The New York Times: Cyclists: The most frequent victims and culprits in traffic accidents

Zachary Wilson30 said:And now they’re acting like big shots... we used to just cruise through the park or wander around near the preschools.😁
In all honesty, I know one of these guys who's been riding for quite some time now, and he wouldn't just lose a race out of nowhere; and frankly, it's unlikely the other guy is exactly a heavyweight either.

We also spent our time cruising the parks and the areas around the daycare centers, but honestly, during the summer, these guys are something else...

I ran into them last summer and the summer before that, right when they first started getting into cycling, and they didn't strike me as particularly active back then. I suppose they were just getting their bearings and dealing with those initial growing pains, but now they've likely trained up properly—probably because people have been giving them a hard time.🤣

stormyheron4 said:If traffic laws allow riding on the sidewalk, then a cop shouldn't pull you over for it. Unless you're actually endangering pedestrians by going too fast or being reckless, at least that's how I interpret the law regarding sidewalk riding.

True, but the issue is that if there isn't a designated path, you're supposed to move at a pedestrian's pace. In other words, you can't really do it, because if you're just cruising at walking speed, what's even the point of having a bike?

Daniel Chavez66 said:Yeah, but here's the catch. If there isn't a designated path on the sidewalk, you're basically forced to match pedestrian speed. Basically, you can't go faster because if you're cruising at a walking pace, what's even the point of having a bike?

Do you really have to slow down to a walk just because there aren't any pedestrians around? Logic says you should go full speed when the coast is clear and only tap the brakes when people actually show up.

They wiped out almost all the comments under this article in The New York Times, leaving only a few tiny, irrelevant ones behind.

$667 fine for cyclists riding while fatigued, ill, or in an impaired mental or physical state

How on earth is anyone supposed to measure if a person is tired, sick, or just having a rough mental health day? It honestly feels like they’re just passing laws for the sake of having something to point to when it suits them—like during a court hearing. Wouldn't it be better if they actually invested in decent bike lanes and infrastructure everywhere first, instead of jumping straight to handing out tickets?

I assume we’ll also be required to hop off and push our bikes while riding on the sidewalk...

And what about those reflective vests? Are those mandatory now too?

casualharbor9 said:How is anyone supposed to measure if someone is tired, sick, or just having a mental breakdown? It feels like they’re just passing laws for the sake of having something to point at when they want to bust people in court. They should focus on actually building decent bike lanes everywhere first, then they can worry about handing out tickets...

I guess we'll just be walking our bikes on the sidewalk then...

And what about those reflective vests?

Look, if there's a bike lane, you stay in it. If there isn't one and riding in traffic is sketchy, you take the sidewalk. Simple as that. You can grab a reflective vest at any gas station for maybe five bucks.

I stumbled upon this interesting article—it's from about six months ago, but honestly, it's still spot on: Cyclists, watch your heads!

http://www.nytimes.com/cyclists--watch-your-heads-/319786/

casualharbor9 said:So, how much do those reflective vests run you?

They're pretty cheap—maybe twenty bucks or so. I think you can find them at just about any gas station; they're one of those things most people keep in their trunk as standard safety gear.

I definitely agree that most of these laws are nothing more than ink on a page. Honestly, if every single regulation were actually enforced the way it was written, we probably wouldn't even be allowed to sneeze in the middle of a national park.

Steven Cooper3 said:I could sit here and cry about it.😉

The real issue in America isn't that we lack things—like bike lanes—it's that the laws exist but nobody actually enforces them. You see a cop cruise right past a car parked halfway on a green strip and half on a bike lane without pulling them over. It shouldn't matter if it's traffic enforcement or not.
On the flip side, cyclists need to step up too. You can't have someone pedaling down a busy street at 9 PM without any lights, just staring at their phone.(Saw that happen yesterday).

And then you'll hear someone claim they weren't visible! 😂

Zachary Wilson30 said:In Columbus, they carry lights on their bikes. Harder to dodge those guys, sure, but drivers, motorcyclists, or pedestrians aren't the real threat here.😁

You think they have the same gear we use when we're putting in the miles? They should be tested!

