The Rules

[Mikey]

They are all good. Should we make our own set of “rules”. I can think of a few locally specific rules.

1. Call your passes, and only pass when safe
2. Acknowledge that tourists, while annoying, unawhare, and unsafe, generally pay the bills in this town. Don’t be a D!CK.
3. Leapfrogging is acceptable on the E.B. Custis Trail until you reach the Lee highway overpass over I-66. At this point you finish under the Caution Flag. Stay in order, don’t overlap wheels, and enjoy the drop.
4. Don’t Shoal, especially on Pennsylvania Ave.
5. Say Hello, Good afternoon, Nice Weather. . .

What would you add?

[peterw_diy]

Amend the blog’s Rule One to read “Don’t be a d*ck. To anyone. Even motorists.“

[Dickie]

I can ‘t help but be a Dick, sorry!

[Fast Friendly Guy]

@Mikey 82840 wrote:

They are all good. Should we make our own set of “rules”. I can think of a few locally specific rules.
What would you add?

Hello, my name is David, and I’m a recovering scofflaw-aholic.

Oh Mikey…I try to be good….I honestly TRY, but I’m bad.

1. I DO call my passes, ring my bell, and when I suspect an upcoming Crazy Ivan, I use my police whistle.. and then I only pass when I think it’s safe (which I hope is what you also think is safe–but it’s hard to know)
2. I acknowledge that tourists are annoying, unaware, and unsafe, generally, and out of kindness and respect I don’t use a blast from my police whistle unless I really need to for their safety.
3. Leapfrogging? I came into this world with a ‘Cat 6’ birthmark on my hind-side. Leapfrogging is acceptable here there and everywhere, and I DO enjoy the drop!.
4. I try not to Shoal, but then when the light changes, I know I’m just going to have to leapfrog!
5. No problems here….”I always say Hello, Rider; Good morning; How are you today?; Nice Weather. . .” (Just look at my forum name and, well…that’s me)
6. I’m getting better at stopping at red lights (even sometimes when there’re no cars, because I understand the value of setting a good example) and i’m working on slowing down for stop signs (Let’s just say I’m from Idaho)

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can;and wisdom to know the difference.

[Oldtowner]

I agree. These rules are a lot better than those other rules, but we do need our local rules. Somebody should start a wiki on this. It would be a great collaborative project.

[rcannon100]

Rule One: If you are worried about rules, you are missing the point.

Rule Two: See Rule One.

[culimerc]

Rule #1; Ride your own bike.
Rule#2; Lead by example.
Rule#3; Dont be a Dick.

[NicDiesel]

@Fast Friendly Guy 82884 wrote:

Hello, my name is David, and I’m a recovering scofflaw-aholic.1. I DO call my passes, ring my bell, and when I suspect an upcoming Crazy Ivan, I use my police whistle.. and then I only pass when I think it’s safe (which I hope is what you also think is safe–but it’s hard to know).

One of the only things I miss about the MVT is the dude that looked like a heavier David Ortiz that was always blowing a police whistle at clueless tourons and needledicks that were in a state of complete oblivion. Good to see someone else is carrying on that tradition.

[krazygl00]

I like these rules! Am I crazy for believing they’re not entirely incompatible with the other rules?

[dasgeh]

@Fast Friendly Guy 82884 wrote:

6. I’m getting better at stopping at red lights (even sometimes when there’re no cars, because I understand the value of setting a good example).

Honest question: Why shouldn’t drivers drive in the cycletrack when no bikes are around?

Why wouldn’t that logic apply to stopping at red lights when you’re on a bike?

[Bilsko]

@dasgeh 82948 wrote:

Honest question: Why shouldn’t drivers drive in the cycletrack when no bikes are around?

Why wouldn’t that logic apply to stopping at red lights when you’re on a bike?

If they can enter and exit the cycletrack at any point, then you could make the case that they should be allowed to. But if a driver sees no cyclist on a given block of the L. St. cycletrack, enters, and starts driving down…then if a cyclist pulls out of a garage half-way down the block it becomes a dangerous situation…unless the car can (and does) immediately exit the cycletrack. I think it comes down to a difference of distance/duration.

A rider can (could, rather) proceed through a red with no vehicles present, because they should be able to see far enough in any direction to determine that no car could arrive at the intersection before they’re safely through it. You can’t always say the same about a given length of cycletrack.

[NicDiesel]

@krazygl00 82927 wrote:

I like these rules! Am I crazy for believing they’re not entirely incompatible with the other rules?

THERE ARE OTHER RULEEZ?!?!?!!!?!11?!!

What is this madness you speak of?

[DismalScientist]

@Bilsko 82954 wrote:

… But if a driver sees no cyclist on a given block of the L. St. cycletrack, enters, and starts driving down…then if a cyclist pulls out of a garage half-way down the block it becomes a dangerous situation…

How did we ever survive L street before the cycletrack? Or any other street where cars and bikes share the same lane? Oh.. the carnage. Oh… the humanity! :rolleyes:

[Steve]

@dasgeh 82948 wrote:

Honest question: Why shouldn’t drivers drive in the cycletrack when no bikes are around?

Why wouldn’t that logic apply to stopping at red lights when you’re on a bike?

I think I would say that the cycletrack is a piece of infrastructure specifically built for cycling, in the same way that a sidewalk is for pedestrian use (at least in the central business district, or part of it). The light, on the other hand, is a signal or control. Obviously lots of us think that the uniform application of control laws designed for cars does no make sense. Cars are bigger, faster, do not have all of the sightline advantages or bikes, etc., so I think that applying some control laws differently makes sense.

I obey almost every red light, because I like to set what I think is the right example. But in the morning, I cross the Ohio Dr./Independence Ave intersection to go south on Ohio. That light does not turn to green unless a car is present to trip the light (at least early in the morning). I have NEVER seen it naturally cycle thru. On cold mornings, or humid mornings when my glasses begin fogging, if no cars are coming to be at the light with me, and I’ve waited 30 seconds or so, I tend to run the light.

Bottom line is I think you do what makes sense.

[mstone]

@dasgeh 82948 wrote:

Honest question: Why shouldn’t drivers drive in the cycletrack when no bikes are around?

Why wouldn’t that logic apply to stopping at red lights when you’re on a bike?

Umm, because they don’t move when cyclists show up? Unless you’re doing figure 8s in the intersection, this isn’t analogous.

[Author]

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