Bicyclists Scofflaws

[LittleDog]

Today I was driving down Rt 101 in front of Crispers at the 4 way stop sign. I stopped at the sign. However, there were about 10 bicyclists who did not stop at the sign but just kept on going. About a month ago I was waiting at the stop light at Rio Grande with my left hand turn signal on to go to Morse Blvd. There were 2 bicycle riders that passed me on the right and proceeded to make a left turn onto Morse even though they had a red light.

I'm not trying to condemn all bicyclists but apparently there are some here who fail to obey traffic laws. :ohdear:

John

[Loveithere]

I have seen them many times breaking the law. I often wonder why they don't ride their bicycles on long stretches of country roads where intersections are less.

[cybrgeezer]

As an avid cyclist, I blame the police.

There are laws in Florida and most states that define bicycles as vehicles subject to the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles on the roads.

If police would enforce those laws, word would get around that breaking those laws is a bad idea.

I was once on my bike in the left-turn lane at a traffic light and the driver of the pick-up next to me in the straight-ahead lane said "I didn't think you guys had to stop for red lights."

Ignorance is widespread. It would help if police would study the laws relating to bicycles and enforce them.

[billethkid]

the concept being one is innocent until they get caught....hmmmnnn!

btk

[ilovetv]

I've seen many s-l-o-w bicyclists on the streets here in TV who seem to have no clue that cars and trucks can't get around them because of oncoming traffic.

I wish also that bicyclists would wear bright irridescent lime green or orange vests or shirts to be seen by car/truck drivers.

[BigLew]

Today I was driving down Rt 101 in front of Crispers at the 4 way stop sign. I stopped at the sign. However, there were about 10 bicyclists who did not stop at the sign but just kept on going. About a month ago I was waiting at the stop light at Rio Grande with my left hand turn signal on to go to Morse Blvd. There were 2 bicycle riders that passed me on the right and proceeded to make a left turn onto Morse even though they had a red light.

I'm not trying to condemn all bicyclists but apparently there are some here who fail to obey traffic laws. :ohdear:

John

I saw the same thing start to happen on stillwater and morse. as I had right of way, I made it clear with a blast of my horn that I had no intention of stopping. I was confronted by one of the cyclists at which point I asked him if he was ignorant of the meaning of the word stop.
he was being quite a big bum cavity, luckily I could match him in output.
:girlneener:

[rubicon]

As an avid cyclist, I blame the police.

There are laws in Florida and most states that define bicycles as vehicles subject to the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles on the roads.

If police would enforce those laws, word would get around that breaking those laws is a bad idea.

I was once on my bike in the left-turn lane at a traffic light and the driver of the pick-up next to me in the straight-ahead lane said "I didn't think you guys had to stop for red lights."

Ignorance is widespread. It would help if police would study the laws relating to bicycles and enforce them.

cybrgeezer: Naw cops too busy chasing down golf carts that exceed 19mph to wate their time with bicylist that can push their unit into the 20's mph. Question if a bike can excced 20 mph is it then also a vehicle and hence an unlicensed vehicle as is a golf cart? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

[redwitch]

Don't know about Florida, but I can tell you I did get a ticket for speeding on my bike in California. I'm good about stopping at stop signs and lights and have no problem with yielding the right of way, but I like to go fast. Back then, I was in good enough shape that I could easily get my bike up to 40 mph on a flat street (and did). I got the ticket, went to court, took traffic school and paid my fine. I was breaking the law. Plain and simple.

Now, I'm going to stick my neck out cause I'm too tired and lazy to look it up and guess that Florida has the same laws as California -- if you're on a bike ALL traffic laws must be obeyed and a rider can be ticketed and get a moving violation (which means points on the license) just like someone in a car. It would be nice if the police would ticket one or two of the scofflaws. It might make it a little safer for all (including the bicyclist).

[KatzPajamas]

My experience as a cyclist has been that both those on bikes and those in cars don't seem to know that bikes have the same rights and rules that a motor vehicle has. Bottom line though, is that when you are on the bike, you are in no position to play games in traffic against cars and trucks. The cyclist has to be extra alert on the road. Sounds like these cyclists that you are all describing have no sense at all and give the rest of cyclists a bad reputation.

[redwitch]

I would think that the vast majority of cyclists know the law and know they are breaking it. The reality is it is a royal pain to regain momentum when you have to stop, especially when you've been going at a good clip and enjoying the heck out of your ride. When you're in a pack, you have the advantage of numbers and the excuse that you need to keep up with the group and, thus, you can all feel safe in breaking the laws (which is why I could only go group riding on country roads through Napa/Calistoga). Not necessarily the smartest idea, but it seems to work for them. Personally, I think those who run stop signs/lights had a strange desire to become a bike messenger in NYC or SF. (The fact that at least one is killed or severely injured monthly seems to be irrelevant.)

[The Villager II]

I look at it as a very long vehicle and allow them all to stay together in a group. Motorcycles do it as well. No big deal to me.

