Comments on: Impeding Traffic Is…

By: chriss

chriss — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:30:58 +0000

@ kotcher: Police will generally cite you for impeding traffic if your right in the middle of the road, going really slow, like under 10mph. I am usually over 15mph, and most of the lanes where I live are narrow(under 12ft) so I take the lane almost always, unless conditions make it safe for motorists to pass within the same lane. Don’t expect police to know safer cycling practices, so they can and probably will cite you for impeding traffic, even if your following the laws.

By: A. kotcher

A. kotcher — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:22:32 +0000

here is a question when can i be cited for not riding close enough to the right side of the road? if i am riding 3 abreast can i be cited for not being close enough to the right curb?

By: Practical Elegance and the Principles of Traffic | Florida Bicycle Law

Practical Elegance and the Principles of Traffic | Florida Bicycle Law — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:40:11 +0000

[...] clarity I have on traffic dynamics and impedance must be credited to Mighk Wilson, Keri Caffrey and Herman May who have done most of the heavy lifting for [...]

By: chriss

chriss — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:39:19 +0000

I have a couple guidelines I go by. One is that I AM considered a vehicle, and can take up as much of the lane as I need to be visible and to be safe, and make other driver’s move over, as they are required to do. Now if the lane is more than 11 feet and if there is no driveways or intersections I will let them pass within the same lane, again only if its wide enough to share safely. I used to ride towards the curb but kept getting passed too closely and in alot of cases the car driver passes in the face of oncoming traffic, nearly taking out other vehicles. I simply do not allow them to do that any more. Far too risky for me and to other motorists. It does not hurt you to wait behind a cyclist especially when they work hard to go at speeds sometimes. Show respect to me and you’ll get my respect back.

By: fred_dot_u

fred_dot_u — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:15:27 +0000

D.Dean, you use the term safely, but in the wrong context, in my opinion. It is certainly not safer for the cyclist to encourage a motorist to pass in such a manner as to endanger the cyclist. You suggest that “it’s just plain rude” but consider the impact on the cyclist if the cyclist is struck by the motor vehicle.

As a former “stripe-rider” and “gutter-bunny”, I’ve had my share of uncomfortably close passes by unskilled motorists. As a current vehicular cyclist, I enjoy a far safer experience. If I am delaying a motorist, it is likely measured in seconds. A thirty second delay for a motorist is on a par with that experienced by a stopped school bus or a red traffic light.

By: MighkW

MighkW — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:49:48 +0000

D., there is of course a major difference between bicyclists and other slow-moving vehicles — they are much narrower. It’s simply not possible in a narrow lane for a motorist to pass a horse-drawn carriage or another automobile within the same lane.

If motorists were reliably conscientious about passing cyclists safely, edge riding might be a reasonable approach. But unsafe passing is a routine here in Florida. I see no reason why bicyclists should not be able to drive defensively, like all other drivers.

The potential risk you describe of a passing motorist having a conflict with an on-coming vehicle may have some minor merit, but I have seen such problems with motorists passing me when I was an edge rider, as well as when they pass me as a motorist.

I had far too many close passes during my 100,000+ miles as an edge rider, and know of quite a few edge riders who’ve been sideswiped. The worst risk is with trailers, where the cyclist gets hit by some sharp edge or the fender because the driver tried to squeeze by and forgot his trailer was wider.

Lane control is only necessary when the lane is too narrow to share or when other potential risks (sightlines, door zones, etc) make it necessary. That is why Florida law — and the laws in all states — specifically allow it.

By: D. Dean

D. Dean — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:04:49 +0000

All slow moving vehicles (bicyclists included) should generally stay to the right side of their lane. If makes passing able to be done more quickly and safely because a passing car does not have to swing completely into the left lane to pass. A quick, partial swing to the left and they are past you MUCH more quickly and safely. If you “take the lane” you force passing to take longer and you risk having someone who unexpectedly must swing back quickly to possibly hit you there in the center of the lane. Why risk that? You should ride to the right to permit passing to take place more quickly and safely. Don’t be a lane “control freak”. Its just plain rude and is actually far less safe in my opinion.

By: MighkW

MighkW — Mon, 18 May 2009 00:50:02 +0000

Bicycles are vehicles. Electric-assist bicycles that do not go more than 20 mph under motor power on level ground are defined as bicycles.

The cyclist “in a hurry” in that group simply gives polite warnings as he/she weaves through.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Mon, 18 May 2009 00:10:10 +0000

Where is the picture taken? That’s pretty cool.

What happens when one cyclist is in a much more enhanced hurry than the others?

I’ve seen A LOT of those e-ikes lately. Are those vehicles or bikes?

By: MighkW

MighkW — Thu, 07 May 2009 12:32:39 +0000

Oh, and Florida defines traffic as:

“Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, and vehicles, streetcars, and other conveyances either singly or together while using any street or highway for purposes of travel.”