I might not be a car, but I can still kill you

While doing interval training on the evil sandy bike path of doom (no stop lights to interrupt intervals, though), I came across a stretch that borders a pier (Manhattan beach pier for those who know Los Angeles). During the weekends, there is a mandatory ‘walk your bike’ thing going on for this stretch (yet another reason NOT to bike on the weekends on the bike path). As this was around 5 PM on a weekday, no walk your bike and not a lot of foot traffic.

THE ENEMY TO CYCLISTS EVERYWHERE

I was in the middle of my ON interval, so I was doing about 17 MPH (hey, there was a strong headwind, ok?) and going hard. Watching the pedestrians, I see a guy saunter his way as slowly as possible across the bike path (which is what, five feet wide?). I could gauge he would almost clear it by the time I got there, unless he stopped. Regardless, I could still go around him.

I get within 15 feet, and all of a sudden a runt ass pre-teen starts to go out onto bikepath!! Now I have BOTH father and kid (or however they knew eachother) ON the path, completely blocking the way!!

Too close to stop, I screamed something at them twice. I don’t recall what it was. Something like ‘MOVE IT’ or ‘WATCH OUT’. I think I screamed MOVE IT (with a follow up of BIKES ONLY!!) at the couple that was walking DOWN the BIKE PATH holding hands.

Now, I narrowly avoided crushing the child with my Trek5200 by going in between kid and father (it was a close shave). Treat a bike path like a road, kid! Apparently his father never taught him to look both ways before crossing!!

This is not the first time I have almost murdered children on my bike (usually on the bike path, where they like to dart out of nowhere at the last second).

It’s definitely possible to be killed by a cyclist, where penalties for bike-slaughter may only be a fine. Granted, if you Google ‘killed by bicycle’ you see a billion more articles about cyclists that were KILLED, usually by our evil metal brethren, the car.

The more hard core cyclists (read: not goobers on beach cruisers) are easily doing over 20 MPH. It’s gotta SUCK to get hit by ANYTHING doing over 20 MPH. Hell, I clocked myself doing over FIFTY miles per hour going down a really long hill in Palos Verdes. That was awesome. I knew if I hit any kind of serious hole/rock/etc, I was gonna get splattered. It was sooo awesome. That is like..suicide by cyclist, right??

Apparently you can also use your bicycle during drive by shootings, which is giving me a lot of ideas. Trust me, I often thought about packin’ some serious heat and/or a crowbar in my bike jersey to smash car windows of those who dare to get too close (and then are stuck at the stop light up ahead) and little children that scamper around the bike path.. or beach cruisers doing 5 MPH three abreast… the possibilities are endless! Yes, I suffer from extreme road/bike path rage.

And I will have you know that the entire time I wrote this post, a kitten was on my lap, purring and snuggling and trying to prevent me from typing with it’s truly murderous cuteness. I was not able to find any incidents of ‘death by kitten’, but the Google images for that term are adorable.

The Kitten


Click kitten pic to enlarge. Kitten’s name is ‘snap’. Kitten is orange.

52 thoughts on “I might not be a car, but I can still kill you

  1. Yesterday (in downtown Chicago) I called about 42 people f'ing idiots all at once for crossing against a red light when I had the green. I was cruising at about 18 mph (hey…it was uphill on the bridge over the river) and had to scream and yell my way through the crowd who were all clearly crossing without looking.

    One guy dropped his clipboard and pencil as he stopped suddenly to avoid what would have certainly been a painful collision for the both of us.

    Had I the time, I might have said to all of them, "I might not be a car, but I can still kill you." In retrospect, I feel awful about cursing at a bunch of strangers who don't deserve my rage built up from all the near misses in traffic. Unfortunately, it was the most jarring thing I could think of at the time to wake these sleepy pedestrians who blankly followed the first guy who decided to cross without paying attention to *all* of the traffic.

    To all of those people, I apologize. You're not f'ing idiots. However, you are a bunch of mindless morons.

      • yes you should apologize, unless you are one of the cyclists that actually stops at all red lights and stop signs.

        Cyclists have NO right to complain about others when they don't follow traffic laws themselves.

        Dont be a hypocrite by complaining when others take your right of way, because I know if your a racer or speed demon Im sure you dont obey all traffic laws either

        • I'm pretty sure that not all motorists follow all traffic laws. In fact, I'm certain of it. Nor do all skateboarders and pedestrians fully follow the rules. Even slow asses on 50 lb beach cruisers occasionally commit violations. So, you have NO right to complain. QED.

