Don't bike on the streets! (in Boston)

[ivyhedge]

On my way to Northpoint via Congress street this evening. Tons of traffic; many buses; and lots of bikers.


I was in the middle lane to avoid the North Street bus stop, and remained there to avoid the upcoming Hanover street stop. Traffic was moving at 15mph, and I slowed as I closed on the car in front of me (used a hand signal, as I always do).


Received the police horn twice to move to the right *directly* behind a stopped bus at Congress and Hanover. No lights with window down. As I moved over he screamed at me "you can't ride in the streets!"


I couldn't see his plate because of his weaving to pass me and avoid hitting the car in front of me. Dark blue Ford Crown Vic unmarked. Heavy set officer. Presumably he yelled at all of the other bikers he encountered since all of us were "in the street". Did any of you encounter him (would have been between 5.45pm and 5.50pm today (15 Aug))?


Maybe he had a terrible day. Maybe he was about to have a Missouri moment. Given that my wife and I routinely encounter police while riding in the street (and we've never encountered an officer here who cared less who was biking, walking, skate boarding, or roller blading down Congress or Merrimac...in *either* direction) this really surprised me. WTF? #TGIF

[Joggernot]

I probably wouldn't ride a bike in Boston.  Boston is the only city where I've been airborne in taxi.

[Nancy]

He was wrong. Glad he's out there enforcing laws he doesn't know.

You may ride your bicycle on any public road, street, or bikeway in the Commonwealth, except limited access or express state highways where signs specifically prohibiting bikes have been posted.
- See more at: http://massbike.org/resourcesnew/bike-law/#sthash.yjT3rDQC.dpuf

[Greystache]

You were riding in the middle lane. I'm sure you thought that you had a good reason to be in the wrong lane, but the law says you need to be in the right lane on a multi-lane road. From the MA traffic code:
You may ride two abreast, but must facilitate passing traffic. This means riding single file when faster traffic wants to pass, or staying in the right-most lane on a multi-lane road. - See more at: http://massbike.org/resourcesnew/bike-law/#sthash.yjT3rDQC.lZHjLMEH.dpuf.
Just because you are on a bike, does not mean you get to selectively choose which laws to follow.  I am so weary of people who demand their rights and deny their responsibilities.

[franklin w. dixon]

You were riding in the middle lane. I'm sure you thought that you had a good reason to be in the wrong lane, but the law says you need to be in the right lane on a multi-lane road. From the MA traffic code:
You may ride two abreast, but must facilitate passing traffic. This means riding single file when faster traffic wants to pass, or staying in the right-most lane on a multi-lane road. - See more at: http://massbike.org/resourcesnew/bike-law/#sthash.yjT3rDQC.lZHjLMEH.dpuf.
Just because you are on a bike, does not mean you get to selectively choose which laws to follow.  I am so weary of people who demand their rights and deny their responsibilities.

Hey look! It's Dr. Rule Dad here to troll things up with some condescending garbage and self-righteous falsehoods! Just like in every thread about bicycling everywhere on the internet since the beginning of time! Thanks, Dr. Rule Dad!!

For those who aren't familiar with Dr. Rule Dad, please see my posts from the last time we had this thread: http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/what-is-wrong-with-cyclists!-from-a-cyclist/

Actually, what constitutes "illegal" in situations like that is completely arbitrary and at the discretion of individual police officers and then, if it comes to it, a court. If, for instance, you just pedaled sloowwwwly past the sign that says "Bicycles Can Use Full Lane," you stand a pretty good chance of convincing a judge to toss an obstructing traffic ticket. But the larger point is that traffic laws are in large part a mushy hodgepodge of interpretation and reasonableness (in the minds of roadgoers, police, and the courts), and the largest point is that Internet Rule Robots arrogate the title to World's Most Law Abidingest Rule Follower which is almost certainly false, and laughable even if it's true that you really really never put your front wheel in the crosswalk or whatever, sinless Christ among we mere mortal roadgoers.

