Great discussion. Wise thoughts about not inviting the media when meeting with Sen. Hunt. That would put him off and show distrust - he is, of course meeting us early Sat morning - credit to him.
One difficulty with this issue is that the majority of people would probably rather not have any cyclists on the road. Most people do not cycle, much less cycle in traffic. I suspect that a majority of motorists would want to restrict riding times, main roads, etc. I am interested in the possiblity of a written position on this law representing the feelings of NC cycling groups. Perhaps someone is aware of such an effort already? It would be very good to show alignment on this law. For me, I humbly suggest that the problem with this bill is the wording that cyclists seem to bear responsibility for being overtaken by faster moving vehicles. The passing vehical is responsible for picking a safe moment to pass in my view. Limiting to 2 abreast and riding single file on busy roads is something we already do as a matter of safety and courteousy. This may be going out on a limb, but was cycling not recently recognized as an important form of transprotation? http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/ I will contact our NC cyling coordinator and post whether he is familiar with this bill: NORTH CAROLINA Web: http://www.ncdot.org/transit/bicycle/ Tom Norman, Director Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation North Carolina Department of Transportation 1552 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1552 919-807-0771; Fax 919-715-4422 E-mail: [email protected] On May 26, 3:50 pm, Dave Rollins <[email protected]> wrote: > I say we plan some group rides in the home towns of the 4 > Representatives who introduce this piece of legislation; Reidsville, > Wilmington, Belmont and Asheville. You can also e-mail them with your > personal opinions at: > > [email protected] > [email protected] > [email protected] > [email protected] > > Dave > > On May 26, 3:20 pm, "Itchn2go - Ed" <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > This also prevents double pace lines since we will be 3 or 4 abreast when > > the puller is getting off and moving to the back. > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of > > > 53x11 > > > Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 3:08 PM > > > To: North Raleigh Cyclists (Gyros) > > > Subject: [Gyros: 15502] Re: Meeting W/ Senator Hunt Confirmed... > > > > You are correct. I'm not an attorney, but this Bill, if passed, will > > > relegate cyclists to the status of second class citizens. The > > > responsibility of "Safe Passage" for motor vehicles (that is > > > ridiculous) will be placed entirely on the cyclists. The Bill does not > > > mention any modification of behavior for motorists, only cyclists. > > > South Carolina Law mandates motor vehicles to give "Safe Passage" to > > > cyclists and they also have an cyclist anti-harassment law. > > > > If you as a cyclist get hit by a motor vehicle (no matter who is at > > > fault) the motorist only has to utter these magic words to get off, > > > "He/she/they did not move over as stipulated by NC Motor Vehicle law." > > > You also will not be able to collect damages for your injuries or > > > bike. In fact, you as a cyclist could be sued if the motorist or motor > > > vehicle suffers injuries. > > > > Do you really think motorists will wait patiently for a double pace > > > line to merge into a single file to pass? Cyclists will be forced by > > > law to compromise. But what will motorists be required to give up? > > > NOTHING! Just my 2 cents. > > > > > One question for any of our lawyers in the group - when the law states > > > > that 'Persons riding two abreast shall move into a single fil > > > > formation as quikcly as is practibcable when being overtaken from the > > > > rear by a faster moving vehicle.", does that put the 2 abreast > > > > cyclists at fault when a car has a brush up passing a double line? > > > > > I want to be practical and respectful and ride reasonably so cars can > > > > pass when it is safe to do so, but it seems that some liability may be > > > > moving from the passing motorist to the cyclist. Am I reading too > > > > much into this? > > > > -- > > > 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] Hide > > > quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - -- 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]
