There’s a new Bicycle Law in town…
… and being a former cyclist, I’m only partially pleased with it.
Bay News 9 reported[a] on Sunday that drivers are to give cyclists a three foot berth, or face the consequences.
Failure to do so, and being spotted by an officer will result in a moving violation fine, as well as points added to your license.
What would please me more is if cyclists would actually, you know… used the sidewalks when they’re available and in reasonable condition. Too often have I driven or cycled down the road, to watch some cocky cyclist riding half-in the lane for traffic, causing everyone behind him to slow down and honk their horns.
Fix that particular issue, or start ticketing the cyclists, too, and I will be more pleased with the idea.
To be fair, many municipalities illegalize bike-riding on sidewalks….
Emi, in the case of Tampa, it’s not illegal to ride your bike on the sidewalk. It’s actually suggested, because of the number of narrow roads.
There was also a helmet law until recently, and nobody on a bike was ever ticketed for it, as far as I know. I rode by several police officers, without a helmet, and none of them even bothered to say, “Excuse me, son, but you’re gonna have to put a helmet on.”
So to be fair, get out of the middle of the bleeding lane if you’re a cyclist. It’s much harder to give you a three foot berth when we have to act as if we’re passing a *car*.