Kudos to the police department! Riding to raise money for a worthy cause is great, but that doesn't mean you get to forget the laws in the process. My husband and I encountered 5 cyclists that totally blasted through the 4-way stop at Airmont last weekend. Not one of them came close to stopping! Had we been a few seconds earlier at the intersection, someone would have been killed. Bicycles are an issue on Snickersville and Airmont road every weekend. Our rural roads are dangerous enough for cars and bicycles make the situation even worse.

Posted by hardballr (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 5:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

hardballr-On my way cycling out to your rural roads this past weekend I saw at least 10 cars that totally blasted through 4 way stop signs, just in my neighborhood alone! Cyclists do have a responsibility to follow the rules of the road just as much as cars do, and I'm quite disturbed that the Sheriffs office is reacting to compaints about the "roads being crowded" with cyclists. We have the same equal rights to the rural roads as cars do and we will be here to stay. So, just take the time to slow down and come to grip that cyclists aren't an "issue" on Snickersville and Airmont (as you describe), but an equal mode of transportation that requires the same respect and courtesy as other vehicles on the road.

Posted by fuzzyturtle35 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 6:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The Loudoun Sheriff's department may have been aware of recent comments made on this website by cyclists who have insisted that they are not required to stop at road crossings. Adding a huge number of cyclists to the roads riding by their own rules does create a public safety issue. I wonder how people would have reacted if someone had been struck by a car during this event. Would they still ask if law enforcement has nothing better to do than monitor this potentially deadly mix of bikes and cars? I would think that if a motorist had broken traffic laws, they, too would have received a citation.

Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 7:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

To determine whether law enforcement is enforcing safety or something else just watch their behavior. Community police: do they stop at intersections and walk their bike across or do they just drive through stop signs and red lights? Cell phones and texting: do officers pull off the road before taking that call or do they cruise down the street while playing with their computers? Do they regularly speed 15mph over the posted limit? We have exempted police from compliance with all these traffic laws under the theory that they are trained to know when non-compliance is a safety problem. When we observe police failing to follow the rules and turn around and punish us for the same infraction then we have proof that they aren't engaged in safety enforcement but instead are generating revenue or harassing people for political or bigoted purposes.

Posted by EdwardMyers (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The "Well, everybody (including the Police) don't adhere to the law all the time so why should I?" argument is not valid. If you disobey the law, you should be ticketed, even if it's by a police officer who's just as human as you are.

Posted by dingus5 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

fuzzyturtle, I agree that cars and bikes BOTH need to be aware of sharing the road.

On roads like Snickersville, with the rise and fall, blind twists and turns, even going the 15 miles per hour in a car doesn't fully address coming around one of those turns and seeing a group of cyclists riding abreast at 5 mph.

On other roads less extreme in the need for care (Snickersville really isn't a good example; because of the conditions, cars MUST go extremely slowly in some portions of it) obeying the rules of the road as if one were a vehicle not only means obeying all signs, lanes and signals, but includes maintaining a safe speed.

Not all recreational cyclists seem to be in the condition necessary to pedal uphill at 10 mph, let alone 25 mph. A large group impeding (yes, impeding) other users by blocking the road at well under the limit is not sharing. Some grades may necessitate walking the bikes up single file if use by a variety of vehicles is heavy at the time.

On this occasion in the story, I'm sorry, but good for the officers to make the point.

In any collision between car and cyclist, no matter WHOSE fault it turns out to be, the cyclist loses BIG, sometimes their life.

I think it would have been a much greater stain on the event if someone had carelessly ridden out in front of a car that had insufficient time to stop for them, and a participant was killed.

Posted by BarbaraMunsey (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My biggest complaint about the cyclists is when they choose to ride on a small backroad with no shoulders when 50 feet away is a perfectly nice and safe bike path. But if they choose to break the law (which I saw one do this weekend in P'ville) by running a stop sign, PLEASE don't have the audacity to whine publically about it.

