This is from the NCDOT Driver's Handbook *Pass with Care* A bicyclist staying to the right in their lane is accommodating following drivers by making it easier to see when it is safe to pass, and easier to execute the pass. Drivers wishing to pass a bicyclist may do so only when there is abundant clearance and no oncoming traffic is in the opposing lane. When passing a bicyclist, always remember the bicyclist is entitled to use of the full lane.
http://www.ncdot.org/dmv/driver_services/drivershandbook/download/NCDL_English.pdf I appears there is no mention of whether or not there is a double or dotted line, just that there is no oncoming traffic. Now, if you consider a group of 30 cyclists traveling in a single line, that is going to require a driver a longer distance to pass. However, if the group were 2 abreast, the approaching car will have less distance to travel to pass the group. If that same group where 3 abreast, even less distance to pass and the cyclists are still in their lane, which according to the above statement they are entitled to. Seems way too much is not really clear and besides, who is going to enforce this new law? The off chance a Sheriff, County or State cop sees a group riding 3 abreast and no traffic trying to pass, are they going to pull over the entire group and take the time to write everyone a ticket? Besides, if we do not have id, how is the cop going to write it up. Or, a driver calls it in and then maybe a patrol car is dispatched, to where? Are they going to drive around on the off chance they find us as we most likely would have turned off the road where the original infraction occurred. I think more education and common sense would do more good than more laws that may or may not be enforced. On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 9:07 PM, Keil Wurl <[email protected]> wrote: > So, I was thinking more about the current law that is suppose to consider > a bicyclist the same as a car.... does that mean if I'm riding by myself on > a laned highway, and a car comes up behind me, that the car can not legally > pass me until they have a dotted white "passing zone" ? I think one of the > reasons I ride double file (besides the social chit chatting) is that it > forces the car to pass by traveling into the opposite passing lane and this > forces them to pass when no other cars are approaching (even though they > often pass crossing a double yellow, I think breaking the law?). So, in my > lawyer argument mode, one of the reasons we ride two-abreast is because > motorist don't follow the passing law so we take matters into our own > protection mode by riding 2-abreast. Cause & effect. > > So, extending the discussion, if the new law forces us to immediately move > to single file riding when a car approaches from behind, the original > question again is asked: Does that car have to wait until a "legal" pass > zone before passing, and then move out of "our" lane into the passing > lane? > > > Nick wrote: > > Okay. I just spoke to Wil Neumann -- he was very defensive and said > "look it was just sent to committee" I need to gather more facts... I > asked him how this was going to make it safer for bikers. He said we > all need to share the road and cars can't travel two by two neither > should bike. > > Perfect - baiting right? I then said - are you suggesting bikers have > a right to use the middle of road? He backed off the previous > statement and said he needed to talk to Nelson Cole. I thanked him > for being open to talking to voters and wished him good luck in > November. I told him he could expect a number of calls from concerned > cyclists across North Carolina.... > > If you want his direct number: 704-825-4077 > > > > > On May 13, 4:13 pm, Nick <[email protected]> <[email protected]> > wrote > > > This bill can be found > here:http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&;... > > I spoke to Legislative aid for Representative Nelson Cole (who > introduced the bill) and expressed my displeasure. She offered to > have Mr. Cole contact me and discuss the topic - we will see if he > does. > > Call the people who are sponsoring this bill -- everyone of them is up > for re-election this year and remind them of that. Also call you > local representatives and tell them how you feel. > > Representative Nelson > Colehttp://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=H&nUser... > > Representative Sandra Spaulding > Hugheshttp://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=H&nUser... > > Representative Wil > Neumannhttp://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=H&nUser... > > Representative Jane > Whildenhttp://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=H&nUser... > > -- > You received this message because you subscribed to the Gyro email group. > To post to this group, send an email to [email protected] > To unsubscribe, send an email to [email protected] > > -- > You received this message because you subscribed to the Gyro email group. > To post to this group, send an email to [email protected] > To unsubscribe, send an email to [email protected] > -- You received this message because you subscribed to the Gyro email group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected] To unsubscribe, send an email to [email protected]
