[*BCM*] Re: Bostoncriticalmass Digest, Vol 28, Issue 1

[Rob Arnold]

Yes, you are being too idealistic.

On 10/4/06, Tim Ledlie <timledlie at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Although obviously unfortunate, it was her fault for biking the wrong
> way down a one-way street.  At least she wasn't badly hurt and she'll
> (hopefully) be able to learn from her mistake.
>
> Why would the van driver get a ticket for doing nothing wrong
> (assuming he came to a complete stop at the stop sign)?  Why should it
> be the legal responsibility for one vehicle operator to allow for
> illegal actions of another?  It may be a good idea to do so, but it
> certainly should not be the law.
>
> I wish that more cyclists would follow the law.  I think this is the
> first step in getting motor vehicles to respect cyclists.  Red lights
> make for a good example: if I'm driving a car, waiting at a red light,
> and a cyclist goes by me through the red light, why should I cut him
> any slack / treat him legally like a vehicle when I see him again
> further down the road?  And when motor vehicle drivers see most
> cyclists breaking the law, they assume that all cyclists are the same.
>
> Just imagine how motor vehicle drivers would act differently towards
> cyclists if all cyclists were law-abiding.  Am I being too idealistic?
>
> Of course, there are situations as a cyclist where you put yourself in
> danger by following the law, and I believe you should break the law in
> these rare situations.  But I think these situations don't happen very
> often, much less than many people think.
>
> -Tim
>
>
> On 10/3/06, bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org
> <bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org> wrote:
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> >
> > Today's Topics:
> >
> >    1. Laws (Lee Peters)
> >    2. Re: Laws (Jim Leonard)
> >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2006 16:42:29 -0400
> > From: "Lee Peters" <lfpeters at gis.net>
> > Subject: [*BCM*] Laws
> > To: "Boston Critical Mass" <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> > Message-ID: <001301c6e663$472c3c70$0301000a at Unit2>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> >
> > There was a bike accident in front of my house this afternoon.  The
> ambulance was called and she seems ok.  The EMT actually put her bike in the
> back of the truck and either brought her home or to the hospital.
> >
> > How did it happen?
> >
> > Well, she was going the wrong way on my one-way street.  The driver of a
> van pulled out in front of her at an intersection without looking the
> 'wrong' way down the street.  I didn't see if the driver made a full stop
> for the stop sign.
> >
> > Granted, it wouldn't happen if she wasn't going the wrong
> direction----BUT is there a law that says look BOTH ways before proceeding
> through a stop sign?
> >
> > The rationalization that flowed from the driver's mouth was
> astonishing.  I don't believe he got any kind of ticket.
> >
> > L
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> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 2
> > Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2006 17:00:54 -0400 (EDT)
> > From: Jim Leonard <vleonard at infinet.com>
> > Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Laws
> > To: Boston Critical Mass <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> > Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.58L0.0610021646350.31154 at shell.core.com>
> > Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
> >
> >
> >
> > On Mon, 2 Oct 2006, Lee Peters wrote:
> >
> > > Well, she was going the wrong way on my one-way street.  The driver of
> a
> > > van pulled out in front of her at an intersection without looking the
> > > 'wrong' way down the street.
> >
> > Going through an intersection the wrong way is one of the most dangerous
> > things you can do on a bicycle especially at any speed.
> >
> > > Granted, it wouldn't happen if she wasn't going the wrong
> > > direction----BUT is there a law that says look BOTH ways before
> > > proceeding through a stop sign?
> >
> > Not in those words but I think the following does apply.  It does hurt
> the
> > bicylist's case that she was not legal traffic, but I don't think the
> > driver of the van would be able to collect damages either.
> >
> > >From 89 section 9 of Mass General Laws
> > (http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/89-9.htm)
> >
> > Except when directed to proceed by a police officer, every driver of a
> > vehicle approaching a stop sign or a flashing red signal indication
> shall
> > stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the
> > crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if none, then at the
> > point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of
> > approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering it.
> After
> > having stopped, the driver shall yield the right of way to any vehicle
> in
> > the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to
> > constitute an immediate hazard during the time when such driver is
> moving
> > across or within the intersection or junction of roadways.
> >
> > --jim
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
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> > End of Bostoncriticalmass Digest, Vol 28, Issue 1
> > *************************************************
> >
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