[asianthree]

I give the bike a wide berth when passing them. Why my fear is they will hit something in the road fall into my path, and splat.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by GaryW

and I say again,,

This battle has been going on for years.. One blames the other and so on. If everyone stops worrying about what someone is doing and pay attention to the road and what they are doing, then there will not be a issue. Everyone from walkers, to cyclist, to golf carts to motorcycles and cars and trucks break the same laws. Flip a coin and take your poison.

Since I am a avid cyclist and ride the roads all the time, I will say the thing I see that be-wilders the be-shizzle out of me is why do the recreational cyclist if you will, the ones on the beach cruisers doing 3 mph and no helments, no protective gear of any sort on, Having a hard time staying on the side of the road much less in a lane..... Why would you ride on the road like that. To me those are the ones that need to stay on the MMP. It is one thing to have cyclist on the road, but not the ones doing 3-5 mph and swerving all over the lane.

Now with that said, they have the same right as I or you have,, but when I ride on the roads usually in a pack try to keep speed above 20 mph at least. when I am riding by myself I will usually ride the MMP to stay out of traffic. JUST A THOUGHT..

Your post says it all. We are/were the recreational riders who swerve all over the road. In MI we could ride miles and miles on paths and never once have to ride on the street. Just the thought of having to ride on TV streets to even get to the MMPs was scary enough that we gave our bikes away and took up pickleball.

[looneycat]

Originally Posted by tuccillo

The law allows for you to take up an entire lane on a 4 lane road such as Buena Vista. As you pointed out, this is actually the safe thing to do because it forces over taking cars into the left hand passing lane instead of trying to squeeze pass you in the right hand lane with a another car in the left hand lane. Most cyclists come to realize this quickly. Also, on 2 lane roads, moving left into the middle of the lane on curves is also a safe thing to do as it prevents cars from passing you unsafely when there isn't room in the lane for both a car and a cyclist. Most automobile drivers have no idea how scary it is when a cyclist is passed on a curve on a 2-lane road and a car appears in the other lane and the overtaking car nearly clips you trying to avoid a head on collision. Moving left to the middle of the lane on curves is often required for safety and fully permitted by the law. Be safe out there.

the law I read says you're wrong, please quote the law you're referring to.

[George Bieniaszek]

The laws or rules of the road written on a piece of paper are not going to protect you.

I am very aware of those around me while on the road and follow a simple rule -- I yield to everyone bigger than me!!

I can argue who was right or call the person a bonehead for the idiotic driving maneuver over a beer with friends or on the golf course rather than from a hospital bed, or worse.

[tuccillo]

I can assure you that all cyclists really appreciate that and wish everyone would take the time to give us a wide berth. Thanks you for your patience.

Originally Posted by asianthree

I give the bike a wide berth when passing them. Why my fear is they will hit something in the road fall into my path, and splat.

[tuccillo]

Sorry to disappoint you but cyclists are allowed to take up a lane. Google it yourself.

Originally Posted by looneycat

the law I read says you're wrong, please quote the law you're referring to.

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by looneycat

the law I read says you're wrong, please quote the law you're referring to.

I think he or she found it here. click here
Where is your source?

[tuccillo]

I think this is the third time this person has essentially made the same post only to be rebuked. The law has been posted in this thread already. Go back and reread the posts. If the lane width and/or lane conditions are such that the lane cannot be shared with a car then you don't have to share it with a car - you can, and should, take up the whole lane. It is up to the cyclists to decide since they are the only person who can judge the safety of a lane, although the width part is pretty black and white. I referenced 4 lane road since there would not typically be an issue with slowing down traffic (not that it matters according to the law) but it applies to any road.

Originally Posted by tomwed

I think he or she found it here. click here
Where is your source?

[Polar Bear]

I basically agree with GaryW's earlier post. I ride pretty fast, but I'm not a hard-core rider at all. And I usually ride alone. I would only consider riding on higher speed roads with a group that rides fast. Riding alone or duo, I feel a degree of comfort on the MMP's that I would never feel on the road...irrespective of what the laws and rules are.

[looneycat]

Originally Posted by tomwed

I think he or she found it here. click here
Where is your source?

please point out where it says this as I just read this document and it fully supports what I said.

[looneycat]

Originally Posted by tuccillo

I think this is the third time this person has essentially made the same post only to be rebuked. The law has been posted in this thread already. Go back and reread the posts. If the lane width and/or lane conditions are such that the lane cannot be shared with a car then you don't have to share it with a car - you can, and should, take up the whole lane. It is up to the cyclists to decide since they are the only person who can judge the safety of a lane, although the width part is pretty black and white. I referenced 4 lane road since there would not typically be an issue with slowing down traffic (not that it matters according to the law) but it applies to any road.

why would I re-read a POST?? a post is not the law nor are assumptions...unless you believe you are cycling a 35 mpg average and not impeding traffic flow...

[tomwed]

nope, you are wrong, bikes must stay as far right as possible, except where conditions dictate otherwise (lane closure or road damage). learn the rules before endangering lives. maybe reading the rules governing bike riding would help dispel these misconceptions, I did, that's why I know you are wrong.
__________________
looneycat

The 2014 Florida Statutes
Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES
Chapter 316
STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL
(5)(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride in the lane marked for bicycle use or, if no lane is marked for bicycle use, as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
3. When reasonably necessary to avoid any condition or potential conflict, including, but not limited to, a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, turn lane, or substandard-width lane, which makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge or within a bicycle lane. For the purposes of this subsection, a “substandard-width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.


Is Buena Vista [for example] a "substandard-width lane"? In my opinion, yes.
Other people say no.
So the way I read the law the bike gets the right lane.

[Shimpy]

I know what the law says but to me a bike is not a licensed vehicle and pays nothing to use the roads as does cars, trucks and motorcycles. I would love for the state to require and issue license plates for a fee to bikes since they insist they have the same right as other licensed vehicles. If they want to use our roads then why not pay like all of us do? I have a motorcycle and have to pay a fee just as I do for my car. Why does bicycles get an exemption?

[alzjr]

Originally Posted by Shimpy

I know what the law says but to me a bike is not a licensed vehicle and pays nothing to use the roads as does cars, trucks and motorcycles. I would love for the state to require and issue license plates for a fee to bikes since they insist they have the same right as other licensed vehicles. If they want to use our roads then why not pay like all of us do? I have a motorcycle and have to pay a fee just as I do for my car. Why does bicycles get an exemption?

Do you really think auto registrations pay for all the road maintainence?

[tuccillo]

That not what the law says. Go read it again.

Originally Posted by looneycat

why would I re-read a POST?? a post is not the law nor are assumptions...unless you believe you are cycling a 35 mpg average and not impeding traffic flow...