[*BCM*] Cyclists "shall be subject to the traffic laws andregulations of the Commonwealth"

[Jess]

On 5/10/06, Tripp Hyde <henrythehorrible at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Haha.  How much was the ticket?  Not the same amount as if you were
> driving a car I hope?


Only $20.

  They didn't ask for your license number did
> they (if you have one)?


Nope.  So that quip about "What are they going to do, raise my insurance
rate?" holds true.  They did ask for my drivers' license, though... hmm.

-Jess

On 5/10/06, Jess <novelbound at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > But everyday I see cyclists blow through a red light when a cop is
> >  > overlooking the street traffic and they don't seem to mind.
> >
> >  I thought this too for the longest time -- indeed, when I "learned" to
> bike
> > in city traffic by watching other bikers, running reds when traffic was
> > clear was one of the things I picked up on.
> >
> >  Then last month I got ticketed for running a red near Porter Square!
> (Noo!)
> >  Yup, an official two-wheeled traffic violation.  After I got over my
> shock
> > at getting ticketed on a BIKE, it was funny.
> >
> >  I guess cars give me an equally hard time for running and for *not*
> running
> > reds (i.e. being in their way come the green light), so I might as well
> obey
> > that particular traffic law.  At least, on Mass Ave near Porter.
> >
> >  -Jess
> >  (briefly delurking)
> >
> >
> > On 5/8/06, Justin Wong <lilwong at bu.edu> wrote:
> > > I always wondered about #3. Technically CM would be breaking the
> law...
> > > But everyday I see cyclists blow through a red light when a cop is
> > > overlooking the street traffic and they don't seem to mind.
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: bostoncriticalmass-bounces at bostoncriticalmass.org
> > > [mailto:bostoncriticalmass-bounces at bostoncriticalmass.org
> > ] On Behalf Of
> > > turtle
> > > Sent: Sunday, May 07, 2006 10:10 AM
> > > To: Boston Critical Mass
> > > Subject: [*BCM*] Cyclists "shall be subject to the traffic laws
> > > andregulations of the Commonwealth"
> > >
> > > Indeed, in Massachusetts, bicyclists must follow all state traffic
> laws,
> > > signs, and signals, including those that apply to "motor vehicles".
> > > According to state law (Chapter 85, section 11B, see:
> > > http://massbike.org/bikelaw/ ), the only three traffic law differences
> for
> > > bicyclists are:
> > >
> > > 1. Bicyclists are permitted to pass on the right (though it's not very
> > > safe).
> > > 2. Bicyclists are NOT permitted to ride next to eachother in the same
> lane
> > > (a stupid law that would be changed with the passage of the Bicyclists
> > Bill
> > > of Rights and Responsibilities).
> > > 3. Bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks outside business districts
> "when
> > > necessary for safety", as long as you yield to pedestrians.
> > >
> > > Other than those excecptions, bicyclists are required by state law to
> > follow
> > > all traffic laws.
> > >
> > > Obviously, lots of people don't know this, and many others don't give
> a
> > > shit.  But reality is that you can get cited and prosecuted for
> violating
> > > traffic laws on your bike as you would in an automobile.
> > >
> > > Note, we're not talking about equipment laws here, just traffic laws.
> > > Obviously, different types of vehicles have different equipment laws.
> > > For example, bikes are required to have a white, front headlight at
> night,
> > > but aren't required to have any rear lights at all (though they are
> > > definitely an excellent idea).
> > >
> > > -Turtle
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Boston Critical Mass <list at bostoncriticalmass.org > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > On Apr 30, 2006, at 6:27 PM, Anarchist Judaism wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > The regulation does specify motor vehicle, though.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > I think it's established elsewhere that bicyclists must follow all
> > > > motor vehicular traffic laws except where noted.
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > >
> > >
> > > ----------------------------------
> > > "One day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal
> we
> > > seek, but that it is a means by which we arrive at that goal.  We must
> > > pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means." - Martin Luther King Jr.
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> > > list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> > > http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> > > To unsubscribe email
> > list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> > > list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> > > http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> > > To unsubscribe email
> > list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
> > >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> > list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> > http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> > To unsubscribe email
> > list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> -=t
> http://dumbbox.dyndns.org:81
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.bostoncoop.net/pipermail/bostoncriticalmass/attachments/20060511/63794793/attachment.html