Please don't tell me to slow down when you don't have a speedometer.

BzyCookn,

You will love this, I bet!

The same type of thing has happened to us. We were going to Harris Teeter yesterday on Chickacoan with the top down enjoying one of the remaining nice evenings. We saw 4 people (two adults and two kids) on bikes, driving side by side, taking up the WHOLE road. They did not even notice us until we were nearly stopped behind them. We were not speeding, but they looked back and said SLOW DOWN. Well, I could not very well go anywhere since I was STOPPED!

They finally moved out of the middle of the road, and we drove by. When we passed them, I told the father that he could at least get helmets for the kids (both where under 10).

Can you believe that? It is so nice to see him stand up for the safety of his kids by screaming at people driving, but he can't be bothered to get even basic safety gear for them.

 

I have a couple of questions:

1. Is it ok to hit a pedestrian if you are going the speed limit?
2. Is it ok to hit a kid on a bike if you are going the speed limit?
3. Is it ok to hit another car if you are going the speed limit?
4. Is it ok to drive at or near the speed limit in torrential rain, snow, or ice?

The speed limit is the limit of your speed under OPTIMAL conditions. (Dry road, light traffic, daytime, etc.) If I saw a family playing in the road, I would come to a complete stop, even if I thought that their doing so was in bad judgement. I hope that everyone here agrees.

Just last week I had to scream at my 9 year old for going in circles in the middle of Chickacoan. I hope that everyone would have stopped in the middle of the road, rather than clip my daughter at 25 MPH!

There is a lot more to driving safely than just going at or below the speed limit.

 

1. No
2. No
3. No
4. No

5. Is it right to scream at another family for speeding when they are not? No

6. Should your kids wear helmets when biking? Yes

 

Did the parents have helmets on? I love the hypocrisy of those who make their kids wear helmets, but don't do it themselves. (sorry for going a little off topic)

 

I've seen a lot of that too, is it not a rule here to have helmets on?? Where I grew up (in WA), we also had to walk our bikes if we were crossing the street (in the crosswalk)..I can see for adults it's o.k. to ride, but I think kids should walk/run their bikes instead of riding them when of course it's legal to cross... JMO

 

Actually, the parents did but the kids did not. Pretty shocking!

 

1. Is it ok to hit a pedestrian if you are going the speed limit? Maybe- did the pedestrian jaywalk and jump in front of the car without looking both ways, not allowing you ample time to stop?

2. Is it ok to hit a kid on a bike if you are going the speed limit? Depends- did the kid swerve in front of your car or come shooting out of a side street or driveway while you were obeying the law, and had no time to stop or swerve?

3. Is it ok to hit another car if you are going the speed limit? Well, did the car back out of its driveway without looking and go straight into your right of way? Or did it blow a stop sign and pull in front of you?

4. Is it ok to drive at or near the speed limit in torrential rain, snow, or ice? Ummmm... no. the rain, snow and ice can't be held responsible for their actions.

Of course when driving you have to be mindful of people who are going to do something stupid that could endanger their and your lives. that said- if they DO get hit- maaaybe THEY should think before being irresponsible.

do I drive slower than the speed limit when I see a kid- or even an adult- on a bike in the road? YES, because the unpredictable can happen. but will i drive 15 miles/hour BEHIND them b/c they are in the middle of the road? NOPE- I will honk, and they should move to where they belong.

do I hit the brakes when i see another car about to or in the middle of doing something stupid? YES- i don't want the headache of an accident. But do i think i should be held responsible if an accident DOES happen, and I am obeying the law while some knucklehead is being irresponsible? NOPE.

 

Why is my BS detector going off so LOUDLY about this particular tidbit.

Funny how just about every one of your little stories has juuuust the right little detail to make it more shocking or impactful.

 

You should really review the laws about bikes and "where they belong". Bikes are vehicles and have the same rights to the road as a car. (I agree that staying to the right is smart). Bikes should not ride two abreast, but I hope that you wouldn't use your car to intimdate them to "move where they belong". Do you honk at all of the ladies (and men) who run/walk in the roads around the Broadlands? They have absolutely NO RIGHTS in the road, and often run two and three abreast!!!

wow, that's pretty cold! I would brake because I would not want to hurt someone just because they arent careful. As I stated, I was shocked to see my own daughter playing in Chickacoan, while we live on a pipestem on a quiet road. I hope that you would avoid hitting her because she is precious to us, and not because of the headache of an accident.

The point of my post, which appears to have been missed, is that driving at (or below) the speed limit does not make you a safe driver. Being alert and avoiding accidents does.

 

Is your life so boring that you have to make up conspiracy stories in your mind just to pass time?

How about adding to the thread with a real contribution?

