[Hancockbs]

No membership here either, but I’ll rent one if the timing allows me to be there.

[Hancockbs]

@mstone 63059 wrote:

Luckily, I don’t represent you.

I wonder, do people who switch back and forth between lanes to get ahead in traffic and end up behind also have a “right” to be pissed off? I’d suggest that you get over being “infuriated” over whether you need to pass someone and focus on safety instead of keeping score.

Nope, I switch lanes, I take my chances. I take responsibility for my actions. I wonder, do you think you have the right to go to the head of the line at the movie, restaurant, amusement park ride, etc? Sure seems like you do.

[Hancockbs]

@TwoWheelsDC 63055 wrote:

Yeah, but it doesn’t.

http://www.waba.org/resources/laws.php

Thanks for the reference. I read that (and the specific VA legal reference) as applying to moving vehicles rather than those that are stopped at a traffic control device, but I understand how others might read it differently. I will continue to retain my place in line and try my best to get along with the other road users rather than give them a potential reason to resent my presence.

[Hancockbs]

@DismalScientist 63049 wrote:

I don’t think the right to filter stopped traffic is specific to bikes. Cars can filter on the right to make a right turn if there is room.

Maybe I misunderstand the use of the term “filter”. As a motorcyclist, the term means to ride the line between lanes to get to the front of the line and to proceed in front of the traffic that has been stopped. This activity is highly sought by motorcycle riders, but is illegal in all states except California. As such, I expect the same law applies to bicycles.

If you are talking about using the right side of the right lane to get to the front for a right turn only, then you might be okay, but I would submit that you should have the same safety buffer (3 feet) that you ask cars to maintain.

[Hancockbs]

@mstone 63048 wrote:

No

Wow! I can only say that as a cyclist, I abhor your attitude. As a car driver, it infuriates me. You want all of the “rights” of the road, but none of the responsibilies. This is precisely why you, and yes, I mean you, mstone, will not be taken seriously as an advocate and why I don’t want you representing me as a cyclist.

[Hancockbs]

@lordofthemark 63039 wrote:

And of course if a cyclist errs in their crossing, the consequences are almost always going to be entirely to themselves.

Cyclists DO have special rights. They have the right to filter between lanes of stopped traffic

Having hit a pedestrian who was not in a crosswalk one dark night many years ago, I can tell you that they are NOT the only ones to suffer the consequences of their actions. It does have an effect on the other people that become involved in an incident.

Where does the “right to filter” come from? It is my understanding that bikes using the road are subject to the same laws as other Road users. I am not aware of any legal right to filter. Taking it just a bit further, if you filter past cars that recently passed you in a safe manner, don’t you think they have a legitimate beef if they have to wait to pass you safely again?

[Hancockbs]

@dasgeh 62981 wrote:

It doesn’t have to be subjective. There is plenty of data already gathered and plenty more to be gathered.

I love the use of data, but data should be used in creating and changing the law, NOT in deciding how and when to enforce existing laws. There are many problems with using data for selective enforcement, not the least of which is that the data can be interpreted in many ways. I still say that if you/we don’t like the law, work to change it rather than asking for selective enforcement.

[Hancockbs]

@dasgeh 62955 wrote:

Actually, no. I think law enforcement should put priority on enforcing the laws that keep OTHERS safe.

But that becomes very subjective. I could easily argue that the vast majority of laws could be enforced to keep others safe. A bike running a red light could very easily hit a pedestrian for instance. Even if a pedestrian is not present at the specific time and location, the next time it occurs, there could be. I would greatly prefer to remove as much subjectivity as possible. Objective enforcement is much more likely to be “fair” and equitable and much less likely to be influenced by individual bias and prejudice.

[Hancockbs]

@mstone 62921 wrote:

Mention was made of police attitude. IMO, the attitude should be made on a risk basis like I outlined and focus on maximizing benefit to the community. More, that’s the standard we should hold them to, and not excuse decisions made based on personal biases. In that context, questioning whether the cyclist was endangering someone does make sense. (I would not have had the same reaction to a simple “don’t endanger yourself by running a light stupidly” post as a “cops are justified in not protecting cyclists if some cyclists run lights” post.)

How about we simply ask that they uniformly enforce the law as written and make no subjective judgements and have no attitudes or biases about when and who to enforce it on? If we don’t like the laws, either get them changed or accept the consequences of disobeying.

[Hancockbs]

I come through before 7 am, so I never see ongoing work, but I also can’t tell that anything has been done. I’ll take your word for it.

[Hancockbs]

Another week has passed with seemingly zero work being done at this intersection. There doesn’t appear to be much work remaining. Can’t they just fill in the holes and make it much less hazardous?

[Hancockbs]

@ebubar 62674 wrote:

An officer on a motorcycle drove by and proceeded to block me and pull me over for not riding far enough into the right of the lane. He lectured me about VA bike laws requiring me to ride on the right of the lane in a very condescending manner.

You would think a motor officer would understand the need to protect yourself by taking the lane. I’ve experienced cars encroaching many times on my motorcycle, of course I don’t have flashing red and blue lights either.

[Hancockbs]

Why is it that joggers seem enamored of wearing dark colored clothing on unlighted MUTs before the sun rises, while eschewing any reflectors or lights? This is especially bad on MVT near the airport where the car headlights are shining in your eyes anyway. I can’t tell you how many near misses I’ve had. I hope they keep being misses!

[Hancockbs]

Cannonball 9/29 https://www.bikereg.com/Net/19147
Crop Hop 10/19 http://thecrophop.com/index.html

[Hancockbs]

7 is about as late as I can normally do, so I’ll have to skip this one.

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