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by Dennis_delaPena from Austin, Texas

Last Post 50 minutes Ago


I need a ruling here...
May 6, 2008 | 10:57 AM
Category: Traffic
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Featured On: MyFoxAustin

I value cyclists.  After all, they leave a much smaller carbon footprint than us gas-guzzling, motor vehicle types.  However... I have one major beef:

Why can a bicycle have it BOTH ways on the street?

The same cyclist who chooses to ride with the big boys in the car lanes (and who usually slows down the already brutal Austin traffic), can then cruise through the red lights when the cars are forced to stop!  And what's with the boldest bikers who "upgrade" their red light position by weaving through stopped cars?

Is this legal? 

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Member Comments Total Comments: 12
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mspurlin read my blog view my photos
May 6, 2008 | 2:07 PM

No DDP, NONE of that is legal.

When a cyclist is riding on a city street, they are expected to follow the same laws that a car follows. These include stopping for red lights, stop signs, and not weaving in and out of lanes.

If a police officer observes this behavior, they can write the cyclists a ticket.

In the past i have contacted APD about this and was instructed to let them know what areas of town are problem areas, so that they can beef up patrols. If this sort of thing is happening near your neighborhood, feel free to contact your city's police department to request something be done about it.
Dennis_delaPena read my blog
May 7, 2008 | 4:40 PM

Thanks for the help, MSpurl.

Maybe I can have APD deputize me and I can clean up the streets one "weaver" at a time!
mathman read my blog view my photos
May 21, 2008 | 10:35 PM

We're going to spend a ton of money putting in red light cameras that are going to take pictures of bicycles running red lights and be totally impotent to do anything about it because they are not required to register their vehicle and have tags to track the owners. I think it's time for that. I, too, despise bicycles on the street and believe they have no right to be there because they break the law. In the last 6 months, I have seen one biker stop for a red light and remain stopped even though no traffic was coming. The other hundreds I have seen ran the light with impunity knowing that no cops would give them a ticket. It's a cash cow our city council could salivate over if they thought about it.
Dennis_delaPena read my blog
May 22, 2008 | 9:05 AM

If you write up the petition, Mathman...
I'll be the first one to sign it!
Relentless read my blog
Jun 8, 2008 | 10:50 AM

Count me in, Mathman!
BadMan read my blog
Aug 7, 2008 | 4:39 PM

a great punishment for bicyclers who are convicted of traffic violations would be to make them wear regular clothes for six months.

Which brings up the point of where do these people change clothes when they get to work? I don't recall ever seeing anyone in spandex and a balloon helmet working in a cube farm. I don't recall seeing any of them carrying a suitcase on the bike.
Maybe they all work in Bicycle shops.
CRYSTALCHRIS read my blog
Aug 24, 2008 | 5:48 AM

DENNIS THEY ARE BREAKING THE LAW EACH TTIME THEY RUN A RED LIGHT TAKE A SHORTCUT INBETWEEN TRAFFIC ON AND ON , THE BEST WAY TO STOP IT IS LETS MAKE THE CYCLISTS TIRED OF US AS WE ARE OF THEM AND APPROACH THE COUNCIL WITH SOME NEW RULES FOR BIKES TO SLOW THE BAD DRIVING DOWN AND GET THEM ENFORCED. YOU HAVE GOT MR GOING NOW AS I AM SICK OF THE WHOLE BICYCLE THING. CHRIS CPR
Dennis_delaPena read my blog
Aug 29, 2008 | 9:43 AM

When do we march?

I've always been good at complaining... not as good at doing something about it.

BadMan, you get the bullhorn... CC, you get the protest signs... and I'll make some calls.

It's time to rally!
nascently view my photos
Aug 29, 2008 | 8:20 PM

OK, let me get this straight.

Bicyclists bad
because they break the rules and wear funny clothes.

I agree they should obey the rules (and it is annoying that they don't)

but if you add up all the times you see a car driver break the rules, which includes weaving and running red lights/stop signs, versus a bicyclist you will find 100 times more infractions by cars. And while you are at it compare how often they put you in danger, and how much time they waste and I imagine the same ratio will hold.