          PS. I dare you to obey the laws of spelling and grammar.

          • i was typing quickly because i had to leave for work so no time for spell check. And yes i do obey all traffic laws. I make full and complete stops at stopsigns with my bike, car, or motorcycle. As far as I know, skateboarders are considered pedestrians and are not governed by traffic laws.

            My point was that spee racers act like they have the right to ignore everyone else and the laws and that everyone has to get out of their way.

            its simple…

            Share the road, dont act like you own it.

            And Slow the fuck down when you are approaching other people.

            Yes, it takes 2 people not paying attion to have an accident. Since you all know the pedestrians and slow bikers are not expecting you then it is YOUR responsibility to prevent the accident by slowing down to a safe speed based on traccic. Just like in a car.

            You all have to stop being so self rightous and learn to be considerate of RESIDENTS, whos neighborhood you are visiting, and of others who are on the path, including pedestrians.

            I for one, would sute the ass of the dumb biker that didnt slow down and run into me because i was in his way.

            As far as people not following all traffic laws, well bicyclists are the worst. In the 2 years I lived in Playa Del Rey, not once did I see a bicyclist stop for the stop sign at the end of culver.

            And several of the cyclists had the nerve to complain to us residents because we were standing in the middle of the street on Trolley Way, which is not part of the bike path. If you all think your private bike path is so special and only yours then stay out of the residential streets that run parallel to it, or at least have respect and courtesy for residents, pedestrians, slo bikers and skateboarders

          • I'm not sure where in my previous post I insinuated that skateboarders are to follow the traffic laws that govern the use of bicycles and automobiles, but ok, let's move on.

            Nobody here is defending anyone that rides like they are in charge of the whole road.

            "Share the road, dont act like you own it. "

            Yeah that's pretty much exactly what I've been saying here all along.

            The rest of your post seems to be inane rambling so I'll just wrap it up here!

  2. "Trust me, I often thought about packin’ some serious heat and/or a crowbar in my bike jersey to smash car windows of those who dare to get too close (and then are stuck at the stop light up ahead) and little children that scamper around the bike path.. or beach cruisers doing 5 MPH three abreast… the possibilities are endless! Yes, I suffer from extreme road/bike path rage."

    Three words:

    U lock justice

    • Hm, I didn't see a speed limit posted on the bike path at that intersection. If that is the case, I MAY sort of kind of maybe be a little bit on the wrong side. Still, they should look both ways before crossing the bike-road. I'll keep an eye out for it and get a phone pic next time I'm on the bike path 🙂

  3. i'm a serious rider. Off the pavement.

    My bitch is simple. Roadies…

    let me remind you fancy boys that "share the road" is a ridiculous statement. I have to pay insurance, registration, and taxes and get a license to be on the road. If you want to share the road with vehicles, and think you have so many rights to be there and obnoxiously swerve into lanes of traffic and then get bent when we honk for you to move your narrow butt back in the bike lane, I suggest you pay the same as a motorist if you want those rights. Oh yea…not a right, its a privilage to drive on the roads we pay for out of taxes….

    I ride on the dirt and trails, sidewalks and street. I never get brazen enough to shout at moving cars because myself and my friends have overpriced road bikes and think we're all Lance Armstrong. =)

    theres my rant…

    word

    • I 1000% agree that if there is a bike lane, riders need to definitely stay within it. I <3 bike lanes – the issue I had here is that people were wandering all over the bike lane. There are kamikaze road cyclists and they give a serious bad name to the rest of us. I WISH I had a narrow butt – maybe then I would cut into traffic more. 😉 My child bearin' hips would probably knock someone's rear view mirror askew.

      I am going to try mountain biking this summer. I've only ever done trail biking, but I don't have my trail bike anymore. If you have any links or advice for a newbie MTB, send them to me!!

    • Holy shit! Are you retarded?

      Share the road is not at all a ridiculous statement, except when it comes to entitled fuckfaces like yourself. You do not own the road. Check the law. If you're here in CA, it's CVC 21202.

      Guess what? The existence of a bike lane does not limit the cyclist to that lane exclusively! This is especially true when the bike lane is riddled with cracks and potholes, or covered in trash, or filled with wandering idiots. Cyclists also need to exit the bike lane to make legal left turns, and to pass slower traffic.

      As to your moronic argument about insurance or taxes or whatever: between a bike and a car (any car, I don't care, pick one), which one does more damage to the road? Do you pay taxes on something cyclists don't? Are you arguing that cyclists' taxes don't also go towards upkeep and maintenance of roads and highways? Surely by this "logic," cyclists have more of a right to the road than you since they are getting less for their money than you are.

