Palm Beach Post: Bad Drivers, Bad Bikers - 29 September, 2006This week’s story on the new state law requiring motorists to maintain a minimum 3-foot safe distance when passing bicyclists drew quite a few comments, from one extreme to the other. Here’s a sampling:

“I’m a 21 year veteran of A1A cycling. I know every inch of roadway between Boca and Palm Beach. It amazing to me that we still don’t have proper bike lanes on A1A. The new law is a step in the right direction. I expect we will see minimal enforcement, but at least we will heighten motorist awareness.”

And from the other side:

“When the bicyclists stop riding 3 and 4 abreast, obey traffic signals/signs, pay for a vehicle registration and are required to posses insurance equal to that of a motorist, then they have a right to complain. Until that time, they are potential menu items at the Roadkill Cafe.”

That pretty much says it all. There are good drivers and bad drivers, good cyclists and bad cyclists.

Bikers who ride four abreast and ignore traffic signals are just as bad as drivers who speed and blow through red lights. Renegade cyclists give those who follow the law a bad name.

That’s why the Florida Bicycle Association and the Palm Beach County Law Enforcement Planning Council are working together to develop a training program to keep police officers up-to-date on cycling laws and encourage better enforcement.

Police should ticket cyclists who illegally impede traffic, just as they should cite drivers who run bikers off the road. Plain and simple.

State law says cyclists have every right to be on the road. Why can’t we all get along?

Comments

By George Martin September 30, 2006 09:14 AM

Chuck, Good work for getting the word out. It is only through public awareness that we will be able to eventually make the roads safer and more friendly for all. Presently, cyclists and motorists must share inadequate facilities. Bike lanes would help solve the problems and make enforcement easier, but education and tolerance will always be required. Geo

By nelly September 30, 2006 03:59 PM

some bicyclists drive like they’re pedestrians and use the pavement as their roads. I agree, there are bad drivers everywhere including those who refused to stop using cell phones while driving!

By nelly September 30, 2006 04:00 PM
some bicyclists drive like they’re pedestrians and use the pavement as their road. I agree, there are bad drivers everywhere including those who refuse to stop using cell phones while driving!

By Larry September 30, 2006 05:37 PM

So…the wednesday night bike group that rides a1a through Manalapan and OCEAN Ridge that rides 5 and 6 abreast expects me to give 3 feet when I pass..It ain;t gonna happen. I do believe STATE STATUTE mandates that bikes ride SINGLE file..If the bikers were single file just maybe the cars would not be so close. I’m NOT crossing the double line for anyone.

By Gregory Gangitano September 30, 2006 06:36 PM

Motorcycles are allowed to ride 2 abreast in a single lane. So are bikes: 316.2065 Bicycle regulations: section 6) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway may not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

Persons riding two abreast may not impede traffic when traveling at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing and shall ride within a single lane. What this means is if they can fit 3, 4, or more people abreast in the bike lanes, then it is totally legal for the riders to do so.

Drivers don’t realize, (unless they are also riders) that bikers have to swerve for things that will damage tires, or make us slip. I’ve been riding for 4 years back and forth to work, and have experienced the fall due to a sudden loss of tire pressure. Hit a patch of sand with glass in it.Thank God no cars were coming at the time… it threw me off the bike and into the street.

Pay attention when you see one of us, after all, Cars were once considered the oddity on the roads. As the price of gas increases, you may one day find yourself considering biking as well. Have a blessed day

By janine September 30, 2006 10:54 PM

Why can’t bicyclists ride on the sidewalks. If an accident was to happen between a pedestrian and a bicyclist, atleast they would live to talk about it. An automobile and a bike are just not even playing fields. Also, if sidewalks aren’t available, bicyclists should face the oncoming traffic. From experience, someone dear to me died instantly and never saw it coming. It wasn’t due to bad driving, or 2-3 deep bicyclying, the roads just aren’t large enough for both.

By Chris October 1, 2006 09:41 AM

Most cyclist are also drivers. We do pay registration fees for our cars. The point is that we cycle because that is what we like to do. We don’t want the whole road just a safe place to ride on it. There is no reason for cars to see how close they can come to you or for that matter get on top of you and blow there horns. Kid stuff. Hunters hunt in the woods. cyclist are saying hey we have to stay out of that section of woods we pay taxes for. People surf fish on the beach. We don’t say hey we pay for that section of beach in our taxes we want to swim there. Everyone has their hobby we all need to grow up a little and respect that. That one kid riding that bike lane may be your kid.