Bogley

[James_B_Wads2000]

I was driving home Saturday around 8pm after taking my daughter to the park. As I drove in the left lane west on 4500 S (into the setting sun) I noticed what looked to be a road bicyclist riding in the left lane a quarter mile ahead. The light had just turned green at 700 E and I was driving slow (30-35mph) because I could see the light was red at 500 E and the biker was just beyond that light. As I approached the intersection the light turned green and I continued through rapidly approaching the bicyclist. I covered the brake as I neared. I couldn’t figure out why she was riding in the left lane so slow in the middle of traffic (cars were passing her in the right two lanes). There is an island in the middle of 45th that starts at 5th east and continues west approximately 20 yards west until it becomes a middle left turning lane after Gordon Lane. I thought the biker was in the left lane trying to get around the island in order to make a left across 45th to some apartments or buildings on the south side of 45th. But after she passed the island and began to ride down the hill she remained in the left side of the left lane. I thought she might move into the center lane as it seemed she would be making a left at the bottom of the hill onto a residential street, she did not.

At this point I had come up on her, slowed down a bit then I passed her on her right. My right tires were on the dotted line as there was traffic that had come up on me slowing down and had rapidly begun passing me on my right in the center lane. I passed her the same way I would pass a bicyclist that was riding on the right side of the right lane, just that she was on the left in the left lane.

At this point I was a little pissed. I thought either this lady was oblivious to road travel or some kind of activist trying to make a point so I honked at her. Turns out she was the second type. She flipped me off and I returned the gesture into my side mirror. I made my turn at the residential street and make my way through the neighborhoods to my house. The whole time the bicyclist was following me at a distance as I was traveling a bit faster that her. I pulled into my driveway and got out and opened the door for my daughter to get out. A few moments later the bicyclist turned and drove onto my driveway and stopped and put her foot down behind my car.

The first thing out of her mouth was that bikers have the same rights to the road as a car does. The first thing out of mine was that is true in the right hand lanes. She argued that she has the right to be in the left lane if she is making a turn. I told her that her turn was several hundred feet down the way and she ought not to ride in the left lane on a street with 45mph+ traffic on it. She told me that a new law has been passed mandating six foot space around bicyclist that motorist should maintain. She had apparently flipped me off because I passed so close (and because I honked). She said she could have touched my side mirror. That is true, as I was mostly in the same lane as her as I passed her. I told her that I didn’t see her until I came up on her. Which was a lie. I had seen her a long way back and I passed her close after I was obvious she wasn’t going to move. She told me I should dive more defensively and watch were I was going. I told her I was obviously driving defensive enough, as I didn’t hit her.

As you can imagine tempers where high and voices were raised. By my nature I am a very vulgar person, and in this moment with emotions high I was using a lot of “bad words”. As I argued with her on what lane she should be riding in she kept telling me she had every right to be where she wanted. I said something like, “Dude, you’ll prove your f***ing point one day when someone doesn’t see you and plows you off God d**n road.” She said that she hoped it would be me that would do so that I could be sued.

Around this time I realized this conversation was no longer productive. She had vilified me as the typical a**hole driver that doesn’t care about bicyclist and their rights to the road. And I had vilified her as some super bicyclist that is so bound and determined to prove her point she is willing to play chicken with cars to do it. I know now that the truth lies some where in between. . I own a mountain bike that I mostly ride to work, around the neighborhood and on the occasional trail. I tried to tell her that I to am a bicyclist that rides on the roads and that I am not the enemy. I guess she had taken offence at me calling her dude, and she said, “yeah, you really look it.” She was commenting at the fact that I am overweight and don’t look like I’ve ever been on a bike. That hurt my feelings so I told her, “go f***ing blow yourself,” as she rode off.

Now I have been asking myself what is the point in writing this out? I guess in hopes of making some good karma in trying to explain myself so that this lady won’t come back in the night with her friends and slash my tires. I would hope by posting this on a few message boards the word would get around that most people are shades of gray and not the black and white we try to paint each other. I would also like to apologize to the bicyclist if she took offence to me calling her “dude”. I was using the word androgynously and meant no offence by it. In fact she was an attractive woman (in her late 20’s to mid 30’s, blond Caucasian, wearing a orange tank top, white helmet on a white road bike, for those who may recognize the description). I would also like to say I am not the confrontational type and I am embarrassed that I lost my cool and tried to prove my point.

But my original position remains the same. Though you have the right to ride in the left lane on a fast moving street and if anyone else or I does not see you and hits you, technically we would be in the wrong. But that technicality would be of little solace to you and your family if you were killed or seriously hurt. And it would mean little to the conscience of the motorist that kills you because we just didn’t see you putting along in the left lane. And if the same situation came around again I would pass and honk to remind you that you are playing with fire and that you stand to lose more than I do. I have been hit by a car before while riding my bike. I had assumed he saw me, I was wrong. So that is why my philosophy changed even though by law I as a motorist have to look out for bicyclists.