      The idea that cyclists should "pay the same as motorists" is so laughably stupid that I can't believe you actually put it forth. Tell me how many more auto accidents there are per mile, per capita, per whatever than bike accidents.

      It's really too bad that you're going to get home a whole 30 seconds later because someone is on a bike, but you should probably just deal with it instead of being a whiny diaper baby.

      • The stress of having a cyclist swerve in front of you is probably not "OMG, I was forced to press the decelerator, lowering my trip average mph by 0.05!" but rather, "wow, this person almost committed suicide on my fender, and we both would be traumatized for life"

        I often play the role of a pedestrian in this fair city. When I'm crossing at the green walk signal, I keep a very hairy eyeball on any car approaching the intersection. I could argue left, right, and center about pedestrian vs motorist rights, I could get downright philosophical on the subject. But all the rights, privileges, and flawless logic in the world wont beat physics if a car hits me. All the lawsuits in the world couldn't bring me satisfaction if my mobility were compromised for life, or if I'm dead.

        Do cyclists and pedestrians deserve respite from the tyrannical internal combustion overlords? Yes, we do. But cars get into accidents with each other every day. All the rights and outrage in the world wont save a fleshbag that gets into an accident with a car. So this fleshbag, at least, will give right of way on the side of caution.

        And wont resort to ad hominems.

        • Cool condescending post.

          It's fence-sitter bullshit like this that leads to drivers that think they entitled to all of the road.

          Might doesn't make right.

          • I'm not sitting on a fence, reality can be a grim place where the good die young and Old Yeller catches rabies.

            Reality: cars hit each other all the time, with catastrophic results. Due to cars being roughly the same weight class, and reasonably likely to suffer equally, both drivers can tout rights and laws, and the righteous prevail. Or at least return to zero from negative.

            Peds/cyclists /= same weight class. No matter who is right, the ped/cyclist will suffer exponentially more in the event of a collision. So therefor, as a ped/cyclist, I take extra care to avoid aforementioned suffering.

            Does this mean that motorists enjoy enhanced right-of-way when I'm around, even if they're not aware of it? Yes, it does. Because whatever Los Angeles law says, let's face it- Newton's First Law trumps it, granting motorists areas of freedom greater than my own.

            This doesn't mean they have the right to enter my space, or speed through crosswalks and red lights. Might does not make right.

            And seriously, whether I am cautious or not does not lead drivers to think they are entitled to the entire road. That's called "being an asshole", or perhaps "being less aware of your surroundings and not being as considerate of your fellow man than is ideal".

            And on another serious note, do you believe your tone is making a difference in the other direction?

          • I agree with you completely that riding defensively and courteously is the best way to ride. It's how I ride.

            I just think the argument that "cars weigh more, so *you.* cyclists, need to be EXTRA careful," while true, places the responsibility for everyone's safety more on the cyclist, when it should be shared. And is not.

            Do I think my tone in what are effectively anonymous comments arguing with an asshole who already has his mind made up is making a difference for cyclists' rights? No, I do not.

            I am, however, able to employ different tactics in different situations!

            I notice you didn't mention the stress of having a car cut you off, or slam on the brakes in front of you, or edge into your lane, or open a door into the left most lane as you're approaching. It's not so much that I have to hit my brakes, but "wow, this person almost killed me, and still doesn't even know I'm here! And if I say something to them, they'd say 'you shouldn't be in the road anyway!'"

  4. and FYI, i carry an air horn now for the local obnoxious Roadies….

    its only used when they block traffic, shout obcenities and think they have more of a right to be there than a registered and licensed driver.

    I'm thoroughly embarrassed by those tools….I've been riding for 25 years solid and am disgusted by the local road bike groups.

    share the road….really?

    hows a bout you try to stay in the bike lanes….???? safer for you that way…or hell, trade in your silly road bikes and costumes and get a real bike with some real tires and kick up some dust… 😀

    • It's not "blocking traffic" when you are traffic.

      No one says cyclists have more of a right to the road than motorists, but they do in fact have the SAME right, unfortunately for you.

  5. Well, on the other hand. The bike trail is not just for racers. The bike trail I ride on Sundays is a path to the beach. Yes, there are families out there.