So here’s what the law actually says about how you should ride your bike

The vehicle code also lays it out clearly in Section 21:

"A rider must use the roadway exclusively, specifically the center
of a marked lane, or a dedicated lane or path designated for that specific type
of vehicle, unless there is an immediate danger."

Basically, if someone uses the excuse that drivers were flying too fast, honking at them, or being total jerks (which happens all the time), I bet they could get away with hopping onto the sidewalk without getting hit with a fine of $100

Check out this page for more details on the whole thing:

http://www.haerbe.net/index.php/Bici...etu_-_Na_cesti

"If they actually hand out a ticket to that guy in the Ford riding on the bike lane, I’ll happily pay my own fine if it turns out I'm the one in the wrong... Honestly, enough is enough—regular folks get squeezed constantly while those big shots get a free pass..." That’s how I’d say it if I lived in New York City, but I don't...

stormyheron4 said:So, here’s what the law actually says about riding a bike...

I don't know. Maybe it’s just how things work now. Everything feels more complicated than it needs to be... It's hard to tell where one problem ends and the next begins. Just another day in the grind...

The article also mentions the FBI in section 21...

So, the excuse being that drivers were speeding, honking at cyclists, and throwing insults—which honestly isn't exactly rare these days—so he had to duck onto the sidewalk... I feel like that might actually fly without getting a fine from the police... $100

You can find some more details about that on this page...

The link you shared discusses cycling on public roads. It’s an old debate, really. People always argue about whether cyclists belong in the lane or if they should be tucked away on the sidewalk to stay out of the way of cars. The reality is usually more complicated than either side wants to admit. Most cities aren't built for bikes, and trying to force them into heavy traffic feels like a recipe for disaster. But telling people to stick to the curb doesn't solve the safety issue, it just moves the problem around. It’s a mess of conflicting interests... infrastructure that hasn't caught up with the times, drivers who can't be bothered to look twice, and riders who sometimes forget they aren't alone out there. Just another example of how urban planning struggles to balance everyone's needs...

That's just how it is... Man, what a joke...Back in '96... The new law... (from 2008.) says:

Article 46.

Driver Motorized... Drivers have to stick to the roadway. You stay in your lane—specifically the one designated for your vehicle type—unless there's some kind of immediate threat to life, health, or property... otherwise, just follow the rules.

Article 47.

Keep to the right side of the road, or stick to the bike lane on the right edge if you're traveling in that direction. If you find yourself on a two-way path marked for cyclists, just stay on the right side relative to your direction of travel... simple enough.
Drivers are supposed to stick to the marked lanes on the right side of the road. If there aren't any markings... you're expected to stay close enough to the right curb to keep things moving. But you have to balance that with speed, traffic flow, and the actual condition of the pavement. Don't pull anyone else into danger, and don't put yourself at risk either. Just common sense, really...
A fine in the amount of... $100 Drivers who ignore these rules are going to face the consequences...

Article 101...

From dusk until dawn, you need to have your lights on. Even during the day if visibility gets crappy... A bike needs one white light up front and a red one in the back. For anything pulling a trailer, you either need at least one white light in the front and a red one in the rear, or just a single unit designed to show white from the front and red from the back. It's pretty straightforward...

Article 112...

Bicyclists are required to stick to the bike lanes or paths. If those aren't available, they need to stay as close to the right edge of the road as possible...
When you've got two or more cyclists, mopeds, or motorcyclists riding in a group, you're required to ride in single file... one after the other.
A fine in the amount of... $100 If a driver decides to ignore the rules laid out in this section, they’re going to face the consequences...

Regarding those reflective vests...

Article 113...

A cyclist on the move... Driving through those open stretches of highway outside the city limits... just a constant obstacle on public roads. If visibility drops, you're required to wear a reflective vest or high-vis cycling gear, day or night... just common sense, really.
A fine of... $100 Drivers who decide to ignore these rules are going to face the consequences...

