janc@uofm-cv.UUCP (Jan D. Wolter) (09/30/83)
Generally bicycle laws are made by automobilists. (e.g., in Ann Arbor it is a law that every bike must carry a "bicycle warning device", namely a horn or a bell. This law is not enforced because they discovered that most bicyclists, when provoked, can issue loud and explicit warnings from their larynxs.) The problem of writing a bicycle traffic code was handled in the same automocentric fashion: the same vehical code that applies to cars, applies to bicycles. This actually works reasonably well, though police still try to ticket bicyclists for not hugging the curb closely enough. Ann Arbor is also blessed with sidewalk bike paths (namely ramps in the curbs at intersections) on most major streets and nearly all downtown streets. When riding on these, a bicycle is considered a pedestrian. (see how neat? we've got automobilists and pedestrians--no bicycles.) This also works reasonably well. The sport comes in the fuzzy zone when you're switching from one state to another. Liberally interpreted, these laws allow you wonderfull opportunities: for example, consider this intersection: | | | ^ | We have a major street going | | | | | east, crossing a minor street -------------------------+ Z +---------- going north. The cyclist is at "A" heading east on the bike main street path. He wants to go north on - - - - - - - - - - - - - the side street "Z". Suppose D-> the traffic light is red for cars going east on the main ---------------------^---+ +--------- street. The cylcist can cross | C-> | | | | | | as a peditrian at "B". Suppose --+ +-------+ B +-| side |--------- the light is green. The A-> bike path | street | cyclist uses the driveway "C" -------------------------| |---------- to merge into traffic, moving | | over to the left turn lane "D". He can now make a left turn. The point is, that I can legally cross the main street regardless of the color of the light, without waiting any longer than traffic requires. All this by being clever about when to be an "automobile" and when to be a "pedestrian". Many similar examples exist. This kind of thing can cause all sorts of problems too. The law requires that I signal my turns, but how do I distinguish "turning left onto bike path on this side of the road" from "turning left onto bike path on far side of road" from "turning left onto road"? It makes a big difference to the automobilists. Is it legal to make a left turn onto the bike path beside a road which is one-way in the other direction? It would seem so, but you are making a left turn in an intersection where no automobilist expects anyone to make a left turn. The ambiguities that arise are truely baroque. What fun!! Jan D. Wolter University of Michigan P.S. Turn signals are another example of automotive thinking. When making a tricky turn at high speeds in heavy traffic I'm supposed to let go of my handlebar, surrendering most of my steering and braking, just so I can wave my hand in the air? No thanks.