    It's not speedway and not a race. I've been hit once and my knee messed up. I love my pink beach cruiser and I ride it to the beach on Sunday. With there so much obesity in this country it is great to see families out for a bike ride on the bike trail. It's refreshing. And the bike trail is public for the public not just bike a thoners. Thanks. And me and my cruiser got hit going downhill in a single lane bike lane. Mr. Lance wanna be tried to pass me w/o letting me know! I had him and 2 bikes on top of me. My cruiser is a bike and I ride in the bike lane if there is one. This accident happened on a busy street and we were lucky we didn't fall in the car lane. Instead I got smashed upside a curb, just missed the phone pole.

    • Wow, I hope you are OK, MaryAnn!

      I also love seeing families on the bike paths, and I personally avoid biking on the bike paths on the weekends, as you are right – families and beach cruisers will be on the weekends. (Though it peeves me when parents put helmets on their kids but don't wear helmets – https://www.thrownchain.com/2010/06/safe-sex-safe-

      I hate the jerks that don't have the courtesy to say 'on your left!'. I hope the guy that took you down got busted up and learned a lesson (his feet were probably clipped to his pedals, for extra suck-ouch factor).

      I guess for me, as one of those evil spandex wearing road bikers trying to go 20 MPH on the beach path is when the beach cruisers are three abreast. But again, flying down the beach path should be reserved for 6 AM on a weekday.

      I love hearing the beach cruiser perspective, as I don't know anyone that owns/rides a beach cruiser. Thanks so much for posting!! Keep on ridin and stay safe!

  6. I use to live in playa del rey, right on the beach and i cant tell you how many bicyclists use to piss off the residents there cause of your self rightious racer attitudes.You cyclists complain about people on your bike path. Tell me how many of you OBEY the LAW and stop at the sop sign at the end of culver bl. No you guys all run it with no concern for cars or skateboarders or pedestrians.

    The beach bike path is NOT a race course, it is for all bicyclists to enjoy, even beach cruisers.

    So you wanna carry a crowbar with you. Why dont you get off your high horse and stop acting like you racers own the path and share it with everyone. And dont get all pissy when skateboarders skate all over the ACCESS ROAD above the bike path. I know you guys like it cause its straight, but you have your own path.

    One of you guys was even so rude to try to push my friend off his skateboard and this was NOT on the bike path.

    You racers need to chill out and stop riding like jerks.

    If you want to race, find a velodrome or ride on the street like other vehicles.

    And obey stop signs and stop lights or keep your mouth shut about other people not obeying the law by being on the bikepath.

    In other words, stop being such a self rightous jerk and SLOW down when you see people on the path. Follow all laws because they apply to you too.

    SHARE THE ROAD AND STOP BEING A JERK

  7. I came across this after a few hairy moments on my 40 mile ride today. For instance, saying "On your left" and the person whipped their head around and veered sharply to the left. Luckily there was enough time for me to move even further left. Yikes.

    I get all the virtual yelling on both ends, but may I just say to Beach Resident that not all road bikers who race are jerks. Jeez. I get your frustration but to group ALL of us into your rant as being completely self absorbed, inconsiderate & a danger to the general public is totally nuts. Some people drive like maniacs and some people ride their bikes like maniacs. Odds are, those people are jerks in real life too. Not every road biker is an inconsiderate speed demon. I'm sorry that you've encountered so many bad apples among us but really, we're not all like that.

    Anyway, my initial point in posting here before I got all sensitive reading other comments 🙂 was to suggest making the drive over to the LA River bike path. I'm sure it's not exactly right around the corner for you, but it's fairly open, flat and awesome for fast interval training all week long and before 10AM on the weekends. I see very few other people along it on my 6-8AM weekday rides and morning Sunday rides. Then if you're feeling saucy, you can head right into Griffith Park for some excellent hillwork.

    • I just biked the river trail for the LA River Ride – never been on it before! (Griffith to Long Beach & back). You are right – it's a great path for intervals, but I was pretty glad to have a guy friend with me on the trail. it got kind of.. sketchy.. in some areas, so I'm not sure I'm comfortable riding it alone. 🙁

      This is why I totally support LACBC – more Type 1 bikeways (off streets) in LA would rock. My current saucy factor puts me into PV for hills, but you are right, i need to get my butt over to Griffith!!

    • Thanks nicole for your reply. Actually I have a canondale road bike and a specialized mountian bike. both of which i ride on the bike path. And yes i do ride them fast. BUT, i am considerate of others

      Yes, im sure many of you are good , decent, selfless people, but the Majority of racers on the bike path can be quite rude.

