Bicycle rules.

[coeceo.livejournal.com]

When you are riding a bicycle on public ways, state law subjects you to the same basic laws and regulations that apply to motor vehicle operators. The list below (dont know how to make the cut link deal) shows some other rules that I wasnt aware of, like sidewalk use, reflective ankle bands, etc...

Comments

[coeceo.livejournal.com]

You must obey all traffic signs and signals, ride single file with the flow of traffic, and yield to pedestrians.

You must ride on the right side of the roadway, unless you are turning left.

To turn left, signal, look, and move into the lane closest to the center line.

It is strongly recommended that you avoid listening to headphones while riding.

Before entering or crossing a roadway, you should stop, look left, look right, and look left again for traffic—even if it is a one-way street.

When preparing to merge, stop, or turn, use hand signals to communicate your intentions to other roadway users. You may use either hand to signal.

Use an audible signal bell, horn, or your voice to warn pedestrians.

For nighttime operation, your bike must be equipped with a white headlight, red taillight, and/or rear reflector, pedal reflectors, and side reflectors. In addition, you must wear reflective ankle bands.

You may use sidewalks outside business districts, unless there is a local ordinance prohibiting it. When operating on a sidewalk, you must yield the right of way to pedestrians.

This is all from the latest RMV driver's manual.

[haptotrope.livejournal.com]

the list isn't there... ?

[ron_newman]

I see no 'list below'.

Bikes are never 'mandated' to use the sidewalk, but in some places such as Davis Square they are mandated NOT to use the sidewalk.

[ron_newman]

The single-file rule was repealed, and I really doubt there is any law requiring reflective ankle bands.

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

folks, the list is in the first comment.

[haptotrope.livejournal.com]

I believe the latest bicycle bill allows for riding two abreast... tho I'm not finding the citation.

Now if only I can get pedestrians to follow this rule: Before entering or crossing a roadway, you should stop, look left, look right, and look left again for traffic—even if it is a one-way street.

[haptotrope.livejournal.com]

yup.. we were just wicked quick to the draw and loaded our f-lists before he posted the comment... :-P

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

Agreed. The state law regarding bicycle operation did not mention reflective ankle bands the last time I looked at it.

Despite the word "must", this is a list of guidelines and recommendations. You will find that a recommendation like "you must ride on the right side of the roadway unless you are turning left" will produce more controversy than you may expect. Other than that, it's not a bad list of things to keep in mind.

[dariusk.livejournal.com]

Indeed, the only mention of ankles in MA Bike law is to state that if you don't have pedal reflectors, ankle reflectors are an acceptable substitution.

http://www.massbike.org/bikelaw/mass.htm

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Might want to actually put this in the body.

To LJ cut: [lj-cut] at the beginning of what you want cut, [/lj-cut] at the end of what you want cut. Just substitute < > for the brackets and you're set.

For the record, thanks for thinking of using a cut in the first place.

how to lj-cut

[ron_newman]

(dont know how to make the cut link deal)

For future reference: How to make an lj-cut

[coeceo.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I dont know how to do the cool trick where the bulk of the message is "below the cut" so it doesnt all show up on the main Davis_Square page, etc...

I also took out the "mandatory sidewalk" part after I looked again at the list again.

Also this was all found in the April-2009 (latest) version of MA driver's manual, chapter 4 page 105. Found here:
http://www.mass.gov/rmv/dmanual/index.htm

Re: how to lj-cut

[coeceo.livejournal.com]

Cool, thanks.

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

I absolutely believe you that it came from the RMV drivers' manual! I just don't think that the driver's manual is in sync with what state law actually requires. :-)

[mrboboto.livejournal.com]

It's missing some-

If you are riding a fixed gear bike with no helmet and no foot retention, I will call you an asshole under my breath. Then I will wait for your foot to slip.

If you run a red light, I will call you an asshole very loudly.

If you are riding the wrong way down a one way street while wearing headphones, I will hate you with the fire of a thousand suns.

[jodi.livejournal.com]

i'm with you on red lights and one ways!
these are my biggest pet peeves (bike related or not!)

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I agree that we pedestrians should always stop and look before entering a roadway (and wait for a cross signal if there is one), but when pedestrians have the crossing signal, bikes should not blast through crowds of those pedestrians. This happens to me every -- and I mean every -- day in Kendall Square when crossing Main Street. I wait for my cross signal, the cars all stop, but bikes just barrel on through, head down and ipod on, like there weren't people there. I can't tell you how many times I've nearly been hit when I had the right of way.

[m00n.livejournal.com]

You mean a brakeless fixed gear with no helmet and no foot retention ;-)

[m00n.livejournal.com]

I do have to call in some exceptions to the red light thing though. If, as a bicyclists, you really obey this law, you definitely find yourself sitting at quite a lot of totally deserted intersections twiddling your thumbs for sometimes several minutes at a time. Obviously if one is going to run a red light they should do so with extreme caution and always ALWAYS give the right of way to the traffic with the green light, but given those requirements, there are definitely times when it is acceptable.

[dariusk.livejournal.com]

+1!

[dearsweetbriar.livejournal.com]

As Ron mentioned before, the single file rule was repealed, as was the hand signal thing:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st02/st02573.htm

And MassBike posted a really great page that explains what it means in practical terms:
http://massbike.org/bikebill/index.htm

It is a good list of general guidelines, but as someone who frequently commutes by bike (and hates assholes on bikes who don't follow any rules - especially since the only one I even give a damn about is ride somewhat predictably), I have a gross mistrust for anything that comes from the RMV or any motorist, for that matter. I just ride like every car on the road is out to kill me, and like none of them are willing to share the roadway, and so far I've avoided any serious injury.

The one about riding on sidewalks, though - I moved to Inman Square where it happens more frequently than I ever saw in Davis, and that one KILLS me. I want to throw sticks in their spokes.

[haptotrope.livejournal.com]

I'm not into the barreling through traffic m'self. I have little rush hour experience with that intersection... but mostly all over cambridge, its people being brilliant in thier heads, instead of looking where the are going.

gah!

[versonic.livejournal.com]

If, as a bicyclists, you really obey this law, you definitely find yourself sitting at quite a lot of totally deserted intersections twiddling your thumbs for sometimes several minutes at a time.

Yeah, but this is also true for drivers. Why should bikers be any more special? I find it obnoxious to sit at red lights whether driving, biking, or walking... but if you're supposed to be following the laws of the road, then even as a bicyclist, you should be sitting at that red light.

I'm not trying to start an argument. Just pointing out the obvious.

[mrboboto.livejournal.com]

As a car driver, I really obey this law, and I definitely find myself sitting at quite a lot of totally deserted intersections twiddling my thumbs for sometimes several minutes at a time. Should I be able to blow through the intersection anyway? Hell no. Thus, I don't do it on my bike either.

Moral/ethical issues aside, it is extremely unsafe.

[ron_newman]

Because unlike drivers, bicyclists have a full 360-degree view without any obstructions.