Comments on: My comeuppance http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/my-comeuppance/ Because Every Bicyclist Needs a Good Lawyer. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:06:45 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Ed http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/my-comeuppance/comment-page-1/#comment-6562 Ed Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:09:31 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=820#comment-6562 "Allowing bikes to yield at stop signs was almost made legal in AZ this spring, but was voted down" That's true, it died in committee. It was probably politically doomed anyway, BUT it had almost no community support. At the committee hearing, ONE cyclist (besides the legislator who introduced it) showed up to speak in favor. My collection of Arizona stop sign legislation: http://azbikelaw.org/blog/tag/stop/ “Allowing bikes to yield at stop signs was almost made legal in AZ this spring, but was voted down” That’s true, it died in committee. It was probably politically doomed anyway, BUT it had almost no community support. At the committee hearing, ONE cyclist (besides the legislator who introduced it) showed up to speak in favor.
My collection of Arizona stop sign legislation:
http://azbikelaw.org/blog/tag/stop/

]]> By: Radar Man http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/my-comeuppance/comment-page-1/#comment-6550 Radar Man Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:41:17 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=820#comment-6550 ChipSeal, The biggest safety issue with bicyclists is... car drivers, not lights or riding in the wrong direction. It seems like all the cyclists killed in the past year in Tucson were from right-hooks, left-hooks, and getting rammed from the rear, not bad illumination or sense of direction. Target the reckless, psychotic drivers and you eliminate 95% of the problem. ChipSeal,

The biggest safety issue with bicyclists is… car drivers, not lights or riding in the wrong direction. It seems like all the cyclists killed in the past year in Tucson were from right-hooks, left-hooks, and getting rammed from the rear, not bad illumination or sense of direction.

Target the reckless, psychotic drivers and you eliminate 95% of the problem.

]]> By: ChipSeal http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/my-comeuppance/comment-page-1/#comment-6548 ChipSeal Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:26:21 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=820#comment-6548 Does anyone here object to TPD targeting wrong way cyclists and riding at night without lights? This would be a big step toward reducing cycling injuries and deaths, not to mention a ton of paperwork for TPD. If they are going to use grant money for law enforcement, then please enforce the laws that will compel safer riding behavior by targeting illegal riding that is actually dangerous! Does anyone here object to TPD targeting wrong way cyclists and riding at night without lights? This would be a big step toward reducing cycling injuries and deaths, not to mention a ton of paperwork for TPD.

If they are going to use grant money for law enforcement, then please enforce the laws that will compel safer riding behavior by targeting illegal riding that is actually dangerous!

]]> By: B.J. http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/my-comeuppance/comment-page-1/#comment-6535 B.J. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:27:23 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=820#comment-6535 alison, Allowing bikes to yield at stop signs was almost made legal in AZ this spring, but was voted down. Legal question: Even though the state voted against the yield at stop sign bill, can the city pass an ordinance to make it legal? Or is the state king? alison, Allowing bikes to yield at stop signs was almost made legal in AZ this spring, but was voted down.

Legal question: Even though the state voted against the yield at stop sign bill, can the city pass an ordinance to make it legal? Or is the state king?

]]> By: AZT http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/my-comeuppance/comment-page-1/#comment-6529 AZT Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:19:54 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=820#comment-6529 Have bike advocates in Tucson tried to reach out to the Police Dept? I know in Portland that bike advocates have gone out with the Police and targeted riders committing unsafe behavior like riding at night without lights and riding the wrong way. Then they handed out warnings and free bike lights. This way the focus was on education and improving bike behavior and safety. The Police would also benefit by understanding that cyclists are not the enemy. Have bike advocates in Tucson tried to reach out to the Police Dept? I know in Portland that bike advocates have gone out with the Police and targeted riders committing unsafe behavior like riding at night without lights and riding the wrong way. Then they handed out warnings and free bike lights. This way the focus was on education and improving bike behavior and safety. The Police would also benefit by understanding that cyclists are not the enemy.

]]> By: alison Jones http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/my-comeuppance/comment-page-1/#comment-6528 alison Jones Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:18:22 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=820#comment-6528 OK, I will say it...I don't think there is anything wrong with approaching a stop sign, slowing down, looking both ways and proceeding across without coming to a full and complete stop. Especially if there is no car in sight. I do it all the time. I think, based on some of the postings I have seen here, that I can expect to receive a ticket eventually. I am a scientist, so my reasoning is based on physics and safety. A bicyclist has very little momentum (because of very little mass) compared to a motor vehicle going the same speed. A car going 2 mph can kill a person--a bike can't. The basis for our laws is, presumably, public safety. And yet, mass is not considered in our traffic laws. It should be. OK, I will say it…I don’t think there is anything wrong with approaching a stop sign, slowing down, looking both ways and proceeding across without coming to a full and complete stop. Especially if there is no car in sight. I do it all the time. I think, based on some of the postings I have seen here, that I can expect to receive a ticket eventually.