I absolutely am [defensive], because every time anyone anywhere on the entire internet posts about bikes there's some Dr. Rule Dad who shows up (as we have seen) who comes to a full stop at every stop sign, and has never merged or cornered without Proper Hand Signals in his entire life, and wears sunblock even on cloudy days, and wants to condescend to everybody. And those things are (1) generally lies and (2) usually trolls and (3) even when they aren't trolls it's counterproductive to fuss fuss about gosh-darn cyclist rule breakers when the Point is and should be that in a sane world, cyclists wouldn't have to navigate ten lane 45 mph intersections in the first damn place, legally or otherwise. And as others have pointed out roads are designed for cars, and cars unlike cyclists don't have to deal with lanes "just disappearing" when you cross an intersection (for example). Riding a bicycle safely and sanely is predicated on breaking and ignoring laws, which is completely fine, because the laws weren't really for you in the first place.

I mean, as my favorite example of ole slowpoke bicycle hogging the 45 mph lane, sure, it's possible and even reasonable for a cop to reckon that's obstructing traffic. But on the other hand, it's also illegal to pass any vehicle on a two lane highway when there's a double yellow line, regardless of where it sits in the lane. The law is a contradictory unworkable pile of crap when applied to bicycles and it's best to just make peace with that. But instead, every damn thread, along comes a Dr. Rule Dad to share folksy wisdom about passing ONLY on the left and eating your vegetables.

Also, if you peek around at the roadgoing bicyclist population of the globe, you will find that most of them are not in fact enormous dudes with calves of steel who crack 30mph on the flats, but rather, regular people who go pretty slow and mostly just poke along! Not here though. Here we get the enormo buff bike guys who can ride very fast and usually on expensive bicycles, and then "everybody else" who is either a "bad cyclist" riding all slow on the sidewalk because we pushed them there with our stupid roads and stupid rules, or not riding at all. So perhaps the fault is not with the Irresponsible Rule Breaker, but rather with our shitty car culture, shitty road system, shitty government, and shitty society. You know, food for thought.

[LennStar]

You were riding in the middle lane. I'm sure you thought that you had a good reason to be in the wrong lane, but the law says you need to be in the right lane on a multi-lane road. From the MA traffic code:
You may ride two abreast, but must facilitate passing traffic. This means riding single file when faster traffic wants to pass, or staying in the right-most lane on a multi-lane road. - See more at: http://massbike.org/resourcesnew/bike-law/#sthash.yjT3rDQC.lZHjLMEH.dpuf.
Just because you are on a bike, does not mean you get to selectively choose which laws to follow.  I am so weary of people who demand their rights and deny their responsibilities.

You know, one bike faster then the other IS in fact faster traffic, so no single file for bikers.

I dont know why there are special rukes for bikers.
In germany, its all the same for bikers up to anything that is not over-width: You have to drive in the middle of the right lane. If left lane is free you may use it to overtake, if it is not forbidden by signs or markings or just plain dumb (like in curves or other places where you cant look).
Bikes are not allowed to be on the road if there is a bike path, then you have to use this.
Of course you can't bike on the autobahn, but here again one rule for all: you have to drive at least 60km/h and bikes are not considered to be able to to that, even if some professionals could do it ;)

[Nancy]

You were riding in the middle lane. I'm sure you thought that you had a good reason to be in the wrong lane, but the law says you need to be in the right lane on a multi-lane road. From the MA traffic code:
You may ride two abreast, but must facilitate passing traffic. This means riding single file when faster traffic wants to pass, or staying in the right-most lane on a multi-lane road. - See more at: http://massbike.org/resourcesnew/bike-law/#sthash.yjT3rDQC.lZHjLMEH.dpuf.
Just because you are on a bike, does not mean you get to selectively choose which laws to follow.  I am so weary of people who demand their rights and deny their responsibilities.

That is about riding two abreast.

