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Cyclists must know the law
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You know you're an old fart when...
...You're talking about LAB and keep calling it the League of American Wheelmen.
I first heard of the League (of American Wheelmen!) over thirty years ago when I lived in Pittsburgh. South Park contained an experimental monorail built by Westinghouse, if I recall right, and Allegheny County built a multi-use trail that meandered along under the tracks and dodged around the supporting pylons.
I never rode the monorail and used the trail only once. It was too narrow and winding, much like the River Park trail in Tulsa. Plus, it was crowded with kids, dogs, strollers, pensioners, and the odd Trekkie or two staring upward at the monorail in undisguised lust. Even in daylight.
One weekend, an Allegheny County Sheriff's Deputy was patrolling the park when he came across some miscreant cyclist riding on the roadway, not the trail. He promptly did his duty, protecting the greater public against the cycling menace by pulling him over and lecturing him about staying on the trail. There was just one problem. The cyclist was an attorney well-versed in bicycling law and a member of the League of American Wheelmen. He stood his ground and refused to use the trail as Allegheny County did not have a mandatory side path law at the time. The deputy cited him anyway, a useless gesture because the judge immediately dismissed the case.
This is ancient history as it happened about thirty years ago, so why bring it up? It's simple. This happens again and again as uninformed motorists, police officers, and cyclists themselves invent imaginary traffic laws. Locally, cyclists have been stopped for riding two abreast and for refusing to ride in the gutter. And what cyclist hasn't heard “Get on the sidewalk!” shouted from a passing car? I was told it's illegal to ride more than three feet from the curb, and another commuter cyclist was advised to ride facing traffic. It's appalling to realize the extent of what the road-going public thinks it knows about safe cycling practices.
What should we do when confronted with such ignorance? Doing nothing and remaining silent is not an option because if we do not exercise our right to use the public roads, we don't really have that right.
Know the laws pertaining to bicycles and be aware that they can change from town to town. State law offers a blueprint but local governments may be more restrictive, so when you travel across a county line or into another town, the law may change. If you're stopped by police, politely ask them to contact a supervisor and cite the relevant law in order to avoid any confusion. Remember that bicycles are defined as devices propelled by human power, not motor vehicles. Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as any motorist, but some of the provisions of the motor vehicle code do not apply.
An excellent way to learn about the law is to take a League of American Bicyclists “Smart Cycling” class. Hint, hint. Another excellent resource is the MassBike law page with links to each state's bicycling laws.
Have fun and ride safe!
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