I am a scientist, so my reasoning is based on physics and safety. A bicyclist has very little momentum (because of very little mass) compared to a motor vehicle going the same speed. A car going 2 mph can kill a person–a bike can’t.

The basis for our laws is, presumably, public safety. And yet, mass is not considered in our traffic laws. It should be.

]]> By: Teresa Nystrom http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/my-comeuppance/comment-page-1/#comment-6523 Teresa Nystrom Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:47:52 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=820#comment-6523 After the experience with TPD and my husband's death last summer, I want to kick the shins on anyone in the blue uniform. After the experience with TPD and my husband’s death last summer, I want to kick the shins on anyone in the blue uniform.

]]> By: Coghauler http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/my-comeuppance/comment-page-1/#comment-6520 Coghauler Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:34:22 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=820#comment-6520 The TPCBAC is so hungry for platinum status that they believe anything TPD says about concern for bike safety. The BAC is failing to recognize cyclists needs in exchange for checking off boxes for the LAB's platinum requirements. No 'friend to bikes' or 'concern for safety' is represented by, "Get up and ride outta here or get a ticket you don't deserve." I know this--there are officers who believe bicycles do not belong on the road. It affects their judgement and actions. The TPCBAC is so hungry for platinum status
that they believe anything TPD says about
concern for bike safety. The BAC is failing
to recognize cyclists needs in exchange for
checking off boxes for the LAB’s platinum
requirements.
No ‘friend to bikes’ or ‘concern for
safety’ is represented by, “Get up and ride
outta here or get a ticket you don’t deserve.”
I know this–there are officers who believe
bicycles do not belong on the road. It affects
their judgement and actions.

]]> By: Karlito http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/my-comeuppance/comment-page-1/#comment-6519 Karlito Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:29:56 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=820#comment-6519 time to take a cordless sawzall to those 2 stop signs on the third st. route... hehehehe... It's still be just as safe an intersection if it wasn't a 4 way. Seriously though, is there any way to petition for some of these intersections to be changed in favor of bike traffic flow? time to take a cordless sawzall to those 2 stop signs on the third st. route… hehehehe… It’s still be just as safe an intersection if it wasn’t a 4 way. Seriously though, is there any way to petition for some of these intersections to be changed in favor of bike traffic flow?

]]> By: Scott http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/my-comeuppance/comment-page-1/#comment-6517 Scott Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:56:00 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=820#comment-6517 If that's the case, I agree that we would see better results spending the bike safety money and time elsewhere; but if the enforcement action takes any bite at all out of the number of clueless two-wheel dumbasses that I have to weave and dodge to keep from biting pavement on my daily commute, I hardly think it's effort wasted or even net detrimental. I know that you are in a unique position to hear every police misconduct horror story in town, and some of the ones you've mentioned here are certainly pretty appalling; I'm sure that would affect your point of view. Speaking for myself, I've been riding in this town for nearly 20 years - not overly cautious or meticulous about following the law, but just riding safely - and I have yet to get any grief from TPD for any reason; and not because they don't see me, I pass them on the street a lot. On the other hand, I find myself having to work around stupid bicyclists a lot, not to mention the bad name they give all of us. It makes it very hard for me to take their side over TPDs when I see TPD issuing tickets to cyclists who think they are above simple and easily understood traffic laws that are in place to promote safety for everyone. If that’s the case, I agree that we would see better results spending the bike safety money and time elsewhere; but if the enforcement action takes any bite at all out of the number of clueless two-wheel dumbasses that I have to weave and dodge to keep from biting pavement on my daily commute, I hardly think it’s effort wasted or even net detrimental.

I know that you are in a unique position to hear every police misconduct horror story in town, and some of the ones you’ve mentioned here are certainly pretty appalling; I’m sure that would affect your point of view. Speaking for myself, I’ve been riding in this town for nearly 20 years – not overly cautious or meticulous about following the law, but just riding safely – and I have yet to get any grief from TPD for any reason; and not because they don’t see me, I pass them on the street a lot. On the other hand, I find myself having to work around stupid bicyclists a lot, not to mention the bad name they give all of us. It makes it very hard for me to take their side over TPDs when I see TPD issuing tickets to cyclists who think they are above simple and easily understood traffic laws that are in place to promote safety for everyone.

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