I can understand the concern about bicyclists but in the overall scheme of things they are a microscopic problem.

The real issue is that some people just don't like them and so they level their anger at them for doing things that they will ignore when done by motorists.
CRYSTALCHRIS read my blog
Aug 31, 2008 | 4:51 AM

DENNIS I HAVE TALKED TO YOU BEFORE AND AUSTIN IS AN ECLECTIC TOWN WHERE SOMETIMES THE LAWS DON'T SEEM TO BE OBEYED BY ESPECIALLY BICYCLE RIDER AND MOTORCYCLE RIDERS. I HATE IT WHEN ANY BIKE RIDER SHOULD KNOW HE HAS TO OBEY ALL TRAFFIC LAWS. HOW ABOUT DENNIS WHEN THE MOTORCYCLES BLAST DOWN THE ROAD AT HIGH SPEEDS IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC AND IN BETWEEN CAR? MAKE ME MAD A HECK. BUT THE WORST I HAVE SEEN WAS A FATHER WITH ONE CHILED ON HIS BILE AND THE WIFE WITH THE OTHER KIDS AND THEY BLATANTLY RAN RED LITES DOWN ON THE DRAG AND DOWN 38TH TO SPEEDWAY, I CAUGHT UP TO HIM AND STOPPED HIM AND ASKED HIM IF HE LOVED HIS KIDS? HE SAISD WELL SURE I AM OUT DOING THINGS WITH THEM." i TOLD HIM WELL THEN ACT LIKE IT AND QUIT PUTTING THEIR TINY LIVES AT RICK WHILE YOU AND THE WIFEY HAVE FUN RUNNIN INTERSECTIONS YOU ALMOST GOT CREAMED BACK AT 38 AND THE DRAG AND YOU DID NOT EVEN SEE THE CAR OR TURN AROUND!! THAT PO'S ME DENNIS CHRIS
Dennis_delaPena read my blog
Aug 31, 2008 | 7:40 PM

You tell 'em CrystalChris!
I hadn't even brought up the safety considerations.

Nascently: I don't dislike cyclists because they're cyclists. I actually applaud them for getting off their rump and living a healthy lifestyle (funny clothes or not).

I do, however, despise people who don't respect rules and/or others. Even though these cheaters are everywhere, I refuse to become numb to their blatant disregard for the rest of us.
nascently view my photos
Sep 1, 2008 | 5:54 PM

I would never argue for numbness. On the contrary. I'm simply saying that if you are perturbed by bad bicyclists you should be equally perturbed at bad motorists. Bicyclists are no worse than are motorists. Why should they be held to a different standard?

You might say they are different issues but I don't think they are. Mspurlin, unknowningly says it best, when he says, bicyclists "are expected to follow the same laws that a car follows." Which is exactly what they do. They, like motorists, follow all the laws for which they can't break and get way with. For instance how often do you see a motorist blow through a late yellow light? Every light change pretty much, right. Because they can get away with it. And look at all the cars that have radar detectors (a free pass to get away with breaking the law). Or how about those %^&*holes who you see drive up to a store, go in, and buy a single serve beer and can "get away with it" because its in a magical little brown paper bag that makes it not really exist.

And if I were to characterize people who "don't respect rules and/or others", are "cheaters", and "have blatant disregard for the rest of us" that would be appropriate for the majority of motorists. I'm all for raising the bar on the roadway. Heck, I wouldn't mind raising it so high that half the population is no longer allowed to drive, but you have to raise it for everyone. I just don't understand this anti-bike crusade.

Crystalchris, for instance, relates an admonishment he levied on a bicyclist for putting his kids at risk. Does that mean he als
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Dennis_delaPena

Be sure to listen for "de la Pick'ems" on 101X FM (every Friday morning with hip DJs Jason and Deb). I'll also try to post my football picks here Friday afternoons... along with some random sports takes.

Member Since: 9/21/2006