Conference noted::bicycle

Make ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN you tell ANYONE who is riding on the wrong side of the
road to get on the correct side.  And tell them why.  Remember that girl in
Westford by Long Sought for Pond?  The one we almost creamed coming around a
corner?

Any time I see two kids, where one has a helmet and the other does not, I make
sure to say "nice helmet" to the kid with the helmet.

Scot Benton, a Boston racing semi-icon, aspiring coach and team captain was
seriously injured when he swerved into traffic to avoid a kid on a bmx bike
going the wrong way on the road.



Tim

    The problem was the obvious presence of alcohol. Riding on sidewalks is
    controlled by town ordinances. Many of these ordinances are very old,
    but still on the books. These were established when car traffic wasn't
    nearly so copious. I'm sure a lot of the ordinances were enacted to
    make sure kids weren't in the roads very much, as well.
    
    I know in my city you can (or you used to be able) to ride on the
    sidewalks.
    
    I believe that sidewalks can be used by kids safely and responsibly
    side by side with pedestrains.
    
    I don't believe guys like us or teenagers in a hurry should be using
    them. Certainly, a drunk individual shouldn't be using a bicycle let
    alone be on the sidewalk. It will interesting to see why this
    individual was on a bicycle in the first place (no license - DUI?).
    
    Chip

    This guy is going to be cited in the same way as if he was behind the
    wheel of a car?  NO WAY...!  What are they going do? Pull his drivers
    licence for riding a bike?  I don't think so.............  Maybe he
    would cited for disorderly but DUI?  It would never hold up in court!
    
    

    -1 It probably will hold up in court since a bicycle is subject to the
    same rules as a motor vehicle. My guess would be that it won't make a
    lot of difference simply because the vehicle was motorless.
    
    I could be wrong. I would think a lot of the direction on this one
    would be geared against how his lawyer attacks this case.
    
    As far as the punishment (if found guilty)... that's up to the judge.
     

Change DUI to OUI ["operating"] if it makes you feel better.

I believe the charge WILL hold up in court if it is pursued.

A cyclist is considered a vehicle operator if [s]he is actually 
riding the bike, but is a pedestrian if [s]he is walking alongside 
the bike.

    When my bike breaks a chain and transforms itself into a
    [actually the world's most expensive] push-beside scooter,
    am I a cyclist or a pedestrian?
    K

Pedestrian.

    Thanks for the precision, Shawn. 
    
    -2 Actually, you're a p.o.'d pedestrain :-).

    The amazing part... I averaged over 12mph for 12 miles as a 
    scooter when the last chain broke.  You'd think I'd learn to
    carry a chain tool.  Pretty fast for a pedestrian, huh?
    K

RE: .6

When you say "scooter", do you mean that you were, for example, 
"leaning" on the left pedal with your right foot and propelling 
yourself along with your left foot?

If so, I'd say you were a rider/operator at that time.

    Yes, or variations on that theme.  It's kind of a cross between
    walking beside the bike and "riding" in a half-dismounted position
    while standing on one pedal.  Useful for chain breaks and when mtn
    bikes decide to consume their rear deralleiur on a stick; either one
    is a pissed (pedestrian|rider)!
    K

    re: .4   subject to the same rules as a motor vechicle.
    
    yeah, except that you don't need a licence and you can DRIVE when
    you're 3 years old.....
    
    I'm interested to hear how this case ends up.... 
    
    :)

If he's still around, ask Mr. Shaw what happens when one decides to 
ride a bicycle the wrong way down a one-way street and gets walloped 
by a pickup truck.

Note 1645

    It's amazing what you can lose your license over.  Boating laws apply
    to driver's priveleges also.  

    Cars and Boats are machines that use fuel.  BIG DIFFERENCE.