Posted by Eric101 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My concern is for both automobiles and bike riders.
There are paths for the bike riders, and it sppears that there are so many of them that they choose to ride wherever they want-regardless of the danger on narrow, hilly, roads that are dangerous for not only cars, but most certainly to the bike riders.
Many times cars are backed up patiently waiting for a chance to pass the bike riders-
some car drivers get impatient and endanger the bike riders-some of which try their best to move over to permit the cars to pass, but
on many of these narrow heavily travelled roads there is little or no room for the to move over consequently presents a hazardous
situation to both the cars and the bike riders.
Somehow, this needs to be addressed by law enforcement officers and the bike riders-some of these bike riders belong to clubs with many members-Maybe this could be done on a regional basis to address the concerns of both the car drivers and the bike riders.
This is and has been a serious issue that needs to be addressed now, not put off as it has been ignored up to now.
Some say the the bike riders need to avoid
these narrow dangerous roads heavily travelled on, but many choose to ignore that fact.They are endangering their own lives and the lives of the motorists at the same time. Surely both parties need to attempt to resolve these issues working together-now, not continue to present the critical situation that now exists.
I would be scared to death to drive on some of the heavily travelled roads that are now being saturated by many bike riders, and many
serious, concentious bike riders would consider this fact and concentrate on safer places or roads on which to ride.
The current problem is that there are way too
many bike riders and too few places on which to be able to drive safely.
I would imagine there are few bike rider fatalities, but that does not safely address this situation whereby some proactive steps need to be taken by law enforcement agencies and start with existing bike clubs as a start and see what can and should be done.
Until we do, there will be more injuries to both parties. Amen

Posted by Wishful (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If protecting a few cyclists from the increased risk of injury and liability that comes from not following the traffic rules is the best use of the limited resources and my tax dollars entrusted to Sheriff Simpson, then Sheriff Simpson does not have the judgement needed for continued tenure in his job. Rather, these law enforcement resources would be better dedicated to those areas in the county where innocent people are at risk. We have seen a rise in gang crime during Sheriff Simpson's tenure. It has now spilled into peaceful residential areas resulting in a horrific beating and murder of innocents. If Sheriff Simpson is truly concerned about traffic safety, he should dedicate more patrols to the school zones that are ignored or the parkways and intersections in my neighborhood that are routinely abused by inattentive drivers in vehicles that could cause injury to OTHERS. Cyclists who don't obey the rules of the road are certainly annoying, but the use of limited county resources is a matter of prioritization and the Sheriff made the wrong call on this one. It is time for a change. The Sheriffs Office should be transitioned to a Police force which reports to the Board of Supervisors and Sheriff Simpson should be retired.

Posted by nielsenjt (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

dingus misses the point. If it isn't a safety issue when police routinely break the law then police ticketing others for doing likewise aren't doing so to improve safety.

Posted by EdwardMyers (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Eric, I share your wonderment that some people choose the road when there is a trail, but not all routes have that option. (in a perfect world...sigh)

wishful, I would imagine that it is a joy to travel some of the most remote (and potentially dangerous) roads by bike.

If I were a better cyclist, I'd love to do that too.

But I'm not an expert cyclist, so I don't. I'd be a danger to myself and others.

Cyclists have every right to ride on any road they wish. However, exercising that right means upholding the responsibilities that come with it.

Sharing means BOTH give a little/get a little, and I agree that a proactive meeting of the minds is necessary, maybe right now as summer approaches.

Maybe that's part of why the sheriff's dept chose to make the point NOW: get it on people's radar before use intensifies for the vacation season.

Kind of like Prom season brings out a lot of speedtraps and other reminders that we're all in danger when we think we're invincible.

Posted by BarbaraMunsey (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

nielsenjt, on a Sunday morning, how many school zones were operational?

Posted by BarbaraMunsey (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

One of the riders was hit by a car during the event. Why wasn't that included in this article?

Posted by CallMeSkeptical (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"The Sheriffs Office should be transitioned to a Police force which reports to the Board of Supervisors and Sheriff Simpson should be retired".
I absolutely disagree with that statement. I do not believe the BOS should control law enforcement or the school system.

Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

EXCELLENT work! I am SO tired of cyclists who think no laws apply to them. They think THEY own the road. Not all - but many are a menace. So many run stop signs it is unreal. I wish they got tickets for $1000 each. GREAT work Loudoun County! Do it more. Oh - and for the whiners who ask don't they have anything else better to do? I think keeping those of us who obey the law safe is important work. Sell your bike and walk, idiot.

Posted by Charles07971 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Recently on Evergreen Mill Rd I encountered one of those tricky situations where we have dump trucks, slow moving equipment (about 5 MPH), traffic in both directions and bicyclists. Those of you who know this road know there is little room for error, ie, no shoulder, lots of pot holes, not much room to manuever. Luckily, everyone got through unharmed.

Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't whine when you get caught breaking the law. Don't break the law.

If the law is silly, such as "No Feeding of Homeless Persons", then being vocal about it brings injustice to light. I get that.

But stop signs and speed limits were placed there to prevent your vehicle from crashing into mine. I don't think that's silly or taking away from anyone's civil liberties.

Posted by PennyForYourThoughts (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I believe that issuing a formal warning would have been a better approach given that cyclists are used to decades of being allowed to ignore road rules. But U.S. cyclists (I commuted for years by cycle in Europe) need to be treated exactly as motorists when in they are on the roads, just as they are in Europe - its just that this should be consistent - every time, every place - and not occasional. Although an avid cyclist myself, I am disgusted with the behavior that I see almost every day here in the U.S. THe cyclists behave like children, invite harm to themselves, and blame it all on motorists.

Posted by WODRR (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by antontuffnell (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:32 a.m.

"If it isn't a safety issue when police routinely break the law then police ticketing others for doing likewise aren't doing so to improve safety."

You need to define "routinely". As opposed to "occasionally", I guess? Do cops who "occasionally" violate the law have the authority to ticket those they see violating the law? Or are only perfect people allowed to issue tickets?

Posted by dingus5 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ticketing bikes for stop signs is an arbitrary and poor application of the law. This practice is on the way out.

All communities in the US need to adopt the Idaho Stop Sign Law. This allows cyclists to slow down and safely roll through a stop sign without coming to a complete stop. This way cyclists don't lose momentum while looking for oncoming traffic. It doesn't mean that they can blow through the stop sign at full speed. Bikes are not cars, and bikes are better equipped to navigate an intersection at slow speeds.

It's funny that this progressive law came out of Idaho because Idaho isn't on the forefront of progressivism. Also, the state of Oregon is getting close to adopting this law. But then Oregon is extremely bike friendly.

Frankly, places like Loudon County are not doing squat for bikes. Painting a skinny lane on a road and putting up "share the road" signs is absolutely pathetic. Take a look at how great cities like Copenhagen do it: wide bike lanes separated from cars and sidewalks, bike specific traffic lights so that bikes can navigate intersections without fighting cars. In Denmark, even little old ladies can commute to work on miserable winter mornings. Unfortunately in the US you basically have to be a committed bike activist willing to brave some extremely unfriendly roads.

Posted by goaway41 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

momof2 wrote:

"The Loudoun Sheriff's department may have been aware of recent comments made on this website by cyclists who have insisted that they are not required to stop at road crossings."

Actually, the "recent comments" you refer to pointed out that pedestrians--and dismounted cyclists--always have the right of way when crossing at crosswalks or where a multi-use path crosses a roadway.

Of course, you couldn't seem to wrap your brain around that simple point of law then, and clearly you still don't understand it now.

You try to educate some folks, but it's hard to overcome such profound ignorance.

Posted by antontuffnell (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by dingus5 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:37 a.m.

I was almost run off the road by a car yesterday. I was following every applicable law (including stopping at signs and lights, which is more than I can say for many, many motorists). Motorists need to realize that bikers have every right to the road that cars do. It's absurb to put my life in danger so you can get home 30 seconds faster. Slow down, look out, and share the road.