      When driving down trolley way, coming back from the grocery store, I have had to, on several occaisions, drive completely on the wrong side of the road cause some jerk racer thought it would be cute to take up the entire lane by riding closer to the middle of the street than to the curb. To what purpose???

      No why do bikers evfen ride on Trolley Way? Why do they ride the access road instead of their precious bike path, because the bike path is sandy, curvy and rough.

      So non bikers have to stay off the bike path, but they are still endangered by speed demons on the access road.

      Honestly, you can have the bike path all to yourselves, it sucks for skating. But when you choose not to ride on YOUR path do not demonize others for being in your way.

      These last comments were not directed at Nicole. And yes thank you nicole for suggesting alternate routs that are not crowded by pedestrians and skaters. You are all free to go as fast as you want in the LA river basin with no fear of anyone being in your way.

  8. Go to your local sporting goods store and buy a referee's whistle. Believe me it works better than any horn, bell or shouting. At intersections it will bring traffic to a grinding halt!! Also my fellow bikers; use a little common sense. It's not a good idea to hit the beach bike path at peak hours on weekends. If you want an uninterrupted speed run, get up early in the morning. If a child is injured or heaven forbid, killed by a bike, trust me, law enforcement will take it out on the cycling community. (we don't need the beach patrol out there with RADAR guns). And by the way, even though they're funny looking, beach cruisers are cool!!!

    • Heck, the LAPD is already taking frustration out on the biking community, but organizations like LACBC are helping work with law enforcement to make it better. I totally stay off the beach path on 'high traffic times'.

      I like the colors beach cruisers come in, but i don't think i'll ever be a convert. 😀

      • of course if more bikers were considerate of pedestrians, stop at stop signs and lights, then perhaps the LAPD would leave you all alone.

        You have to admit, If LAPD is frustrating the biking community, its probably because so many people complain about your rudeness and lack of "share the road" mentality.

        Obey traffic laws, show respect for others, and you will have no problem with the LAPD or beach residents

  9. Ultimately, we all have the right of the way. It really comes down to good manners and common sense, which not all of us have.

    These are open roads, not training courses. If something gets in your way, like it or not, it's OK, and you have to slow down.

    • Hell, I was getting pissed on the 405 the other day because people don't respect 'every other car' for merging. You are right – comes down to good manners; it takes one jerk to ruin it for the rest of us.

  10. The problem is not kids or others who are legally allowed to use a shared use pathway. The problem is the legislators who define so called "Class I bike paths" as essentially sidewalks that tolerate bicycling use. Here is Streets and Highways Code (SHC) Section 890.4(a):

    ===========================

    890.4. As used in this article, "bikeway" means all facilities that provide primarily for bicycle travel. For purposes of this article, bikeways shall be categorized as follows:

    (a) Class I bikeways, such as a "bike path," which provide a completely separated right-of-way designated for the exclusive use of bicycles and pedestrians with crossflows by motorists minimized.

    ===========================

    Until such time as the legislature stops mixing bicyclists and peds together, as if bicyclists were a kind of rolling ped, this problem will continue. Don't blame legally allowed path users from exercising their right to use paths.

    On the subject of path user behavior, you will note that there are no operating rules for paths in the CA Vehicle Code (CVC), though the CVC does allow local authorities (read that as cities and counties) to create their own regulations if they so choose per 21206 (and I know of no cities that have created path operating codes analogous to the CVC movement rules for drivers), so peds and bicyclists can pretty much legally ride any damn way they see fit. So even if one is a fast cyclist with good traffic cycling skills, these won't do that cyclist much good in an environment that fosters pedestrian behavior. There is one other exception, CVC 21966, wherein if a useable pedestrian facility is available, a pedestrian must use the ped facility and not the path, though this code is rarely enforced, and most paths do not have an adjacent ped facility.

    The basic "rule" for paths is to slow down and expect to have to negotiate as a pedestrian, because the legislature treats us as peds-on-wheels on so called "bike paths". Bicyclists DO NOT have any intrinsic right of way over other users on shared use pathways. Even if there is an adjacent pedestrian facility available, which peds are required to use, it is still not legally clear who has priority if a ped uses the path instead of the walkway. So if you want to make paths better bicycling facilities, legal reform is needed…

    – Dan Gutierrez –

    Long Beach, CA

    (562) 244-4145 Cell

    Dan.Gutierrez@Charter.Net

    Organizational Affiliations

    Local:

    Long Beach Cyclists, Technical Advisory Committee Chair

    Aerospace Cycling Club, Founder and Current President

    SouthBay Westside Transportation Mgmt. Assoc., Board Member

    State:

