Fixies are illegal in Portland, Oregon

http://www.oregonlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news/1154141722159250.xml&coll=7

Paul J. Berg wrote:
http://www.oregonlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news/1154141722159250.xml&coll=7

Not 100% correct: fixies without a front brake are illegal in
Portland. If you install a front brake (no one says you have to
***use*** it), the bike is legal.

I doubt too many cops are going to try pulling over bikes without
brakes.

Since the relevant legislation apparently does not specify that a hand
brake is required (i.e. a coaster brake would do), it would be
interesting to see what would happen if a cop pulled over a coaster
bike.

Jeff

In article .com,
wrote:
I doubt too many cops are going to try pulling over bikes without
brakes.

True, but if you get into an accident with an illegal bike, I suspect
that lawyers and courts will not look to favorably on you.

wrote:
Paul J. Berg wrote:
http://www.oregonlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news/1154141722159250.xml&coll=7

Not 100% correct: fixies without a front brake are illegal in
Portland. If you install a front brake (no one says you have to
***use*** it), the bike is legal.

I doubt too many cops are going to try pulling over bikes without
brakes.

Since the relevant legislation apparently does not specify that a hand
brake is required (i.e. a coaster brake would do), it would be
interesting to see what would happen if a cop pulled over a coaster
bike.

Actually, the language is similar in most states vehicle codes so the
fixie without brakes is illegal in most states if not all. And since
coaster brakes were common when the relatively uniform vehicle codes
were written, and coaster brakes have been common on kids bikes for
many decades, I would assume that no one would have a problem with
them.

- rick

Rick wrote:
wrote:
Paul J. Berg wrote:
http://www.oregonlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news/1154141722159250.xml&coll=7
Not 100% correct: fixies without a front brake are illegal in
Portland. If you install a front brake (no one says you have to
***use*** it), the bike is legal.

I doubt too many cops are going to try pulling over bikes without
brakes.

Since the relevant legislation apparently does not specify that a hand
brake is required (i.e. a coaster brake would do), it would be
interesting to see what would happen if a cop pulled over a coaster
bike.

Actually, the language is similar in most states vehicle codes so the
fixie without brakes is illegal in most states if not all. And since
coaster brakes were common when the relatively uniform vehicle codes
were written, and coaster brakes have been common on kids bikes for
many decades, I would assume that no one would have a problem with
them.

- rick


Unfortunately a coaster brake will not work on a fixed gear bike.
Coaster brakes are engaged by pedaling backwards. A fixie travels in
reverse when you pedal in backwards. ;-)

Paul D Oosterhout
(from SAIC)

Paul J. Berg wrote:
http://www.oregonlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news/1154141722159250.xml&coll=7

No, bikes w/o brakes are illegal. A pretty good basic law if you ask
me. Even the best fixist won't be able to stop as well as somebody with
a good front brake. It's basic physics.

I know two guys that are very serious fixie riders, one races cxcross,
the other commutes 100 miles per week on a fix. Both have brakes on
front and rear. Since a sensible rider will want the levers for the
comfy hood position, what kind of measly "penalty" is an extra caliper?

Newsflash: whiney poseurs.

Look, guys, I don't want to be a prick, but this stuff about "fixies"
is really affected! I mean, if you want hard-core, long-time cyclists
to think you're a real dilettante, keep calling fixed-gear bikes
"fixies". But if you want to sound like you know what you're tallking
about, call it a "fixed-gear" bike. Nobody called them "fixies" until
the '90's when some yuppie poseur started calling them that, about the
same time the airhead yuppies started calling BMWs "beemers" rather
than "bimmers". Just a word to the wise. I thought you would want to
know. It drives me up the wall!

wrote:
Look, guys, I don't want to be a prick, but this stuff about "fixies"
is really affected! I mean, if you want hard-core, long-time cyclists
to think you're a real dilettante, keep calling fixed-gear bikes
"fixies". But if you want to sound like you know what you're tallking
about, call it a "fixed-gear" bike. Nobody called them "fixies" until
the '90's when some yuppie poseur started calling them that, about the
same time the airhead yuppies started calling BMWs "beemers" rather
than "bimmers". Just a word to the wise. I thought you would want to
know. It drives me up the wall!

So what?

Fixie Fixie Fixie Fixie Fixie Fixie Fixie Fixie Fixie Fixie

I bet you're frothing now, eh?

Look, everybody I know, age 16-60 that's a cyclist calles them a
"fixie". My 50+ y/o LBS wheel wizard calls them that, the guys I
messengered with years ago called them that. Word to the wise: chill.
Language changes, and with the modern internets, we can just LOL or
even STFU. :-D

I bet you still boast about your wonderful high waisted pantaloons.
It's pants, now, you silly goose!

wrote:
Nobody called them "fixies" until
the '90's when some yuppie poseur started calling them that, about the
same time the airhead yuppies started calling BMWs "beemers" rather
than "bimmers".

Since the 80s, in my recollection, "Bimmer" is the car, and "Beemer" is
the motorcycle. Down south here, people been calling the cars either
for the last 20 years. I just call them "inside out porcupines". Not
that I wouldn't drive one...

Yeah, I KNOW that you and all your friends call them "fixies", but
that's because you're gay!


Look, everybody I know, age 16-60 that's a cyclist calles them a
"fixie". My 50+ y/o LBS wheel wizard calls them that, the guys I
messengered with years ago called them that. Word to the wise: chill.
Language changes, and with the modern internets, we can just LOL or
even STFU. :-D