Posted by nicosiacyprus (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

wow Charles! I am so tired of motorists who feel the same way. How about this once in a while: Lets focus on driving rather than talking on the cell phone , texting, or doing anything other THAN DRIVING!

momof2: I am sorry your commute may have taken 1-3 minutes longer due to a cyclist. Well geez if you go out to rural loudoun county, I would hate for you to get behind one of them farm tractors on the road!

Eric-thats the same thing I see with motorists who choose to drive a 1/2 mile to the store when there is a perfectly good sidewalk!

Posted by mwb2218 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is a two way street. Cyclists need to obey the law and ride in a safe predicatable manner as any vehicle. However, given citations to the cyclists while not issuing speeding citations or reckless driving citations to the drivers out there is outrageous! The Sheriff is there to enforce the law and create a safe environment. Those drivers routinely exceed the speed limit because of the lack of law enforcement.

Posted by Airwolf70 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow I love reading people from the 'Righteous' Suburbs whine about bike riders. I guess it explains why they come to the City and think they are 'God' in their 'Awe-inspiring' SUVs. Was it you turning right while sitting in the bike lane yesterday? Was it you parked in the same bike lane 500 ft down the street? Was it you that clipped my elbow with your side-view mirror even though I was completely in the bike lane!? As much as I agree that every cyclist should pay more attention to the current rules of the road, but how dare you car drives scream as if you have done nothing wrong! Until bikes out number car drives 50:1 or cars start weighing only 25lbs versus 2 tons, then there will always be a great inequality on the roads between a biker and a motorist. America and her car-centric culture is changing. As this happens so do the mindsets of bikers and motorists have to change, as do the rules of the road.

So people (cyclists and motorists alike) out in Loudon County, Washington DC, Montgomery County step off your high horse and ponder the things you have done to create backlash on either side. Ponder the things that you might do differently next time you pass a car or bike.

Posted by albinosquirrel (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Kudos! Now if we can just get the MoGoCo Police to do the same thing with the stop signs on the CCT.

Posted by DrLRonHoover (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I used to ride quite a bit and commuted by bike. From a safety perspective, if I slowed to 1-2MPH at a stop sign, I spent as much time at the sign as a person stopped in a 10 foot car and, therefore had as much time to determine whether it was safe to proceed. Goaway4's description of the Idaho rule sounds like it's based on this rationale. Ethically and practically, a full stop makes no sense; however, when I run stop signs on my bike or occasionally exceed a speed limit in my car I can accept the consequences. Only those self-centered spoiled members of the cycling community (we've all met them) will throw tantrums when a violation of the law results in a ticket.

Posted by ben18 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It's more dangerous for a car to run a stop sign than a bike. If a bike hit something or someone, somebody might get bruised up or knocked over. If a car blows through a stop sign, dozens can be killed. Cars are larger, faster, heavier and MORE DANGEROUS vehicles on the road than bikes. Laws should be enacted that are stricter for larger vehicles. Ever wonder why you just can't jump into a semi and drive it? You need training and a license. Larger, more dangerous vehicle = more training and stricter laws. Same should be true for cylists and motorists. Motorists are people in cars, cyclists are people on bikes. We are all people. People need to take responsibility for how they act in their cars because they have the larger potential negative impact if they are irresponsible.

Slow down, act like a human being and don't use your car to intimidate anyone, let alone cyclists and pedestrians. It's bad enough on the highways...

Posted by onespeeder (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

the roads are overcrowded...with cars.

Posted by j.hermias (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Pedestrians and cyclists do not "always" have the right of way when crossing a road. Examples being the crossings of the W&OD trail in Clarke's Gap and Hamilton. The Trail Users have a stop sign, the road does not. I'm a cyclist to, again, everyone needs to play by the same rules.

