Comments on: Cycling, Cell Phones, Bike Lanes, Sidewalks, and Cops http://bike4more.com/2008/07/09/cycling-cell-phones-bike-lanes-sidewalks-and-cops/ Energy | Enjoyment | Happiness | Health | Life | Love Tue, 22 May 2012 08:59:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Kase http://bike4more.com/2008/07/09/cycling-cell-phones-bike-lanes-sidewalks-and-cops/#comment-2760 Kase Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:17:05 +0000 http://bike4more.com/2008/07/09/cycling-cell-phones-bike-lanes-sidewalks-and-cops/#comment-2760 Cops are clueless about bicycle laws for two primary reasons. The first being that they almost never have to deal with the legality aspect of bicycling, so they don't really need to know the laws pertaining to them. The second reason is that they simply don't care. Cops just don't care what you do on your bike unless you're black and/or homeless and they can use your actions to give them probable cause for a search. I've blasted through a stop sign that a cop was sitting at and waved at the cop as I went past and the guy did nothing. Why? White. Wears helmet. Obviously not engaged in illegal activity. Likely to contact police chief, local politicians, newspaper editors, congresspeople and/or God if detained and searched. And this, children, is why cops are totally clueless where bicycle laws are concerned. Cops are clueless about bicycle laws for two primary reasons. The first being that they almost never have to deal with the legality aspect of bicycling, so they don’t really need to know the laws pertaining to them. The second reason is that they simply don’t care. Cops just don’t care what you do on your bike unless you’re black and/or homeless and they can use your actions to give them probable cause for a search. I’ve blasted through a stop sign that a cop was sitting at and waved at the cop as I went past and the guy did nothing. Why?

White.

Wears helmet.

Obviously not engaged in illegal activity.

Likely to contact police chief, local politicians, newspaper editors, congresspeople and/or God if detained and searched.

And this, children, is why cops are totally clueless where bicycle laws are concerned.

]]> By: Fixed Gear Home Skillet http://bike4more.com/2008/07/09/cycling-cell-phones-bike-lanes-sidewalks-and-cops/#comment-1500 Fixed Gear Home Skillet Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:22:32 +0000 http://bike4more.com/2008/07/09/cycling-cell-phones-bike-lanes-sidewalks-and-cops/#comment-1500 I thought that I had read somewhere that bicycles were defined as motor vehicles in the California Vehicle Code, can't find it though. From the CVC: Bicycle 231. A bicycle is a device upon which any person may ride, propelled exclusively by human power through a belt, chain, or gears, and having one or more wheels. Persons riding bicycles are subject to the provisions of this code specified in Sections 21200 and 21200.5. Amended Ch. 1013, Stats. 1985. Effective January 1, 1986. I'm going to continue to use my cell phone if needed while riding. But the next time I see Mike Smith, most awesomest bike cop evar, I'll ask him what he thinks. You can get the cell phone law FAQ here: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/cellularphonelaws/index.htm I thought that I had read somewhere that bicycles were defined as motor vehicles in the California Vehicle Code, can’t find it though.

From the CVC:

Bicycle

231. A bicycle is a device upon which any person may ride, propelled exclusively by human power through a belt, chain, or gears, and having one or more wheels. Persons riding bicycles are subject to the provisions of this code specified in Sections 21200 and 21200.5.

Amended Ch. 1013, Stats. 1985. Effective January 1, 1986.

I’m going to continue to use my cell phone if needed while riding. But the next time I see Mike Smith, most awesomest bike cop evar, I’ll ask him what he thinks.

You can get the cell phone law FAQ here: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/cellularphonelaws/index.htm

]]> By: Rocky http://bike4more.com/2008/07/09/cycling-cell-phones-bike-lanes-sidewalks-and-cops/#comment-1485 Rocky Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:29:43 +0000 http://bike4more.com/2008/07/09/cycling-cell-phones-bike-lanes-sidewalks-and-cops/#comment-1485 Well maybe Cycling is safe for the cyclist on the sidewalk if you don't count intersections (that is a HUGE thing to not count). BUT what about pedestrians, I really don't think they are safe enough sharing the sidewalk with Cyclists. We do however share multi purpose paths with pedestrians all the time so I guess that isn't all that different from sidwalks, and crosswalks in the middle of multipurpose paths are very dangerous for cyclists if you don't slow you bike way and make sure those cars in the right turn lane see you! Well maybe Cycling is safe for the cyclist on the sidewalk if you don’t count intersections (that is a HUGE thing to not count). BUT what about pedestrians, I really don’t think they are safe enough sharing the sidewalk with Cyclists.

We do however share multi purpose paths with pedestrians all the time so I guess that isn’t all that different from sidwalks, and crosswalks in the middle of multipurpose paths are very dangerous for cyclists if you don’t slow you bike way and make sure those cars in the right turn lane see you!

]]> By: Candice http://bike4more.com/2008/07/09/cycling-cell-phones-bike-lanes-sidewalks-and-cops/#comment-1484 Candice Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:27:04 +0000 http://bike4more.com/2008/07/09/cycling-cell-phones-bike-lanes-sidewalks-and-cops/#comment-1484 By the way what about the other Naked Feet Project people..hmmm. By the way what about the other Naked Feet Project people..hmmm.

]]> By: Candice http://bike4more.com/2008/07/09/cycling-cell-phones-bike-lanes-sidewalks-and-cops/#comment-1483 Candice Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:26:04 +0000 http://bike4more.com/2008/07/09/cycling-cell-phones-bike-lanes-sidewalks-and-cops/#comment-1483 Way to go hasslin' the man..woman in this case. Let me guess how "it will all play out", if you encounter a jerk dressed as a cop, you could get a ticket. Luckily not all officers are like that, just the ones that give me tickets. Way to go hasslin’ the man..woman in this case. Let me guess how “it will all play out”, if you encounter a jerk dressed as a cop, you could get a ticket. Luckily not all officers are like that, just the ones that give me tickets.

]]> By: C-Fiddy http://bike4more.com/2008/07/09/cycling-cell-phones-bike-lanes-sidewalks-and-cops/#comment-1482 C-Fiddy Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:21:48 +0000 http://bike4more.com/2008/07/09/cycling-cell-phones-bike-lanes-sidewalks-and-cops/#comment-1482 If I'm on the road, I'm a vehicle, and vehicles don't belong on the sidewalk. Would the nice officer ticket someone their car driving down the sidewalk? Maybe. I will accept though, that kids are a different matter. They are probably safer on the sidewalk, but they should also walk the crosswalks and wear helmets. Oh, I'm dreaming now... The cell phone comes down to a distracted driver and I think that would count for cyclists too. If I’m on the road, I’m a vehicle, and vehicles don’t belong on the sidewalk. Would the nice officer ticket someone their car driving down the sidewalk? Maybe. I will accept though, that kids are a different matter. They are probably safer on the sidewalk, but they should also walk the crosswalks and wear helmets. Oh, I’m dreaming now…
The cell phone comes down to a distracted driver and I think that would count for cyclists too.

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