[GuitarStv]

You were riding in the middle lane. I'm sure you thought that you had a good reason to be in the wrong lane, but the law says you need to be in the right lane on a multi-lane road. From the MA traffic code:
You may ride two abreast, but must facilitate passing traffic. This means riding single file when faster traffic wants to pass, or staying in the right-most lane on a multi-lane road. - See more at: http://massbike.org/resourcesnew/bike-law/#sthash.yjT3rDQC.lZHjLMEH.dpuf.
Just because you are on a bike, does not mean you get to selectively choose which laws to follow.  I am so weary of people who demand their rights and deny their responsibilities.

There are many reasons to not be in the right hand lane while cycling.  If you need to make a left turn it is necessary to move to the far left lane to do so.  If there are parked vehicles in the right lane it is necessary to move over to the left.  If there are slower moving vehicles (busses/road crew) it is necessary to move over to the left.  If the right lane contains a large obstacle (giant pothole, debris, etc.).  The laws linked from the article you posted do not prevent a cyclist changing lanes in any of these scenarios.

The OP mentioned that he was going around a stopped bus, which maybe you missed.  Had was not selectively choosing to follow laws, he was following safe cycling practice and doing so legally.  Your post was both rude, and factually incorrect.

[innkeeper77]

Ivyhedge: have you considered filing a formal complaint? Helping make sure that officers are properly educated on bike laws (at least basic ones, like they arent allowed on the sidewalk, and ARE on the street) would be doing a service to the biking community of Boston in general.

[Mr. Frugalwoods]

Oh man, sorry you had a crappy experience.  I bike a lot in the Boston area, but I usually try to avoid biking in Boston proper.  One of the reasons is that the police force is openly hostile to cyclists.  Your experience isn't unique, and I'd encourage you to file a complaint with the police. 

Even though you won't get a direct outcome, that complaint then becomes part of the statistics that can be used to embarrass the entire police force.  When you file a complain, be sure to also let Massbike know.  They can help you follow up and make sure it isn't thrown in the trash.

In direct contrast, the Cambridge police are very bike friendly.  I've called to complain about delivery trucks blocking bike lanes during rush hour and had a cruiser show up in minutes.  The Cambridge police also do a lot of motorist and cyclist education.  I know it doesn't help your situation, but it's nice to know that all cops aren't aggressively incompetent about bikes.

[Nancy]

Oh man, sorry you had a crappy experience.  I bike a lot in the Boston area, but I usually try to avoid biking in Boston proper.  One of the reasons is that the police force is openly hostile to cyclists.  Your experience isn't unique, and I'd encourage you to file a complaint with the police. 

Even though you won't get a direct outcome, that complaint then becomes part of the statistics that can be used to embarrass the entire police force.  When you file a complain, be sure to also let Massbike know.  They can help you follow up and make sure it isn't thrown in the trash.

In direct contrast, the Cambridge police are very bike friendly.  I've called to complain about delivery trucks blocking bike lanes during rush hour and had a cruiser show up in minutes.  The Cambridge police also do a lot of motorist and cyclist education.  I know it doesn't help your situation, but it's nice to know that all cops aren't aggressively incompetent about bikes.

+1

[gimp]

Ex-boston resident here. You are allowed to bike in the streets, pretty much everywhere. You can bike in bike lanes, and you may take the full lane. I may not like it, because there always seems to be a bike in front of me going 15 mph less than I want to during heavy traffic, but it's completely legal. And fairly safe.

You are also allowed to ride on the sidewalk in many places in boston; you choose when that's smart.

I would not bike during snowstorms or soon after; I've had a bike wipe out right in front of me crossing the tracks (which are of course incredibly slippery). Someone being a little less careful, or without good tires or ABS, might end you - a silly way to die, at 10 mph.

Just don't, for fucks sake, bike the wrong way down one-way streets, around blind turns, at 20 mph, in the middle of the road. There are a lot of roads like this. One way signs apply to bikes, too. That was the only time I came close to killing a guy in Boston.