> But everyday I see cyclists blow through a red light when a cop is<br>
> overlooking the street traffic and they don't seem to mind.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
-Jess<br>
(briefly delurking)<br>
<br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 5/8/06, <b class="gmail_sendername">Justin Wong</b> <<a href="mailto:lilwong@bu.edu">lilwong@bu.edu</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
I always wondered about #3. Technically CM would be breaking the law...<br>But everyday I see cyclists blow through a red light when a cop is<br>overlooking the street traffic and they don't seem to mind.<br><br>-----Original Message-----
<br>From: <a href="mailto:bostoncriticalmass-bounces@bostoncriticalmass.org">bostoncriticalmass-bounces@bostoncriticalmass.org</a><br>[mailto:<a href="mailto:bostoncriticalmass-bounces@bostoncriticalmass.org">bostoncriticalmass-bounces@bostoncriticalmass.org
</a>] On Behalf Of<br>turtle<br>Sent: Sunday, May 07, 2006 10:10 AM<br>To: Boston Critical Mass<br>Subject: [*BCM*] Cyclists "shall be subject to the traffic laws<br>andregulations of the Commonwealth"<br><br>Indeed, in Massachusetts, bicyclists must follow all state traffic laws,
<br>signs, and signals, including those that apply to "motor vehicles".<br>According to state law (Chapter 85, section 11B, see:<br><a href="http://massbike.org/bikelaw/">http://massbike.org/bikelaw/</a> ), the only three traffic law differences for
<br>bicyclists are:<br><br>1. Bicyclists are permitted to pass on the right (though it's not very<br>safe).<br>2. Bicyclists are NOT permitted to ride next to eachother in the same lane<br>(a stupid law that would be changed with the passage of the Bicyclists Bill
<br>of Rights and Responsibilities).<br>3. Bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks outside business districts "when<br>necessary for safety", as long as you yield to pedestrians.<br><br>Other than those excecptions, bicyclists are required by state law to follow
<br>all traffic laws.<br><br>Obviously, lots of people don't know this, and many others don't give a<br>shit. But reality is that you can get cited and prosecuted for violating<br>traffic laws on your bike as you would in an automobile.
<br><br>Note, we're not talking about equipment laws here, just traffic laws.<br>Obviously, different types of vehicles have different equipment laws.<br>For example, bikes are required to have a white, front headlight at night,
<br>but aren't required to have any rear lights at all (though they are<br>definitely an excellent idea).<br><br>-Turtle<br><br><br><br><br>Boston Critical Mass <<a href="mailto:list@bostoncriticalmass.org">list@bostoncriticalmass.org
</a>> wrote:<br>><br>> On Apr 30, 2006, at 6:27 PM, Anarchist Judaism wrote:<br>><br>> > The regulation does specify motor vehicle, though.<br>> ><br>><br>> I think it's established elsewhere that bicyclists must follow all
<br>> motor vehicular traffic laws except where noted.<br>> _______________________________________________<br><br><br>----------------------------------<br>"One day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we
<br>seek, but that it is a means by which we arrive at that goal. We must<br>pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means." - Martin Luther King Jr.<br>_______________________________________________<br>Boston Critical Mass mailing list
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