James

[JamisJockey]

41-6a-1102. Bicycle and device propelled by human power and moped riders subject to chapter -- Exception.
(1) Except as provided under Subsection (2) or as otherwise specified under this part, a person operating a bicycle, a vehicle or device propelled by human power, or a moped has all the rights and is subject to the provisions of this chapter applicable to the operator of any other vehicle.
(2) A person operating a nonmotorized bicycle or a vehicle or device propelled by human power is not subject to the penalties related to operator licenses under alcohol and drug-related traffic offenses.


41-6a-1105. Operation of bicycle or moped on and use of roadway -- Duties, prohibitions.
(1) A person operating a bicycle or a moped on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as near as practicable to the right-hand edge of the roadway except when:
(a) overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction;
(b) preparing to make a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway;
(c) traveling straight through an intersection that has a right-turn only lane that is in conflict with the straight through movement; or
(d) reasonably necessary to avoid conditions that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand edge of the roadway including:
(i) fixed or moving objects;
(ii) parked or moving vehicles;
(iii) bicycles;
(iv) pedestrians;
(v) animals;
(vi) surface hazards; or
(vii) a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
(2) A person operating a bicycle or moped on a highway shall operate in the designated direction of traffic.
(3) (a) A person riding a bicycle or moped on a roadway may not ride more than two abreast with another person except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
(b) If allowed under Subsection (3)(a), a person riding two abreast with another person may not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and shall ride within a single lane.
(4) If a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, a bicycle rider may be directed by a traffic-control device to use the path and not the roadway.



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41-6a-706.5. Operation of motor vehicle near bicycle prohibited.

An operator of a motor vehicle may not knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly operate a motor vehicle within three feet of a moving bicycle, unless the operator of the motor vehicle operates the motor vehicle within a reasonable and safe distance of the bicycle.

Enacted by Chapter 216, 2005 General Session
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[rockgremlin]

WOW! That's quite the story!! But I'm glad you posted (and also thanks to JamisJockey for posting the regs), because I've always wondered about the rights of cyclists on the road.

Generally, I'm courteous of cyclists but sometimes the really annoy me. In order to get to work I have to drive a busy two-lane highway (speed limit 50), that has almost ZERO shoulder. Apparently it's a popular route with the cyclists because I'm always passing at least 2-3 of them, and it's always a hassle because they're slow, and since there's no shoulder they're right in the road.

I'm not saying they don't have a right to ride on that road, but why don't they find a different road that at least has a shoulder?

Playing with fire...

[accadacca]

Interesting.........I think this could have easily happened to any of us on a given day. I had to think for a while before I responded. I don't want to point fingers and I think that both parties are guilty. Sometimes I think one way when I am driving my truck down the road and have to go around a cyclist hogging the road. Then when I am on my bike on the road I think another way. I would disagree with honking at anyone. Unless they do something really stupid. It really pisses me off when people honk at me on my bike. :frustrated: But this chick seemed to be looking for trouble? You should have offered her a cold beer. :lol8:

Yeah no one wins in these kind of situations. Both parties just go away pissed off thinking that they are right and the other person is a f**k up! You just have to live and learn that's all. I would have thought what the f**ck is she doing. But I would not honk. I would have waited for her to get out of the way or went around her when the time presented itself. Just my $0.02.

[KillEmAll]

Yeah, I never know how to feel about bikers on the roads. When they inconcenience me I get really pissed at 'em. But then I wonder how else they are supposed to ride down the road I just happen to be on? But sometimes you wonder if they are going out of thier way to piss you off. I doubt it, but it can seem that way. I probably should stop throwing my half empty beer cans at them. And kissing their tires with my bumber is not cool. I should put a stop to that. Road bikers stir up such mixed emotions!

[accadacca]

KillEmAll wrote: I probably should stop throwing my half empty beer cans at them. And kissing their tires with my bumber is not cool. I should put a stop to that. :roflol:

[live2ride]

accadacca wrote: KillEmAll wrote: I probably should stop throwing my half empty beer cans at them. And kissing their tires with my bumber is not cool. I should put a stop to that. :roflol:



That is why I always pack mr glock with me! but I am in the mountains and don't own a road bike, but feel for both in this story. Thanks for the post. :hail2thechief:

[Sombeech]

yowza. I ride to work sometimes, an 8 mile ride each way. Even though I pass 2 of those green little "bike route" signs, there's sometimes only 2 inches of pavement on the other side of the white line.

Bottom line, I may be right or wrong, but I'll be the one in the hospital with the broken leg. That's why I bought a helmet mirror.

Whatever the law is, we can't always trust the motorists to know it. But cyclists are the same way, as stated by James.

If there were a law passed that allows me to start cutting off cars, that's not going to keep me out of the hospital. We still have to use common sense. And riding after dark is a whole new level.

Thanks James.