lasher@via.DEC (Lew Lasher - DTN 381-2651) (04/26/85)
In Massachusetts, the law requires cyclists to obey all vehicular traffic regulations, with the one exception that bicycles are allowed to pass on the right. The earlier posting referred, I believe, to "passing on the right at traffic lights." I wasn't sure if this was supposed to mean going through a red light in addition to passing on the right. Going through a red light is of course illegal and is generally a bad idea anyway. Lew Lasher Digital Equipment Corporation
fwy@brunix.UUCP (Felix Yen) (04/30/85)
I never pass cars on the right when they are stopped at a red light (assuming that none of us are turning). I might do it if I was in a hurry and was going to turn right at the intersection, but in general I think it's a bad idea. I don't like to ride near the curb unless it's absolutely necessary. Why risk riding into a grating whose slots run the wrong way? Why risk riding through broken glass? The primary danger to a bicyclist in traffic is cars. The reason why your life is threatened is your lack of size and visibility. There's nothing you can do about your size, but there is something you can do about your visibility, i.e. stay away from the curb unless it's abso- lutely necessary. I like to ride in or near the left tire track in order to maximize my visibility. If a car wants to pass me and I don't feel that it's safe, I maintain my position until I think it's safe. Then, I move over and let the car pass. I feel that I am most vulner- able while being passed. Consequently, I try to minimize the number of times that I am passed and maximize the width of the road when I am being passed. The primary reason why I will not pass cars stopped at an intersection is that by passing them, I am increasing the number of times that I will be passed. I have little to gain, usually only a few seconds, and a lot to lose. At red lights, I maintain my visibility by staying in the middle of the lane. If a line of cars forms behind me, I often pull off the road as soon as possible to allow them to pass safely. If I can not ride fast enough to keep up with traffic, I find an alternate route, or I ride near the curb. Passing on the right also risks running into a car door. How many people look before opening the right door of a car? Red lights are often great places to let people off. Taking up the whole lane does piss off some drivers. But a lot of those people don't like bicyclists no matter where they ride. I think a lot of their hate is justified. I often notice bicyclists breaking laws and endangering lives. (Sometimes, I'm tempted to run them over for being such cretins. :-) I'd like to see more bicyclists punished for crimes such as sidewalk speeding, riding the wrong way on one-way streets, and riding without reflectors/lights at night. The pollyanna in me says that more drivers will treat us with more respect if more bicyclists obey the rules of the road. I infer from previous postings that a large majority of bicyclists pass on the right at red lights. I guess I must be crazy. Felix
tron@fluke.UUCP (Peter Barbee) (05/06/85)
I guess I was the one that first suggested bikes not pass on the right. There has been a lot of discussion (interesting I thought) about how I was or wasn't wrong, but naturally enough I didn't convey my meaning as well as possible the first time. When I said "not passing on the right" I meant that I consider it wrong and dangerous if I pass a car on the right when 1) that car is standing at a light and 2) there is not enough room on the street for the car to easily pass me in return Among other reasons for this opinion is my (admittedly curious) sense of values that says "The car was there first and I have no right to pass it illegally". It just seems discourteous, and my lack of courtesy certainly does not promote courtesy on the car driver's part. I realize that these are only my opinions, but that also means I don't have to justify them. Sincerely, Peter B