. I would be open to teaching classes if we can get a group of people together, create a schedule and plug instructors in. BFW did this when they first trained LCI's. Others interested in teaching can be trained. I am open to other ideas to help educate and encourage bicyclists in how to ride safely. Here is the statute 346.80 Riding bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device on roadway. (1) In this section, “substandard width lane” means a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device and a motor vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane. (2) (a) Any person operating a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as close as practicable to the right−hand edge or curb of the unobstructed traveled roadway, including operators who are riding 2 or more abreast where permitted under sub. (3), except: 1. When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction. 2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway. 3. When reasonably necessary to avoid unsafe conditions, including fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards or substandard width lanes that make it unsafe to ride along the right−hand edge or curb. (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), any person operating a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device upon a one−way highway having 2 or more lanes available for traffic may ride as near the left−hand edge or curb of the roadway as practicable. (c) Any person operating a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device upon a roadway shall exercise due care when passing a standing or parked vehicle or a vehicle proceeding in the same direction, allowing a minimum of 3 feet between the bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device and the vehicle, and shall give an audible signal when passing a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device rider proceeding in the same direction. (3) (a) Persons riding bicycles or electric personal assistive mobility devices upon a roadway may ride 2 abreast if such operation does not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. Bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device operators riding 2 abreast on a 2−lane or more roadway shall ride within a single lane. (b) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway may not ride more than 2 abreast except upon any path, trail, lane or other way set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles and electric personal assistive mobility devices. 346.075 Overtaking and passing bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and motor buses. (1) The operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device proceeding in the same direction shall exercise due care, leaving a safe distance, but in no case less than 3 feet clearance when passing the bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device, and shall maintain clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device. Arthur Arthur Ross, Pedestrian-Bicycle Coordinator City of Madison Traffic Engineering Division 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Suite 100 PO Box 2986 Madison, WI 53701-2986 608/266-6225
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