[Mikeod]

I look at it as a very long vehicle and allow them all to stay together in a group. Motorcycles do it as well. No big deal to me.
If you're talking about roundabouts, I tend to agree with you. But I have a different opinion about stop signs and red lights. I witnessed a near collision at an intersection when a flock of bicyclists went through a red light. They were turning right at the light, but the motor vehicles didn't know that and a car slammed on the brakes and almost got rear-ended by the car behind. The second car skidded to the right and almost collided with the traffic waiting at the red light. Just as bicyclists expect to be treated as another vehicle on the roads, they must reciprocate.

As with motor vehicle traffic, there are some good drivers/bicyclists and some bad ones. As another poster said, in a meeting between auto and bicycle, the bicycle loses.

[redwitch]

I look at it as a very long vehicle and allow them all to stay together in a group. Motorcycles do it as well. No big deal to me.

When a group of motorcyclists get to a light, those that have green (and yellow) go through, those who hit it on red, stop and wait. Bicyclists seem to think they need to stay with the group rather than stop.

I do agree that they should be treated as a very long vehicle -- if you're going to pass them, you pass the entire group, not just a couple of bikes at a time. If you're going to turn right and they're going straight, you wait for all of them, not just some. But they have obligations and laws to follow. They are not one vehicle -- they are a group of individuals packed together. That means that the individuals should EACH obey the traffic laws, not just the leader.

[BigLew]

I would think that the vast majority of cyclists know the law and know they are breaking it. The reality is it is a royal pain to regain momentum when you have to stop, especially when you've been going at a good clip and enjoying the heck out of your ride.

yeah but it's REALLY a pain in the neck to recover, if you can, from many broken bones and abrasions when the car with right of way doesn't see you breaking the law until they are breaking you. it could leave a mark, I'm just saying.......
:sigh:

[redwitch]

BigLew -- No argument from me. As I said, when I used to ride, I stopped. It was never one of my life ambitions to be a bike messenger and I've had enough broken bones to not want to go out of my way to get one.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

I look at it as a very long vehicle and allow them all to stay together in a group. Motorcycles do it as well. No big deal to me.

I've ridden motorcycles for many, many years - sometimes with groups - and have never done this nor seen it done.....nor have I observed it while in a car.....unless it was for an organized motorcycle event where the authorities were involved in stopping cross-traffic at intersections.

Not saying it HASN'T happened somewhere - I've just never seen it anywhere.

Bill :)

[gongoozler]

There are bad drivers (fail to give 3 feet to a cyclist), there are bad cyclists (not following the rules of the road) and there are bad golf cart drivers (exceeding speed limits and driving on the path like they are only golf cart paths) . . . that's all there is to it. Just take one violation, I cannot tell you how many cart drivers and cyclist I've seen in the Villages with headsets on . . . this is against the law in Flroida and the ticket is more than $100 but many are doing it.
So how do we stop all these violators? More police? Is that what we really want . . . more taxes and a bigger police state? All I know is that you have to drive defensively as there are a lot of idiots and people who just do not pay attention out there!

[Matt and Gail]

As an avid cyclist, I blame the police.

You have got to be kidding me? Really? Wonder who's to blame if one gets dismounted because of their stupidity doing things like this? Oh right, it would be the (fill in the blank with whomever we want to blame). :rant-rave:

[cybrgeezer]

You have got to be kidding me? Really? Wonder who's to blame if one gets dismounted because of their stupidity doing things like this? Oh right, it would be the (fill in the blank with whomever we want to blame). :rant-rave:

Try reading the WHOLE post.

[BogeyBoy]

Try reading the WHOLE post.

I read the whole post.

Because law enforcement does not study and enforce the law it's okay to break the law?

I think that on occasion many of us break a motor vehicle law; roll through a stop sign, speed, forget to signal, etc. My understanding of the topic here (and it's been brought up before) is the repeated disregard for stop signs and other laws by cyclists.

Bottom line: There simply aren't enough law enforcement personnel to catch and ticket everyone breaking a law. If someone rolls through a stop sign it doesn't get a lot of attention but when 20 bicycle ride through a stop sign at full speed it catches the eye. And unfortunately the odds are in the cyclist favor - there won't be any law enforcement there to stop them.

[Matt and Gail]

Try reading the WHOLE post.

I have, and all the threads too! It DOES NOT make sense (even that sentence) to blame the police. IMHO it's just not right.

[gatherer47]

Blaming the police is about the stupidest post I've ever seen.And yes,I read the whole post.

[starflyte1]

Several years ago, in Naples, Florida, a large group of cyclists would regularly travel through an area similar to TV, and would not stop at stop signs. The police got so many calls that they arrested something like 32 in one day for not stopping. Don't remember if it helped in the long run.