So, according to the law, cyclists don't actually have the right to ride on the sidewalk unless there’s a dedicated bike lane there. Personally, I think I'd rather just take the fine... than risk getting leveled by a car out on the road.

Grace Rodriguez10 said:...So, legally speaking, cyclists don't have the right to ride on the sidewalk if there isn't a dedicated bike lane there. Honestly? I'd much rather just pay a ticket than risk getting flattened by a car on the road.

Thanks for clearing that up. Every cyclist needs to know this stuff just as well as any driver on the road.

I'm totally with you on that—it's way better to deal with a fine than to get taken out by a truck or a car. There are some hills where cars fly by at crazy speeds. If you're on a bike, especially when you're wiped out, you just can't keep up. Then you've got all these drivers honking and losing their minds at you.

Grace Rodriguez10 said:That’s actually an outdated rule from back in 1996. The current law (passed in 2008) states:

Thanks, Grace Rodriguez10. I've gone ahead and added this to the FAQ section. 🙂

Does anyone happen to know if there’s a pedestrian walkway along Broadway heading toward Brooklyn?
(specifically getting toward the Walmart and Target area, if I remember correctly).
😲 Seriously, though, I am dead set on NOT driving through those service roads 🤷 and taking detours just isn't worth my time since I live right off Broadway... plus, I don't know that part of town well enough to navigate my way through Times Square and over to Houston without getting lost.

If you're trying to get from Times Square over to Brooklyn, it’s actually pretty straightforward. You just head down Broadway and once you hit Houston, take a right by the Amazon near the Apple store. There’s a clear highway sign right there—look for the green Amtrak markings—and since there's a massive overpass crossing the tracks at that exact spot, there's really no way you can miss it. It's almost impossible to screw up. 🤷
As far as I can tell, there isn't a single curb anywhere along that stretch of Broadway, but seriously—don't you dare try driving a heavy truck through there. 🙂

Here you go. Here’s the route map. You know those new buildings right by Times Square? If you’re heading toward Target, just keep going straight until you hit Broadway and cross over.

Zachary Wilson30 said:Down here in Columbus, you see them out on bikes too, and honestly, that's probably the only way they'll catch you. But if they're in cars, on motorcycles, or just walking? They aren't exactly a threat to anyone. 😁

I’ve spent plenty of time in major cities, but I have to admit, this is a first for me. I haven't even seen anything like this during a typical police standoff; it actually looks pretty interesting. 😁
And considering how much your city is covered in bike lanes, it’s really no surprise you guys ended up with a specialized unit just for that. 😁

redmarlin3 said:Does anyone know if there's a pedestrian crossing along Broadway heading toward Brooklyn? (basically by the Walmart and Target, if I'm remembering right).

Seriously though—I REALLY don't want to deal with side streets over there 😲 and taking the long way isn't worth it since I live right off Broadway—plus I don't know that part of town well enough to navigate through Times Square and Houston to get where I'm going. 🤷

you can cut through Queens on the right and head straight to Walmart—don't have the time right now but I can map out a route for you on Google Maps...

Kevin Rivera41 said:

redmarlin3 said:Does anyone actually know if there's a pedestrian crossing on Broadway heading toward Brooklyn? I'm trying to figure out if I can safely make my way over to the Walmart and Target around there without getting flattened by a car.

Seriously though, I am NOT trying to deal with the train ride out there. No way in hell. 😲 Look, I’m telling you, those detours just aren't worth my time. I live right off Broadway, so why would I go out of my way? Besides, I don't exactly know that part of town well enough to be weaving through Times Square and dodging traffic all the way out to Houston just to reach my destination. It’s a total headache. 🤷

Look, you can just head through Queens to the right and you'll pop out right by Walmart. I’m slammed at the moment and can't walk you through it, but I can totally map it out for you on Google Maps later if you need.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...a4ea2ad565c662

Thanks a million, guys! 👍 🙏