Question for Lou H.

On 12/18/2013 3:19 PM, Dan O wrote:
On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 3:03:42 PM UTC-8, Lou Holtman wrote:
On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 11:53:59 PM UTC+1, James wrote:

In Victoria and I assume all of Australia, we have:

247 Riding in a bicycle lane on a road

(1) The rider of a bicycle riding on a length of road
with a bicycle lane designed for bicycles
travelling in the same direction as the rider must
ride in the bicycle lane unless it is impracticable to
do so.

I like that if the rider is going the wrong way he's exempt :-)


Well actually that sounds like a good rule if it means that if there's a
bike lane going west and you're heading east you don't need to be in the
bike lane on the wrong side of the road going against traffic. There's
a town around here called Hudson that has all of the lanes on one side
of the road. Sometime they end abruptly leaving you facing oncoming
traffic. We also don't have to use them on the opposite side of the road.

Penalty: 3 penalty units.

"Penalty units" (?) Hmmm... Oh! That's right - you guys
started out as a penal colony.


He is probably referring to what we call points here. Points go on your
record for 3 years and your insurance rates are raised for each point.
Enough points and your license is suspended. Was the same system in NY
when I lived there.

Interesting take here is that you can get them for infringements when
cycling. And if you don't have a driver's license, the points remain on
your record for the next 5 years in case you get one and then the 3 year
period kicks in. Has more bite than paying a 35 dollar ticket.

Around here the penalty is getting honked and/or yelled at - maybe
buzz passed, and even that is often not assessed - like in those
cases where the parties involved are reasonable, practical people
(probably visiting from The Netherlands).


Note

Rule 153 defines a bicycle lane and deals with the use of
bicycle lanes by other vehicles.

Is there anything similar for you?

I'm also wondering what the test case will be for "impracticable".


Test case? You mean in court, right? Well, that will be subject
to subjective judgement (thankfully, there are these people called
"judges" in courts). Even with expert testimony and statistical
evidence, it's going to come down to a subjective analysis of the
case at hand - reasonableness and all that, you know. No one is
going to tell *me* that "statistics show probability 'X' of you
getting a flat tire on that debris, and the relative cost of a
flat tire factored with 'X' is less than the cost you imposed on
The System by deviating from the requirement otherwise. Therefor... "

I mean, come on - what is "practicable" varies tremendously from one
rider to the next. So even the real world test case is going to
be case-by-case.


Yes, something like that. Most bicycle lanes are mandatory but we are practical, the people and the law enforcement.


Very well said. (Ah, to be a member of the enlightened society... )

You're a cyclist aren't you? How enlightened do you want to be? lol

I will try again to take a lesson from your succinct style.

On 18/12/13 19:43, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 6:37:18 PM UTC-5, James wrote:
On 18/12/13 10:03, Lou Holtman wrote:

On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 11:53:59 PM UTC+1, James wrote:

Snipped

It's one of the reasons I loath the spread of what is locally known as

"Copenhagen bike lanes", where the bike lane is next to the kerb, and

segregated from traffic by a line of parked cars and bollards, etc.

Gradually our right to ride on the road as vehicle operators is being

diminished.

Kerb side bicycle lanes can be interesting to even try and find on a snow covered road.


Better you than me! I'm not so keen on the white stuff. Going to be
40C here today.

--
JS

On 19/12/13 07:19, Dan O wrote:
On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 3:03:42 PM UTC-8, Lou Holtman wrote:
On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 11:53:59 PM UTC+1, James wrote:

In Victoria and I assume all of Australia, we have:

247 Riding in a bicycle lane on a road

(1) The rider of a bicycle riding on a length of road
with a bicycle lane designed for bicycles
travelling in the same direction as the rider must
ride in the bicycle lane unless it is impracticable to
do so.

I like that if the rider is going the wrong way he's exempt :-)

Penalty: 3 penalty units.

"Penalty units" (?) Hmmm... Oh! That's right - you guys
started out as a penal colony.

Around here the penalty is getting honked and/or yelled at - maybe
buzz passed, and even that is often not assessed - like in those
cases where the parties involved are reasonable, practical people
(probably visiting from The Netherlands).

There is a points system on the drivers license here. Once you
accumulate 12 points (I think) your license gets suspended. So several
small oopses equate to a break from driving. After some years the slate
is wiped clean.

--
JS