Something that ticked me off-bicycle related

For the record, I wasn't defending the folks riding 6 wide. I think that's pretty dumb. I firmly believe in single file. The exception would be a event like a sanctioned race - just like closing 30A for the Seaside half marathon.

But there is a recurring theme of folks bi***ing about a cyclist on 30A instead of the bike path. As I've said before, leave the type A attitude in Atlanta. You're not going to get anywhere in a hurry on 30A anyway, bikes in the way or no bikes in the way. Relax and enjoy the day.

I tell you what, with all the talk of riding staggered, two abreast, etc, I know why biker's drink a lot and often have two breast riding on the back.

As treefrog was saying,
From the Florida DOT comments under Driving on a shared-use path or sidewalk
(Section 316.1995, F.S.):
" There are many reasons a cyclist may prefer not to ride on a physically separated path on the side of a road. A faster cyclist may wish to avoid conflicts with pedestrians, skaters, and slower cyclists. A cyclist's destination may be on the opposite side of the road. A rider on the roadway is more likely to be seen by drivers making left and right turns off the roadway at side streets and driveways. "

NoHall, back to your motorcycle question
(link)
Motorcycles operating two abreast in same lane 316.209 - Operating motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic.--
(1) All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane. This subsection shall not apply to motorcycles operated two abreast in a single lane.

However, you are right about riding staggered (not staggered drunk). It is preferred and safer than riding two abreast.

You said breast!

Riding staggered is the way to go and is definitely the safest. Oddly, the preferred way method of getting through stop signs is to pair up side by side and go through at the same time...

You said breast!

Riding staggered is the way to go and is definitely the safest. Oddly, the preferred way method of getting through stop signs is to pair up side by side and go through at the same time...

Does that make it a photo finish to see who got the ticket for failure to come to a complete stop?

The way I read Sj's posts is that a bicycle (or group of bicyclists) can ride down the center of a 30-A lane as long as they are going the posted speed limit. If they are going less than the posted speed limit, they must ride one abreast on the side of the road.

The reason people biatch about cyclists on 30-A is because those cyclists don't give others the same courtesy and consideration they demand. :roll:

Just like w/ kids in restaurants, I don't hear/utter complaints about well behaved and courteous cyclists. I hear about cyclists hogging the road & disrupting normal traffic flow for extended periods of time, blowing through stop signs, yelling at and flipping off drivers for perceived slights etc. :angry:

There are some great local & visiting cyclists who follow all the rules of the road, use lights to make themselves more visible when it is foggy/dim out, stop at signs, etc. They choose to ride on the road instead of the path for a variety of logical reasons (I have been edumacated about these). Then there are the bikers (who I am sure are also rude SOBs when not on a bike) who ruin it for others with their behavior.

I love seeing people out enjoying the outdoors (and an attractive man in bike shorts sure doesn't ruin my day) and think we should encourage it with a network of well maintained bike paths, but bikers also need to be realistic and considerate about the fact that they are riding on a major traffic artery - no matter how scenic it is!

Sounds like you correctly understand part of the laws in my post. The law which is missing is the exception, which is specifically noted as, "or substandard-width lane, that makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge. 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." Due to the narrow width of most of 30A, a cyclist could legally ride down the center of the lane at any speed. However, that is a good way to get killed by irate motorist, and not something I do, except when approaching stop signs or to turn left.

Since the law requires that an auto driver give cyclists three feet of room when passing, I'd say that by this law, a single bicycle could legally ride in the middle of the right hand lane, when traveling on most of 30A. Glad I looked that one up.

like the bikers or not, it is the law to give them 36" clearance on the road.

Man I see what you guys are talking about. I was in south Walton today and parents letting their kids dart in and out of traffic in those subdivisions, riding 4 across and going at a crawl. People passing bikes on 30A with no concept that cars are heading in the other direction. I should have known it was going to be a bad day when a SUV almost blew the red light at 331. I guess people are just all excited about the water. But I do not think that should be an excuse. No way do they act that way at home. Do they think the laws of physics and society are suspended when they go on vacation?

I should have known it was going to be a bad day when a SUV almost blew the red light at 331.

Guess we should have warned you about that.... happens alot. And you NEVER,EVER pull out when the light turn greens at either 283/BayDr. or 395.. (well make that ANY intersection on 98) without first observing whether or not the drivers in both directions even have the remotest concept that they are coming up on a light. Or unless the front 2 have stopped at the light and will be hit before you are. It is so bad that my kids and I now make bets on how many from each direction will blow thru it.

Guess we should have warned you about that.... happens alot. And you NEVER,EVER pull out when the light turn greens at either 283/BayDr. or 395.. (well make that ANY intersection on 98) without first observing whether or not the drivers in both directions even have the remotest concept that they are coming up on a light. Or unless the front 2 have stopped at the light and will be hit before you are. It is so bad that my kids and I now make bets on how many from each direction will blow thru it.

Sheesh! And they are just as bad in DeFuniak. You are correct, I never pull out at a light without making sure everyone stops first.

Do they think the laws of physics and society are suspended when they go on vacation?

Yes.

NEVER,EVER pull out when the light turn greens at either 283/BayDr. or 395..

