They wrote 60 tickets in an hour at an intersection in North Portland. One bicyclist got a $260.00 fine for an illegal right turn. Bout freaking time they started laying down the law. They don't own the road. I have no problem with bicyclists, but don't act like you aren't void of the rules of the road as well.
To add to this, the cops have also been busting people in the round about in Ladd's addition for several days now. They got a big name too. http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/local/story/Portland-s-transportation-policy-director/nqUDValM7kChbUG0KtGbaQ.cspx
As someone who has riden bikes a lot and drives a lot I have no problem with either fudging rules of the road so long as they do so safely. Sort of a spirit of the law v. letter of the law type of thing. If a bicyclist blows a stop sign but does clear traffic beforehand, then I'm fine with that. It's the knuckleheads who do so and cut drivers off and endanger themselves that deserve ticketing.
I agree. It very different when someone slows down and rolls through a stop sign while looking for traffic, compared to never slowing down.
Most drivers and riders who have killed or injured pedestrians thought the same thing too. There's a huge difference in observing peripheral areas from a standstill and doing it while moving. That's the whole reason for the stop sign.
Do you feel the same for people drving cars (fudging the rules) . . . OK to roll through a red light as long as driver checks to make sure no other cars are coming. I've driven in the Phillipines, that is the style there and it makes for some crazy driving.
A bicyclist or a pedestrian can see and hear a noisy approaching car better than a driver. So there should be a lighter standard for them, an honor system, like the 1%. Besides, if they make a mistake blowing through a stop sign at 30 mph, they won't be making any more mistakes like a driver would, so no laws are necessary beyond those of physics.
Yes I do. Here's my example... I turn left off a 4-laned main street at a light onto my small street. The light is a full 3 minutes + 30 seconds for the cross street whether there is traffic or not. I can see straight down approaching traffic for well over 1/2 mile. I have outstanding visibility in all directions. If I am waiting, burning gas at the light and I see no other cars, bikers, pedestrians of any sort or police cruisers, I turn against the red. It saves me time & money in gas and is good for the environment to boot. And I feel great doing so.
There should be no rules for bicyclists. If they screw up, the cost is a splat to them, and a carwash to me. Plus, I come out ahead selling the body parts.