 

3 things- 1) a smart bike rider will not ride down the middle of the road, if legally they are allowed to- okay you win that one. THEY are in charge if their safety first- NOT ME. yes i am mindful of their prescence and adjust accordingly, AS I SAID- but they have a responsibility too. that's my point. and yes- i would honk at a runner in the middle of the road. if i can't go around you without going completely into the oncoming lane, and you are on foot or 2 wheels, you should move on over to the right. if there are parked cars and you are running/riding next to them, of COURSE i will pass safely around you or WAIT if that isn't possible. i have nowhere THAT important to be that i risk safety to gain 3 seconds of my life back.

2) i said if a CAR was about to do something stupid, yes- avoiding THEIR stupidity and saving myself a headache is the motivation. of course i don't want anyone hurt, i thought that went without saying.

as i said in my post, i AM slower and extra careful when i see children- even in the grass playing. they are unpredictable and as an adult i have an additional responsibility to behave like a PARENT in the absence of one. (NOT a dig on you or your kid playing on Chickacoan- but that DOES illustrate how they are unpredictable and don't always make the best choices, even when we teach them to know better.)

3) your point is well taken but i refuse to absolve pedestrians, bike riders or anyone else in the street of THEIR responsiblity to BE SAFE. i will always do my part, and choose to drive slower when risk is higher, but i DO hold them responsible for their actions. i shouldn't have to dumb down the rules b/c someone wants to be inconsiderate and force THEIR lack of regard for their own safety on ME.

if ppl weren't coddled so much and rules weren't bent around whatever they WANT to do instead of what is safe, considerate and wise, we wouldn't HAVE some many issues with speeding, accidents, etc.

now, is that so cold?

 

Add this to your conspiracy theories, T8: has anyone ever seen gryphon's "Jet Metallic Black 2008 SAAB 9-3 AERO Convertible" with a half-dozen or so bumper stickers on it? Because you don't see fancy brand new convertibles with bumper stickers plastered all over them every day.

There are a over 2600 members on these forums, 700 of them active. The vast majority (including gryphon) purport to live in Broadlands. One would think this car would be seen by someone who frequents these boards. Has anyone ever seen this car to establish his/her existence outside of cyberspace? Or is his member account a fraud, justifying most everyone's belief that he/she is nothing more than a troll on these boards? Does anyone know gryphon personally?

And no, this is not a personal attack against gryphon. He/she has me on their "ignore" list and will not see this post, and one cannot be attacked if they don't know about it.

 

This reminds me of an incident a month or so ago when I was driving from Southern Walk Plaza towards the 4-way stop at Ridgeway & Claiborne. A woman was pushing her baby stroller in the right lane of the road. I had to swerve into the left lane to go around her and her baby. What was she thinking?

 

Hi,

Just a couple of things I found at the VDOT site pertaining to bicyclists. The appropriate sections of the law are referenced on the site. (http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/PROGRAMS/bk-laws.asp)

"Bicyclists operating a bicycle on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place under conditions then existing shall ride as close as safely practicable to the right curb or edge of roadway. Exceptions to this are when bicyclists are overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, preparing for a left turn, avoiding unsafe conditions, avoiding riding in a lane that turns or diverges to the right, riding on a one way street where bicyclists may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of roadway, or when the lane width is too narrow to share with a motor vehicle. Additionally, bicycles are not excluded from riding on the highway shoulder."

and

"Bicyclists cannot ride more than two or more abreast on highways. When riding two abreast, bicyclists cannot impede the movement of traffic, need to move into single file when being overtaken from the rear. On a laned roadway, bicyclists shall ride in a single lane. "

(Note: I have lived and ridden in several states and as far as I know these are normal.)

In case you were wondering about sidewalks:
"Bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks unless prohibited by local ordinance or traffic control devices. While on sidewalks and shared use paths, bicyclists must always yield the right of way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing a pedestrian."

(In my experience this is somewhat unusual. Bicycles normally are supposed to be ridden on roads.)


Best regards,
Richard

 

Blows Mr. Rogers arguments out the window.....as usual!!

 

great info. I've always wondered about the "legality" of the large road bike group that rides down Claiborne blocking one whole lane (I believe Thursdays?).

 

I also ride bike for leisure activity but I never understood cyclists on Clariborne Pkwy taking up one lane entirely. ( 3 - 4 bikes in a row ) Keep in mind cars are on this road going 45 miles per hour all around them.

 

Every parent should be responsible for the safety of their children when on bikes or scooters or whatever. Don't depend on drivers slowing down or stopping to miss hitting your child that's in the street. Your children are not their responsibility, their yours. Why would anyone let their child ride a bike on Ridgeway if, like you say, speeding is rampant? That's just irresponsible parenting. My thinking is that I don't want my child riding on a street where a one to two ton vehicle could come upon him at any time, whether it be speeding or not. If you want your kids to be safe, then go somewhere where it's safe to ride. It doesn't matter what the speed limit is or what rights cyclists have. Do you really want to risk it? I know I don't.