Re: [Gyros: 15382] Bicyle/car laws; discussion of passing a bicyclist

[Berry T Stevens]

Interesting, to me at least, is the differences in both law & custom between NC & CA. In CA  cyclists are required to ride single file, but are entitled to the entire lane when there is not adequate shoulder or bike lane to ride in. The cyclist has the ride to decide what is, or is not, safe for him/her, not the motorist. Cyclists can "take the lane" and force the motorist to wait to pass until there is a safe place to do so. Not many motorists understand this & get PO'd at times so that needs to factor into how you handle such a situation. Being in the right won't necessarily keep you alive. Also this type of law would be a very low priority for enforcement, police are generally understaffed & would only attempt enforcement if there was a ride that frequently caused problems or generated complaints. Not that we would want this kind of law as precedent, but it's passing is not likely to result in very many tickets, either. Again, my .02 Berry -----Original Message----- From: Keil Wurl Sent: May 13, 2010 9:07 PM To: gyros@googlegroups.com Subject: [Gyros: 15370] Bicyle/car laws; discussion of passing a bicyclist 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 <nick.gama...@gmail.com> 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 gyros@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe, send an email to gyros-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com -- You received this message because you subscribed to the Gyro email group. To post to this group, send an email to gyros@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe, send an email to gyros-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com Build 'em & Ride 'em On a 29r 313 W Juniper Ave Wake Forest, NC 27587 -- You received this message because you subscribed to the Gyro email group. To post to this group, send an email to gyros@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe, send an email to gyros-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com