Posted by dubv1980 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"momof2: I am sorry your commute may have taken 1-3 minutes longer due to a cyclist. Well geez if you go out to rural loudoun county, I would hate for you to get behind one of them farm tractors on the road!"
Wasn't a farm tractor. It was construction equipment. Yes, it is all part of life in a partly rural county. What I was struck by was not that I had to slow down or may have been personally inconvenienced, but that this was a recipe for disaster. The road has curves, a truck could have come around the curve where we were, at the speed limit, unaware until it was too late that traffic was slow right ahead of it. There would have been no place to go but into another vehicle or to run over the cyclists, or all of the above. My concern is for human life, not the inconvenience of slowing down, which to me is just part of sharing the road.

Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The truth: There are too many rude and impolite cyclists just as there are too many rude and impolite vehicle drivers. Everyone needs to be more respectful of each other and the laws that govern all of us.

Posted by ghchuck (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sticking to the subject - last weeks' charity run, and not dragging up the entire bike vs motorist issue, where is the common sense? 7 AM on a Sunday morning? How many cars were on the road at that time? C'mon people. Yeah, in the strictest sense a law was broken, but a charity run when no one else was on the road? Warnings would have sufficed. Lighten up people. As they say - he who is w/o sin can cast the first stone.

Posted by DrFish (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

goaway41, thank you for bringing up the Idaho stop. I was going to do the same myself. Idaho stop (i.e., cyclists being allowed to make a rolling stop after slowing to a reasonable speed and looking in all directions for traffic) is something we need to look at instituting around the country.

If the ticketed cyclists simply blew through a stop sign full tilt, then they deserve a ticket. The ones that slow to a couple miles per hour and then proceed carefully after checking for traffic do not.

If the sheriff's office wants to enforce "no rolling stops" laws for public safety, they should start with the cars that do it. Two-ton cars can do a lot more damage to each other, and to cyclists and pedestrians than 30 pound bikes. And there's a lot more cars than there are cyclists, so if you're fishing for dollars, Sheriff Simpson, that might be a better way to do it.

[snip]
"They forget the fact that they're sharing that road with motor vehicles, and by not respecting the rule of the road, they're putting themselves in huge danger," [Sheriff] Simpson said.[/snip]

If you've ever been on a bike and been buzzed by a motorist passing way too close to your bike, it's pretty hard to forget that you're "sharing" the road with motor vehicles that are much bigger and faster than a bike.

[snip]
"They get into a collision with a motor vehicle, they're going to come out the loser in that deal."
[/snip]

Exactly, and that's why cyclists should be allowed to make a rolling stop after slowing to a reasonable speed and looking in all directions; we've got a hell of a lot more at stake than a motorist if we're not careful. A driver's fender-bender is a cyclist's broken bone, concussion, or worse.

Posted by BigRed8 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Good for the Loudoun County Sheriff!

Now if only the Montgomery County MD police would take such similar initiative.
In the Poolesville area, cyclists of all stripes take to the roads every weekend and the vast majority NEVER come to a complete stop, and many just blow through intersections with little or no regard for approaching vehicular traffic.
They wouldn't do that in their autos, so why do they think it's OK on a bike?
I have thrice now had to lock my brakes to prevent bicycists from becoming a new addition to the bumper and grill on my truck.
PLEASE, bicyclists, exercise some common sense!

Posted by LAWPOOL (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"nielsenjt, on a Sunday morning, how many school zones were operational?"

Posted by BarbaraMunsey (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Barbara- There were none. However, the officer's time could have been shifted to a weekday or a night time shift to provide more rational protection of innocents.

Posted by nielsenjt (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Cyclist always love to indignantly claim they have all the rights and privileges of cars on the road, yet they always complain about having to observe the same rules.

Bravo...I don't care what they were doing on the road or what they were raising money for. Cyclist who ignore the rules of the road need to be ticketed just as drivers are.

Posted by Nosh1 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

dubv1980, we have stop signs at all these trail crossings. Sometimes the trails cross roads where the speed limit is 45 MPH. It has been hotly debated on this website that the pedestrians and dismounted bicylists have the right of way and do not have to stop at these road crossings.
I agree with you and now I have been called "profoundly ignorant" by another commenter. I find this matter to be perplexing because it is a matter of public safety and human lives are the issue. The human lives of cyclists as well as those in vehicles. Vehicles that might be hit from behind when they make a sudden stop. I am going to get to the bottom of this issue.

Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Get to it Super-sleuth! The fact is that there are already better rules and practices being used in other states, countries. Google search bike law you and you see a slew of information.

Posted by albinosquirrel (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

1. The logic that the police were out of line because it was a charity event is absurd. There are plenty of charity events around this area that put folks on the road (think Rolling Thunder) and I don't think they were exempt from traffic laws.
2. The police are doing exactly what we pay them do to - enforce laws.

Posted by justanotherguy (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I only wish the Sherriff's department was equally diligent in ticketing all the drivers who passed me unsafely or who were exceeding the safe speed on Snickersville Turnpike and Silcott Springs.

Consider this: When a biker rides in an unsafe manner they are primarily a risk to themselves. When a car operates in an unsafe manner they are primarily a risk to others. Law enforcement would do well to remember this.

Posted by srwings (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

While it sounds suspicious that the Sheriff department chose to ticket bikers this specific day, the law is the law. Whether it is a "stupid" law or not is up for debate. I'd be bitter if I was ticketed for a rolling stop either as a motorist or when I ride my bike, but I wouldn't whine about it. What really pisses me off are my fellow 'cyclists' who bitch and moan about "sharing the road" but only use the rules when they are convenient to them.

Posted by orkand (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Cops should pay equal attention to drivers who pass bikers without keeping safe distance.

Posted by jctichen (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thought the legislative intent reflected in the law may help re-set the debate. Amazingly, bicycles are not permitted on sidewalks or against traffic - for any aged rider.

§ 46.2-800. Riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, or mopeds; riding or driving animals.

Every person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, or an animal or driving an animal on a highway shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter and shall have all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, unless the context of the provision clearly indicates otherwise.

The provisions of subsections A and C of § 46.2-920 applicable to operation of emergency vehicles under emergency conditions shall also apply, mutatis mutandis, to bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, and mopeds operated under similar emergency conditions by law-enforcement officers.

(Code 1950, § 46-183; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-171; 1980, c. 456; 1981, c. 585; 1989, c. 727; 1994, c. 176; 2001, c. 834; 2002, c. 254.)

Posted by phannum (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

EVERYONE using our roads needs to be respectful of one another; both cyclists and car drivers. I am a cyclist and respect the rules of the road every time I ride. However, I consistently encounter aggressive and dangerous riders who honk and/or swerve at me even when I am riding on the edge of the shoulder. I really wish these drivers were being ticketed!! Many times I have felt my life is in danger because these drivers seem to think they do not need to share the road with cyclists. They seem to think that it's a good idea to come close to killing someone to make the point that they don't feel like sharing the roads as they are legally obligated to do.

Posted by strossman (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ticketing a rider who slowed down to 1mph at a stop sign shows extremely poor judgment. Yes, it is in technical violation of the law, but is clear indication that they were out to get people, not protect safety.

How many tickets did they give out to cars who did the same thing? How many tickets did they give to vehicles aggressively using the horn, driving too close to cyclists, or cutting them off? (If the answer is none, they were being willfully blind.)

Posted by wafath (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wasn't there just recently an article about bike lanes in Leesburg? I seem to recall mention of the fact that riding a bike on the sidewalk was illegal. So, we can't ride on the sidewalk, motorists don't want us on the road, what is there to do? While I agree that anyone breaking the law should be ticketed, I also believe motorists should jump off their high horse about sharing the road. How is a bicycle going 10mph any different than a farm tractor doing the same speed?

Posted by teden (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I propose that everyone who sees a police car roll through a stop sign take a video of the event and post it to YouTube. Perhaps if we shame the police enough, they will stop acting like they are above the law.

Posted by ewexler1 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I would be rich if I received a dollar for every time I spotted a driver turning without using their turn signal. I ride through traffic everyday commuting to work and sense drivers get frustrated when I ride between their cars to the front of every red light, but that's the luxury of riding a bike! I have been hit twice as ignorant drivers on their cell phones don't pay attention, yet I have never once even scratched a car while riding.

