---------------------- Forwarded by Peter Scott/HC-SC/GC/CA on 2002-06-03 11:05
AM ---------------------------
"Simpson, Bob" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> on 2002-06-03 10:46:30 AM
To: Peter Scott/HC-SC/GC/CA@HWC
cc:
Subject: RE: [obc] Riding double
Bikes on the road are something that motorists have to drive around safely,
but that doesn't mean that riders can take up an entire lane (half the road)
all the time. The law seems to be based on common sense. If a car comes up
from behind and can't pass, you move over as far as is "practicable" (I
assume that this means as far as is safe, which is open to interpretation).
That doesn't mean diving off to the right every time that a car approaches.
It's a share-the-road issue. There's got to be give and take on both sides.
I seem to remember that there's a law/guideline that cyclists aren't
required to be closer than about a meter from the edge of the road. A
motorist has to accommodate that. In the real world, though there are
cracks and potholes that necessitate riding farther out to be safe.
I'd have to think that if a group of side-by-side cyclists is on a long
winding road where passing by a car is not possible, they'd have to be more
wary of making room than if they were on a straight road where passing is
easier. The location you described, if I remember correctly, would seem to
be the latter, except for a small rise where the view ahead is limited for a
short distance.
My comments aren't critical of this group's riding and I feel you have a
good argument that you've been unfairly ticketed, unless this stems from
blocking traffic at some other location. I know that many motorists are
just impatient and even criminal in their rush to not be slowed by a few
seconds. But I also know that some large groups that I've ridden with have
absolutely no concern about being considerate of other road users.
While honking is seen by some people as being confrontational, it's often
the only way to make others aware that you want to pass. There's honking
and there's tooting, of course, which can communicate very different things.
Bob Simpson
BTW, did you want this to appear on the mailing list? You addressed it just
to me.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: 2002,June,03,Monday 10:10 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: [obc] Riding double
Where does the group move over to every time a car has to wait a few seconds
to
pass safely? The shoulder? Or go single file every time. I agree motorists
probably don't like groups of cyclists, even compact ones, but it appears
from
the previous set of regulations that they are allowed half the roadway.
Honking
the horn by a car wanting to overtake does not appear to be legally relevant
from what I see here.
Peter Scott
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