    CA Assoc. of Bicycling Organizations (CABO), District 7 Director

    CABO Education Committee Co-Chair http://www.cabobike.org/
    Caltrans District 7 Bicycle Advisory Committee, Policy Chair

    National:

    League of American Bicyclists (LAB), Certified Instructor, LCI #962
    http://www.bikeleague.org/
    Dual Chase Productions LLC, Co-Creator http://www.dualchase.com/
    Dual Chase video hosting at Cyclist View http://www.cyclistview.com/
    YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/CyclistLorax

  11. The problem is not kids or others who are legally allowed to use a shared use pathway. The problem is the legislators who define so called "Class I bike paths" as essentially sidewalks that tolerate bicycling use. Here is Streets and Highways Code (SHC) Section 890.4(a):

    ===========================

    890.4. As used in this article, "bikeway" means all facilities that provide primarily for bicycle travel. For purposes of this article, bikeways shall be categorized as follows:

    (a) Class I bikeways, such as a "bike path," which provide a completely separated right-of-way designated for the exclusive use of bicycles and pedestrians with crossflows by motorists minimized.

    ===========================

    Until such time as the legislature stops mixing bicyclists and peds together, as if bicyclists were a kind of rolling ped, this problem will continue. Don't blame legally allowed path users from exercising their right to use paths.

    On the subject of path user behavior, you will note that there are no operating rules for paths in the CA Vehicle Code (CVC), though the CVC does allow local authorities (read that as cities and counties) to create their own regulations if they so choose per 21206 (and I know of no cities that have created path operating codes analogous to the CVC movement rules for drivers), so peds and bicyclists can pretty much legally ride any damn way they see fit. So even if one is a fast cyclist with good traffic cycling skills, these won't do that cyclist much good in an environment that fosters pedestrian behavior. There is one other exception, CVC 21966, wherein if a useable pedestrian facility is available, a pedestrian must use the ped facility and not the path, though this code is rarely enforced, and most paths do not have an adjacent ped facility.

    The basic "rule" for paths is to slow down and expect to have to negotiate as a pedestrian, because the legislature treats us as peds-on-wheels on so called "bike paths". Bicyclists DO NOT have any intrinsic right of way over other users on shared use pathways. Even if there is an adjacent pedestrian facility available, which peds are required to use, it is still not legally clear who has priority if a ped uses the path instead of the walkway. So if you want to make paths better bicycling facilities, legal reform is needed…

    – Dan Gutierrez –

    Long Beach, CA

    (562) 244-4145 Cell

    Dan.Gutierrez@Charter.Net

    Organizational Affiliations

    Local:

    Long Beach Cyclists, Technical Advisory Committee Chair

    Aerospace Cycling Club, Founder and Current President

    SouthBay Westside Transportation Mgmt. Assoc., Board Member

    State:

    CA Assoc. of Bicycling Organizations (CABO), District 7 Director

    CABO Education Committee Co-Chair

    Caltrans District 7 Bicycle Advisory Committee, Policy Chair

    National:

    League of American Bicyclists (LAB), Certified Instructor, LCI #962

    Dual Chase Productions LLC, Co-Creator

    Dual Chase video hosting at Cyclist View

    YouTube Channel: “CyclistLorax”

    • Hi Dan,

      Thanks so much for all the information. I guess what confuses me is that the bike paths say 'Bikes Only', yet there are always pedestrians on them. In Manhattan/Hermosa Beach, there is a beautiful pedestrian walkway near the bikeway, yet there are still pedestrians on the bikeway. 🙁

      I would love to interview you, if you have time, for a post centered around this topic. I am surprised at the vehemence this post created, and feels it warrants further discussion.

      Thanks again for all the info!

      Cheers,

      sparky

  12. On the subject of roadway rights. CVC 21200 gives cyclist the rights and duties of drivers, including roadway access and the right to control lanes, subject to 21654 and 21656 (on two lane roads) when cyclists are slower than other traffic. Laws like 21202 and 21208 take away our right to control lanes, with certain exceptions. The exceptions in 21202 and 21208 DO NOT give us any rights, they simply show where the restrictions of these discriminatory laws do not apply and where 21200 and the rest of the normal driving rules still apply. Think of it this way: If 21202 and 21208 did not exist, where could cyclists moving slower than other traffic legally operate? Per 21654, in the right hand lane, with no edge or curb restrictions unless the roadway has no marked lanes; exactly the same as other drivers; which is the point of 21200!

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