16 replies to this topic

[Bill Z]

While the law does allow bicycles to drive in traffic like automobiles, the law also allows bicyclists the option of becoming a pedestrian and walking your bike in the crosswalks when legally permitted to do so. I've ridden both ways at intersections, I'll do the "in traffic I'm like a car" thing when it seems safe enough to do so, but when I'm in doubt (or with my son riding his bike), I opt for the safer "let's be a pedestrian in the sidewalk" mode of intersection navigation.

Because the laws of physics dictate, accident between >3000 lb car and <50 lb bicycle, bicycle always loses, regardless of who has the legal "right of way".

[tony]

While the law does allow bicycles to drive in traffic like automobiles, the law also allows bicyclists the option of becoming a pedestrian and walking your bike in the crosswalks when legally permitted to do so. I've ridden both ways at intersections, I'll do the "in traffic I'm like a car" thing when it seems safe enough to do so, but when I'm in doubt (or with my son riding his bike), I opt for the safer "let's be a pedestrian in the sidewalk" mode of intersection navigation.

Bill: No argument there. On six lane arterials, it is often nearly impossible to make the move from the bike lane to the left turn lane, and if you're paying attention, it is often faster to do the two-leg left turn anyway. But on Parkshore, it should not be a problem to make a vehicular left turn, and I would argue that at that location it's safer, too (there are no crosswalks and it does not look like a regular intersection, so motorists will not expect someone walking a bike across). By the age of 10 (some sooner, some later) most kids can be taught to safely make a "vehicular" left turn from a two-lane road.