Don't go straight across 395 without making sure some bozo is not about to turn onto 98 right in front of you. Happens nearly everytime I am heading across from Point Washington. THERE OUGHT TO BE A LAW!!!!

That happens to me all the time over at 393. They think the turning lane is the only lane going on a green light. And then they flip me off when I slam on my brakes and toss my arms in the air like I was in the wrong. When I have someone in turn lane across from me, I actually use both feet on the pedals to give me a better reaction time.

My husband and I lay on the horn and start heading across. I have done this with a sheriff looking on...and that is all he did...:angry:

When the reality is that the Sheriff should have chased down someone to educate them on their poor judgement instead of chasing down another donut. My apologies to all those skinny sheriffs out there. I couldn't help myself. :funn:

That happens to me all the time over at 393. They think the turning lane is the only lane going on a green light. And then they flip me off when I slam on my brakes and toss my arms in the air like I was in the wrong. When I have someone in turn lane across from me, I actually use both feet on the pedals to give me a better reaction time.

There should be a turn arrow on both sides. I get honked at turning left from the south side while waiting for the straight across traffic from the north.

Why don't they install the cameras that take pictures when you blow a red light? Seems like they could make some serious money.

My husband and I lay on the horn and start heading across. I have done this with a sheriff looking on...and that is all he did...:angry:

Dont you love that? I am pretty sure that the person going straight has the right of way and that turning in front of them would constitute failure to yield at the very least. I am seriously looking into some of those airhorns (see below hehehe)air/train horns

I had to go to Destin first thing this morning. As I was turning left from 393 onto 98, the person next to me went straight through the intersection only to find a car pulling out of the gas station to get in line to turn onto 98 and ended up T-boning them right there. They both nearly hit the power pole. It was a full size pickup hitting a small compact. I don't know if anyone got seriously hurt, but I'll bet someone got coffee up their nose.
Just sad to see so many people moving so fast when there are so many people not quite sure if the move they are executing is correct or not.
try going to Winnipeg and negotiating a lighted intersection sometime.
You seriously will not know when you are supposed to do what.

Sorry for double dipping. I just watched that horn video. I have a friend down near Orlando who has one of these. My whole company was in Orlando for a sales meeting. That evening when everyone was breaking into groups to head out for supper, there was four of us in my friends truck waiting at a stop sign when one of the other sales guys was coming up to cross the intersection. The driver waited until this poor guy was right in front of the hood of the truck thinking we were being nice to let him cross in front of us. Then he hit the airhorn. The poor guy hit the deck, thinking we were going right over him. :funn::funn::funn:
Once he composed himself again, he headed back across the same intersection. I think he was heading back to his room to change his shorts!!! :rofl:
That's funny....I don't care who you are!

Dont you love that? I am pretty sure that the person going straight has the right of way and that turning in front of them would constitute failure to yield at the very least. I am seriously looking into some of those airhorns (see below hehehe)air/train horns

Hmm only aout $600.00. :scratch:

I can see a Sowal Saturday night coming.................

Ok, lemme add my three centavos worth to the fray...here in Memphis, Tn. there are very, very few bike lanes so bikers are in traffic and many, not just a few, seem to believe that sense they are "traffic", too, they should be accorded the same courtesies as motorized traffic, and that is not going to ever work in our area. After having read the pertinent passages of Fla law, it looks as if the state is on the cusp of being somewhat enlightened. Not that I haven't fumed over several bicyclists on 30A riding abreast at a 15-20mph pace and not having the courtesy or common sense of moving into single file and giving over to motorized vehicles. Runners who are in the "know" do not run in the street, if they do, they don't run two abreast (unless one or both of the "they" happen to be, ahem, of the fairer sex), or they are stupid which is the case now and then. Most runners I know would kill for a pedestrian lane free of road bikes, skaters, strollers, but welcome whatever we can get. Anyway, common sense should prevail - always. Give way to motorized unless in a sanctioned event escorted by official vehicles, be aware of traffic rules and reg's since they apply to all traffic, be courteous and smile. This ain't training ground for the Teur; it's a vacation area. That's all from here.

Ok, lemme add my three centavos worth to the fray...here in Memphis, Tn. there are very, very few bike lanes so bikers are in traffic and many, not just a few, seem to believe that sense they are "traffic", too, they should be accorded the same courtesies as motorized traffic, and that is not going to ever work in our area. After having read the pertinent passages of Fla law, it looks as if the state is on the cusp of being somewhat enlightened. Not that I haven't fumed over several bicyclists on 30A riding abreast at a 15-20mph pace and not having the courtesy or common sense of moving into single file and giving over to motorized vehicles. Runners who are in the "know" do not run in the street, if they do, they don't run two abreast (unless one or both of the "they" happen to be, ahem, of the fairer sex), or they are stupid which is the case now and then. Most runners I know would kill for a pedestrian lane free of road bikes, skaters, strollers, but welcome whatever we can get. Anyway, common sense should prevail - always. Give way to motorized unless in a sanctioned event escorted by official vehicles, be aware of traffic rules and reg's since they apply to all traffic, be courteous and smile. This ain't training ground for the Teur; it's a vacation area. That's all from here.

bump