[Bosoxfan]

While the police are out there ticketing cyclists for not stopping at stop signs maybe they could take a look at the drivers who refuse to give the 3 feet to cyclists that's required by law.I can't tell you how many times I'll be riding down Buena Vista when a car ,truck ,motorcycle or street legal golf car nearly knocks me off my bike when all they have to do is move over to the left a few feet.It's two lanes going in each direction but some folks don't seem to know the outer lane exists.These incidents seem to take place more& more so please folks I don't care if you're taking a right off the upcoming roundabout or going over the bridge near lake sumter on Morse I have every right to be on the road with you.If there is a car passing you on your left and I'm in the right lane or just off the shoulder slow down & wait for a safe time to pass me...Thanks!!

[Villages PL]

When I'm driving my car, I don't encounter cyclists that often but when I do, they seem to be obeying the law. The thing that gets me is when I'm walking on the sidewalk and one comes up behind me, riding on the sidewalk. I don't hear them until they are right up behind me and it startles me. It doesn't seem too safe either. Is it legal for them to be on the sidewalk?

:wave:

[Bosoxfan]

...

[BentBoy]

There are bad drivers (fail to give 3 feet to a cyclist), there are bad cyclists (not following the rules of the road) and there are bad golf cart drivers (exceeding speed limits and driving on the path like they are only golf cart paths) . . . that's all there is to it. Just take one violation, I cannot tell you how many cart drivers and cyclist I've seen in the Villages with headsets on . . . this is against the law in Flroida and the ticket is more than $100 but many are doing it.
So how do we stop all these violators? More police? Is that what we really want . . . more taxes and a bigger police state? All I know is that you have to drive defensively as there are a lot of idiots and people who just do not pay attention out there!

What police? I have been here for over a year and probably have only seen police pull over a couple of vehicles? I think it has something to do with living here. No one wants to be hassled. After all, this is fantasy land. Nothing bad should happen here.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

Sure I have seen some cyclist breaking the law but I also have seen cars, carts, walkers and joggers breaking the law. For me bottom line drive, ride, walk or run as if you are the only one in the world that doesn't break the law, assume everyone else will cut you off or go to slow or make unexpected turns and you should be ok.

[GaryW]

Sure I have seen some cyclist breaking the law but I also have seen cars, carts, walkers and joggers breaking the law. For me bottom line drive, ride, walk or run as if you are the only one in the world that doesn't break the law, assume everyone else will cut you off or go to slow or make unexpected turns and you should be ok.

Outstanding!! :bowdown:

[Chazz]

Sure I have seen some cyclist breaking the law but I also have seen cars, carts, walkers and joggers breaking the law. For me bottom line drive, ride, walk or run as if you are the only one in the world that doesn't break the law, assume everyone else will cut you off or go to slow or make unexpected turns and you should be ok.

You are so right! I try to practice that principle when on my trike or in my car. However, I need to better handle my level of aggravation when my assumptions turn out to be true.:pray:

[buggyone]

I am wondering WHY someone brings back a thread from 2011? There have been plenty of recent posts about bicycles and this just seems redundant.

[paulandjean]

What police? I have been here for over a year and probably have only seen police pull over a couple of vehicles? I think it has something to do with living here. No one wants to be hassled. After all, this is fantasy land. Nothing bad should happen here.

Police pull over drivers all the time in the villages. Everyday I will see police running radar. If you want to see police in action just drive down to 466A, you will see plenty there and around the villages. Think they must lead the state in tickets given out in this area.

[dah1020]

Have experienced many times cyclists thinking they own the road, they travel in a pack and take up the whole lane of traffic. And forget about the round abouts that is even worse when they enter the round abouts. THEY THINK THEY HAVE THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT OF WAY.

[Chazz]

Have experienced many times cyclists thinking they own the road, they travel in a pack and take up the whole lane of traffic. And forget about the round abouts that is even worse when they enter the round abouts. THEY THINK THEY HAVE THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT OF WAY.

Welcome to the forum!

I'm a cyclist and I have experienced the same thing that you have described, from other cyclists both when I am on my recumbent trike and in my car. It's not the vehicle type, but the driver/rider who think that they own the road. Remember, most of these cyclists also drive cars.

On a technical note, according to Florida law, under some circumstances it is legal (arguably safer) for bike riders to ride 2 abreast in a lane. That applies only when the lane is too narrow to share with a motor vehicle and still provide sufficient space for that motor vehicle to give at least 3 feet of clearance to the cyclist. I don't know why they limit it to only 2 riders, because if the lane is too narrow to be safely shared, why would it matter if there were 3, or 4 (if they could fit in the lane) side by side. Florida standards specify that 14 feet wide is the minimum width (the gutter area to the right of the white line, doesn't count) of a lane that a motor vehicle can share with a bike and still allow 3 or more feet of clearance. For the record, many lanes in TV are well under 14 feet wide, although I haven't measured any.

[skyguy79]

I am wondering WHY someone brings back a thread from 2011? There have been plenty of recent posts about bicycles and this just seems redundant.Aah alas, yet another thread arises from the dead many months after its demise. But hearken my fellow poster and take notice that the one performing thy miraculous feat is but a new poster that hath simply failed to notice the decaying nature of the thread much as many of us well seasoned poster have in days past. Thustly I say, welcome thee new poster, welcome thee and may your future on TOTV be educational and fruitful!
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