kf5nd
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Invasion of MS 150 bicyclists - 2008/03/10 15:05
The letter below appeared in the Houston Chronicle over the weekend, and the writer is unfortunately correct in her assessment of the habits of the Springtime charity rider, and I hope no one in our club ever does any of the things she describes.
1. Stay to the right of the roadway. Don't hug the right edge, but also don't impede other vehicles (that includes faster cyclists) from passing you
2. Two abreast is the maximum allowed by the Texas Transportation Code, but again, if riding two abreast impedes other vehicles, don't do it
3. Our legal obligation to not impede other traffic is written into the Texas Transportation Code
4. If you are stopped for any reason, get entirely off the road. In fact, in a large group ride, get off of the shoulder, because many cyclists use the shoulder. Get on the grass. The fire ants will teach you how to change a tire in less than five minutes
As always, the spirit of the law is more important than the letter of the law. Roadways are shared facilities, and the people who use them out where charity riders train are trying to use them to live their lives, as opposed to using them merely for sport. There is no basis in the Texas Transportation Code for the commonly-held but mistaken belief that bicycles have the right of way or special privileges. We do not. That belief is itself part of the "bicycle inferiority complex" that pervades all of American culture, even cycling culture. The bicycle inferiority complex believes in segregation and separatism between bicycles and motor vehicles piloted by adults (children are a separate matter, obviously), but this ultimately leads to "separate but unequal" accommodations, which leads to bike bans on public roadways, and no places left to ride, as it was in prior decades.
"Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles" - John Forester, one of the the gurus of the modern cycling movement. So get out there and ride like you belong on the road, because you do, but don't overreach your privileges. Be courteous, respectful, and patient. Charity rides and training rides are not races. The goal is to GET HOME ALIVE.
Peter Wang, LCI
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Invasion of MS 150 bicyclists
My husband and I live in Cat Spring. Many of the people who live out here like to ride bikes on our country roads, and they do it with the rules of the road and common courtesy in mind.
Right now there are hundreds of people get-ting ready for the MS 150 and coming out from Houston to use our roads. On a Sunday a couple of weeks ago, we had to go 5 mph because some-one on a bike thought it was really fun to weave back and forth across the road in front of us.
We often have to pass groups of three riding abreast of each other on roads that are only 1 1/2 lanes wide. The bicyclists absolutely refuse to go single file to allow cars to pass. With the number of curves and hills we have out here, it is dangerous to have to pass that far to the left.
There are often groups of riders stopped on the road to rest and drink water. The speed limit out here is 60 mph. Stopping on the road is about as stupid and rude as anyone can get.
We are invaded by large numbers of egocentric bicyclists whose disdain for our rights is obvious. We live out here and have to get to church or appointments and, in general, live our lives. Because of this wanton disruption of our community, we will no longer be able to support the MS 150 monetarily.
CHERYL MELLENTHIN
Cat Spring
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