Posted by wags627 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"I ride through traffic everyday commuting to work and sense drivers get frustrated when I ride between their cars to the front of every red light, but that's the luxury of riding a bike!"

I don't think this is legal.

To you and all the other bike tools, "some drivers also break laws" is not an excuse for you to not have to follow the laws. If you want to use the road, you have to follow the rules of the road. If you choose to break some laws like those drivers you cite, then you do so at your own peril, just like those drivers.

Get over yourselves.

Posted by VTDuffman (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

good! these bikers are a pain out here in rural Loudoun. Stay in Fairfax.

Posted by djrhood (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Good for the police. I am sick and tired of arrogant bicycle riders ignoring signs on the road. The other day a group of about 10 bicycle riders just stopped in front on me on the road and blocked it. I honked at them to move, and they started yelling at me. They were in the middle of the road, but didn't care that they were blocking traffic.

Posted by MH916 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Let's turn this around for a moment; what if the offenders had been automobiles and a bicyclist had been smeared? What would the comments be I wonder?

Posted by hadenuff1 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Your right Lawpool, I see the same thing all the time!We need more bike lanes, places for these bikers to ride and not mess up trafic. How about min speeds on certain roads.

Posted by rstull1949 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Cyclist have a full 360 degree view unobstructed by windshield pillars and should be allowed to slowdown to a crawl look around then go. Another example of Loudon county's lack of respect for pedestrians, sidewalks and cyclists. A simple warning or an officer directing traffic would have been more diplomatic.

Posted by jercha (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

There is no law in DC or Virginia that prohibits lane splitting! If you want to get out of bumper to bumper traffic, then buy a bicycle or a motorcycle.

Posted by wags627 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I do a significant amount of cycling in the DC area (VA, DC, MD), about 4500 miles per year and I can tell you that by far the biggest hazard and threat to motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists alike are the drivers on cell phones not paying the slightest bit of attention to their speed, much less stop signs or lights.

This is before you get to the part about motorists who do neat little tricks like speed up ahead of cyclists just to make right turns directly in front of them into parking lots or whatever. Very dangerous and pure intimidation.

How else to describe it?

I for one would not mind some enforcement of traffic laws as they pertain to cyclists, if I believed that motorists were being ticketed by law enforcement for their constant excessive speed especially on "quiet" neighborhood streets, and their own almost universal refusal to stop when the law says "STOP."

Not roll . . . STOP!

You motorists have no standing to complain about cyclists if you are breaking the law yourselves.

Posted by Decipherer (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I have been riding now for about 7 years. I have ridden all over the US and some places outside the US. I am by no means a professional rider. I have experienced the same thing all over the world. Drivers believe that the road is meant for vehicles only. That they are the only ones entitled to the use of the road. They are wrong, we all are. All taxpayers are entitled to the utlize the road safely. And yet, I still get the occasional driver, in a rush to get no where, yelling out thier window at me, throwing a soda, or speeding around me just to cut me off with their right hand turn. Do I obey all traffic signs, I would be lieing if I said I did. I do utilize something called due reguard when assessing my pass through a stop sign. I slow down to 1-2mph, guage what the pattern is like, and if it is a 4 way stop sign, and I can go, I go. For me to come to a complete stop is just totally stupid. It does seem that that Police officer used the MS event to make his point. That is pretty sad and pathetic. Why not do it on a day where you catch the average people that ride there constantly(Probably would have goten fired by the locals there). Yet now the Sheriff actually gave his town a bad name to people who have never been there and will probably never go back. We gotta share the road, and respect the fact that we are sharing the road. It's not meant for just cars, it's meant for all sorts of vehicles(man powered/motor powered). If we remember that, and know that we are on roads shared by cyclist and vehicles. We would be just fine. And for those complaining about the multiuse paths. Cyclist are frowned on there to by people who are walking, jogging, rollerblading, or whatever on them. You see they don't like the fact we are going so fast and can run them over.

