One Way Means One Way

This one really pisses me off. People who ride their bikes the wrong way down one way streets. There is no excuse for this. When you're on a bike you're considered a vehicle, that means stop signs, one way streets, speed limits, they all apply.

So I saw this girl (college aged) riding her bike against traffic down a one way street neat my office. She started on the left side of the street. Then she darted across both lanes in front of traffic to the far right side and made a right turn. That incident provoked me into writing this rant. I couldn't understand what I was seeing. What was she thinking? I can't even get into a mindset where riding a bike across two lanes of traffic going the wrong way makes any sense.

Sure it might be inconvenient to ride a whole block out of your way just because the street you want to be on is one way, but you wouldn't even consider such a stupid move in a car. Its illegal for a reason. Its just downright dangerous.

Grr... you got a bike now Get A Brain!

What a jackass!

I feel like a complete moron. I've been doing some research on California bicycle law for my bike law rant. While reading California vehicle code section 21202, I realized that for the past few months I've been breaking the law.

Part 'b' of section 21202 says "Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable." Which is weird what with the "may" instead of "shall" but its not what I was expecting.

I picked up the habit from a friend (who I assumed was following proper law) of riding in the left side of the right lane on one way streets with two lanes. This makes sense to me because that way the cyclist (me) is as visible as possible to cars and it still leaves the left lane completely open for motorists to pass if they need to. However it seems that the legally suggested place for me to ride would be the far left side. It would also be permissible for me to take the far right side according to part 'a' which reads "Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway" Notice that this one says "shall"

So when people have been honking at me to get out of their way and I've been ignoring them, I've been the jackass. Oh well, live and learn and know the rules before you get all indignant.

Hello world!

Hello all. I just started this blog today. I ride a bike to work and I'm proud of it. Its good exercise, its enjoyable, and best of all its non-polluting. I think more people should ride bikes. I also think some people need to learn how to ride their bikes right.

I need a place to rant about these things and other things. You guessed it this is that place for me. If you don't like what I have to say, too bad. I'm saying it anyway. If you like what I'm saying maybe you'll recommend my blog to your friends.

If you don't have a bike. Get a Bike! If you do, good job now learn to ride it. Thats all for now, check back later for more. (or get an rss reader).