Yesterday's LTTE....

There's been this debate on the LTTE page about mopeds, scooters, and bicycles. I can ignore stuff like "If you hadn't been drunk and lost your license, you wouldn't NEED that 10-speed", but yesterday took the cake...
Some asshole wrote about how "Nothing infuriates me like sitting behind a bike or moped at a stop-sign, and I don't care what the speed limit is, you need to stay at the right EDGE of the street...You have NO RIGHT to be in the middle of the lane!"

I'm tempted to respond, but I remember the admonition about giving singing lessons to pigs...

It's an enormous waste of resources, and it only pisses-off the pig.

So, should I piss-off the pig?

Maybe I should have titled this post "ever had sex with the seat tube of Lance's TREK?"

as a motor vehicle, at least on secondary streets? Is it the law, or is it only conventional wisdom -- because if it's the law, doofus could stand some educatin'!

Bicycles outnumber people about two to one in the Netherlands. Everybody rides bikes everywhere because the country is small and very flat, and has narrow European roads and canals that are impossible to navigate with your average gas guzzling SUV. Moreso, the car drivers have a certain amount of respect for bike traffic and there are as many bike paths as sidewalks.

I'd love to see more cities plan for bike trails and river trails for bicyclists to ride on. Since I live in an area (the deep south) with no foresight into infrastructure, much less health living and reduced dependence on foreign energy sources, i'm all for expansion of bike paths and trails.

I live about ten minutes away from my office by car, and i'd be tempted to ride a bike to and from my office if I didn't think I would be taking my own life in my hands. People drive absolutely crazy here and i'd be too afraid to venture out on any major highway on a Motorcycle, much less a 10 speed.

I'd never seen three people on a one person bike before going to Holland, and I thought it was amusing to see female passengers (both adults and kids) riding side saddle on a bike or moped.

People like him need to be educated!

The old line about teaching a pig to sing leaves out the fact that it can be damn fun to watch a pig sing.

But it might enlighten some other readers as to reality.

I live in an area with a lot of bike traffic. Sometimes it gets inconvenient because the roads are narrow or steep and you have to wait to pass - big deal. I don't know why some people have such an issue with sharing the road.

Everyone is in such a hurry all the time - the few seconds it takes to be courteous really don't slow you down much in the course of the day. And if a bike hits your car, the chances are you won't be hurt but if you hit someone on a bike, you could kill them.

People who ride bikes are cutting down on traffic congestion and pollution as well as contributing to their own health. Maybe a reminder of all the positive impacts of riding versus driving would make at least some readers stop and think.

My business where you ride a moped

Regarding recent letters on mopeds: I do not have to check my local laws to know that there is a difference between being a legal scooter/moped rider and being a licensed rider. Mopeds, scooters, bicycles and runners, none of them belong in the center of the lane on any road. Nothing infuriates me more than to get behind a scooter sitting smack in the middle of the road at a stoplight or stop sign. You do not have that right no matter what the speed limit is. These motorized bicycles belong on the farthest right hand side of the road to allow for licensed vehicles to drive around them. It is my business "where" you ride your scooter.

Kelly Stokes, Mulberry

And here's what the LAW says about it:

IC 9-21-8-2
Sec. 2. (a) Upon all roadways of sufficient width, a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway except as follows:
(1) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing overtaking and passing.
(2) When the right half of a roadway is closed to traffic under construction or repair.
(3) Upon a roadway divided into three (3) marked lanes for traffic under the rules applicable to a roadway divided into three (3) marked lanes.
(4) Upon a roadway designated and signposted for one-way traffic.
(b) Upon all roadways, a vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place under the conditions then existing shall be driven:
(1) in the right-hand lane then available for traffic; or
(2) as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway;
except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.

And concerning Bicycles:
IC 9-21-11-2
Sec. 2. A person riding a bicycle upon a roadway has all the rights and duties under this article that are applicable to a person who drives a vehicle, except the following:
(1) Special regulations of this article.
(2) Those provisions of this article that by their nature have no application.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.


"ALL the rights and duties..." (caps mine)

AND.....
IC 9-21-11-6
Sec. 6. A person riding a bicycle upon a roadway may not ride more than two (2) abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.

If I was a worker for the BMV, I'd make a note of this person, and flag them for re-exam next time they came in for plates or whatever...

and I hope they have a moped, because they'll be riding it to get anywhere...:evilgrin:

(Of course they won't. They'll drive w/o a license)