Texting while driving.

Bump. "Oh, did I hit something?"

The number of pedestrians and cyclists hit by vehicles has skyrocketed in my area last year. I'm sure this is happening all over the world.

When the light turns red anymore all you see is a whole line of people with their heads down staring at their phones. And it takes people honking away to wake them out of their trance when the light turns green.

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It's funny how cyclists want their right to the road just like any other vehicle, yet they do not adhere to the same traffic laws as other vehicles - like weaving in and out of traffic, occupying the wrong side of the road, not stopping at stop signs, pedaling through red lights....

Common Sense, if you rode, you'd know how little sense your comment makes. Riders don't stop at stop signs because they are moving so slowly that they get a very good, very long look at the intersection before they even get there, and getting on and off the saddle is a real pain. And they don't stop at red lights for the same reason, and because it is often safer to cross an intersection on red, while traffic is stopped.

Michael1601, your comment is incredibly stupid. CommonSense had it right, you HAVE to obey the same traffic laws. Just because you don't want to stop at a stop sign or a red light because you feel like it is a pain is too bad, too sad. How would you feel if you were riding with a friend and you didn't stop at a stop sign, blew through it (even just making a right turn) and got hit by a car, You would blame the driver of the car, and not your friend. It's simple. People riding bicycles need to obey EVERY traffic law, same as if driving a car. Don't like it, don't ride.

Michael - And they don't stop at red lights for the same reason, and because it is often safer to cross an intersection on red, while traffic is stopped.

They're breaking the law, despite your rationale; plus it's distracting and very irritating to be a driver under these circumstances.

Bike riders must follow the same laws as other "vehicles".

Personally I would like to see more enforcement on all sides, especially cars that pass in the same lane as the bike. Change lanes or dont pass. If its single lane, pass like its a car on the broken line. Otherwise dont pass. Way too many drivers pass bikes without changing lanes. Bikers need to stay in the middle of the lane, and not encourage this practice. Those are the laws as they stand.

@Michael... your response that laws don't need to be followed by some people is one of the most stupid things I've read on this vine.

The problem is that the traffic laws are motor vehicle specific. There have been times that stopping would be much less safer than slowing down, looking both sides, then pedaling forward.

Yes, there are cyclist out there that think that the laws don't apply to them, but remember that a few rotten apple do not ruin bunch. Nobody here is harping about people who jaywalk, and yet, that is more dangerous than rolling a stop sign.

IMO, enforcing the speed limit, especially in city streets, would be a more productive means of reducing accidents such as these.

"In the state of Texas a bicycle is considered equivalent to a motor vehicle and subject to the same laws that apply to motor vehicles, with a few exceptions where special rules apply to bicyclists. In most cases, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists and are subject to the same citations a motorist would receive for violating traffic laws. This means that cyclists should stop at all red lights and stop signs, signal when turning and stopping, yield right-of-way when law requires it - and by all means, NO SPEEDING! Most regular cyclists would agree with John Forester, author of "Effective Cycling" that cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles. As a general rule, you should not do anything that you would not do when you are driving your car." The issue arises when bicyclists don't know the law.

In Idaho "A person operating a bicycle or human-powered vehicle approaching a stop sign shall slow down and, if required for safety, stop before entering the intersection. After slowing to a reasonable speed or stopping, the person shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the person is moving across or within the intersection or junction of highways, except that a person after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way if required, may cautiously make a turn or proceed through the intersection without stopping."

The issue arises when people think that bicycles and motor vehicles are the same.

"...subject to the same laws..." Not physically the same. Apparently, the laws regarding bicyclists are different state to state but are the same in some states also. I would be curious to know if "intersection" in Idaho includes intersections with stoplights as in urban areas.

"A person operating a bicycle or human-powered vehicle approaching a steady red traffic-control signal shall stop before entering the intersection, except that a person after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way if required, may cautiously make a right-hand turn without stopping or may cautiously make a left-hand turn onto a one-way highway without stopping."

They did a study in the 90's (the law was put into place in the 80's) and they found a decrease in bicycle related accidents.

One example a friend uses to describe the "bicycles are not cars" argument is imagine you drive a car and at every stop sign you have to turn off the car and get out before trying to move on. It's kind of like that.

As a cyclist who rides about three days a week, I have to agree with you. We need to obey the same laws as drivers. In fact, I overcompensate. I'd rather be a little more cautious that a dead cyclist who had the right-of-way.

You were taught incorrectly. Bikes are considered road vehicles and should go with the flow of traffic, to include using arm signals, stopping at lights, and being in the appropriate lane. It's pedestrians who walk against traffic.

Riding contra traffic is stupid. It will get you killed. You are supposed to ride with traffic because it is safer, for everyone, despite what your personal brand of uncommon sense is telling you. Anyway, we are completely unaware of the circumstances of this crash, for all you know it was a head-on collision.

People like you are part of the problem.

i don't know where you learned to ride but it is contrary to traffic rules for cyclists to ride contra traffic most places in the states. i'll bet it's the same in south africa. pedestrians walk against traffic for the reason you state. they walk at a slow, predictable speed. bikes must flow with traffic because cycle speeds often approximate vehicle speeds. to do what you were inadvisable taught, puts everyone at risk, including cars hitting cars to avoid you.

the some that disagree include cops that can provide you with a ticket.

@Bob, when a car is turning right, the driver is usually looking to his left for traffic (cars and bikes).. once the driver starts moving forward, you'de smack right into him since YOU ARE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD!!!

It's called "salmoning" in certain cycling circles. And it's super annoying, not to mention dangerous.

Think of it this way. Yes you see the car, but it's coming at you at a faster pace (your speed + the car speed).

It's sooo annoying seeing someone up the road riding on the wrong side of the road.

You're all probably going to hate me for this, but here goes nothing: This is why I ride on the sidewalks in my town. Until drivers recognize bicycles as legitimate traffic on roadways, it is simply not safe to ride in the roads in my hometown. I have had box trucks deliberately change lanes to try and sideswipe me. I've had people throw garbage (including half-full beer bottles) at me while riding. And I've discovered (in my town, at least) it is easier for me to dodge pedestrians on a bicycle, than it is to dodge bicycles in a car.

oh. in that case, nevermind.

@michael 1601

a rationalization pure and simple to justify your discourteous and dangerous road behavior. YOU are one of the reasons some drivers have ill will toward ALL cyclists. you make it dangerous for all cyclists who want to share the road.