Washcycles coverage: Buffer rule confusion at the Sun
[B’ Spokes: I’ll note that it’s rather sad what started out of coverage of our 3′ buffer rule turned into a misstatement of “The law says the bicyclist has the responsibility to move aside and let you pass. ” With no mention of 3′ or more space.]
Original story:
According to Young, the bicycle “has all the rights and responsibilities” of any other vehicle. One of those responsibilities, he said, is to avoid impeding traffic.
…
The law says the bicyclist has the responsibility to move aside and let you pass.
https://www.baltimoresun.com/features/commuting/bs-md-dresser-getting-there-1004-20101004,0,6224574.story
“Correction” #1:
A bicycle on the road is considered a vehicle and has exactly the same rights as any other vehicle on the road. In fact, Maryland Motor Vehicle Law states that “every person operating a bicycle or a motor scooter in a public bicycle area has the rights granted to and is subject to all the duties required of the driver of a vehicle by this title.”
…
In the state’s approved driver’s education curriculum, 15 miles an hour below the posted speed limit is used as a benchmark for impeding traffic. This information is only meant as a guideline and is not a legal requirement. Good judgment regarding the safety of all vehicles and individuals must always be exercised.
https://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/traffic/2010/10/mva_chief_replies_to_bicyclist.html
This not at all what I would consider a correction, so they are a little fuzzy at what’s the exact speed difference a cyclist is required to pull over, like that’s supposed to help a lot.
“Correction” #2:
Michael Dresser tries to pull it all together and has a lot of nice advice and has this to say on impeding traffic:
As I approached a curve, I came up behind a bicyclist who was clearly struggling with an uphill slope. Despite all exertions, he was unable to sustain more than about 10 mph in a 30-mph zone. Though he was as far to the right as one could reasonably ask, there was no room to pass and no shoulder for him to pull onto.
The result: I had to slow to bike speed for maybe 30 seconds until there was enough room to safely pass. Somehow I survived the ordeal. Most motorists would, too, though you wouldn’t know it from the lamentations of some drivers.
In this case, the bicyclist did the right thing staying in his lane — even if it meant temporarily slowing traffic. That’s far different from impeding it.
But there are cases where the bicyclist can and should pull over and let cars pass, using a shoulder, a driveway or a patch of gravel. Are they legally compelled to? Probably not. But as bike advocate Jeffrey H. Marks wrote: “If the road doesn’t straighten out or widen within a reasonable time, then the bicyclist should try to find a safe area where he can pull off the road to let faster traffic pass.”
https://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-10-11/features/bs-md-dresser-getting-there-1011-20101011_1_bicyclist-bike-speed-bike-advocate
This is certainly better then the original statement by Young:
The law says the bicyclist has the responsibility to move aside and let you pass.
And really is it so unreasonable of me to hyperventilate over the original statement by Young? Obviously having someone of authority to say what the laws says assert that by law you have to move aside and might take a spill in a ditch is nothing to get excited about. The fact that Dresser intercedes in this matter is quite telling. Besides what do I know? I’m only actively involved with bicycling legislation and do not have MVA’s expertise of being involved with solely motor vehicle laws. [/sarcasm]
Michael Dresser then concludes:
As the MVA’s Kuo put it in his letter, “all vehicles operating on our roadways should exercise an abundance of caution and courtesy at all times to help prevent accidents.”
Is anyone — on two wheels, four or 12 — offended by that?
https://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-10-11/features/bs-md-dresser-getting-there-1011-20101011_1_bicyclist-bike-speed-bike-advocate
Read more for my defense of hyperventilated accusations
Continue reading “The third time is a charm on cyclists don’t have the responsibility to move aside”
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