Posted by trithis_13 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

By the way, folks, if you want to see how bad it can get out there, have a look at this:

Exclusive: Fox Newser Accused of Dragging Cyclist Through Central Park

Link: http://gawker.com/5284865/exclusive-fox-...

Posted by Decipherer (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

YAY. I'm perfectly happy to share the road with cyclists, but if they want to have the same rights as vehicles, then they need to follow the same rules. That means stopping at red lights and stop signs, among other things. It also means not riding on sidewalks (I'm talking to you, DC couriers). I've been hit by bicyclists both while walking and while sitting at a red light in my car. Sharing the road goes both ways.

Now, I do wonder why a ride for charity didn't have cops directing traffic? There are charity walks and rides in my neighborhood all the time and they always have a lane blocked off for their use and police presence directing traffic--and so they don't have to obey posted traffic signs because the police officer's direction overrides that.

Posted by scarlet_begonia (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The Virginia Code says, "...all the rights and duties..."

Neither side should be discussing the exceptions or abuses of the other.

As a cop in a marked vehicle, I would see bicyclists advance to the front of two lanes of traffic and run a red light or jump-the-light. When I caught-up to them, I did not issue a ticket (it would probably have been laughed out of court as some prosecutors and judges may differ with the legislature), instead, I would ask for ID and read the Virginia Code, slowly explaining how bicycles enjoy rights, but they have the same duties as motorists. Then, they would be reminded that all the time they gained by weaving to the front of the line, had been lost, they were warned that a second event would produce a citation and went on their way.

Posted by phannum (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't believe for a second that this guy was going "one mile per hour". Most likely he rode right through the stop sign as most bicyclists do. I live in an area where bicycle clubs routinely meet and packs of them go flying through intersections with red lights and stop signs all the time. They are a menace and the biggest whiners of all.

Posted by MKadyman (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Keep in mind, most cyclists are also drivers. In fact, I drive much more than I ride. Which is why when I ride I don't do things that would irk me as a driver. The morst irksome thing riders do is to move out into the center of the lane of traffic at an intersection, come to a complete stop, take their feet out of their clips, and then re-clip the left foot, and slowly move out into the intersection while reclipping the right foot, and then every so painfully slowly accelerate across the intersection with a line of cars behind. BUT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE LOUDON COUNTY SHERRIF'S OFFICE WANTS YOU TO DO. So I say do it. In fact, rather than courteously defer to cars by riding on the shoulder of those crumbling little two lane highways, or even 7 or 15, apparently the thing to do if your in a group is pretend like you're a car and ride out in the lane of traffic. And take your sweet time up those hills. And when people honk and curse and threaten while they're waiting for a passing lane, tell them to talk to the Sherrif's office. You're just obeying the law.

And I'd also skip patronizing the local businesses. Trail's End bike shop? Sorry, talk to the Sherrif. 7-11 in Lovettesville, Pucelleville, everyville? Same.

Anyone with experience knows that the Loudon sherrif's office is peopled by the same bicycle hating rednecks that honk when they're right behind you hoping you'll run yourself off the road, purposely drive too close when passing, and then down shift their big over-compensating diesel trucks to blow exhaust in your face. And roll through stop signs.

Posted by nine6two (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Institute the Idaho stop rule. It is actually MORE dangerous for a cyclist to come to a complete stop than a careful rolling stop, because if the cross road is clear, it takes much longer to accelerate from a dead stop and safely cross the intersection than to conserve momentum and accelerate from 1mpg. In this additional time, a car may blow through and hit them as they try to cross. Because of this, bikes should treat stop signs like yield signs. For anyone who is skeptical, try it.

Posted by commonsense1011 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

To determine whether law enforcement is enforcing safety or something else just watch their behavior. Cell phones and texting: do officers pull off the road before taking that call or do they cruise down the street while playing with their computers? Do they regularly speed 15mph over the posted limit? We have exempted police from compliance with all these traffic laws under the theory that they are trained to know when non-compliance is a safety problem. When we observe police failing to follow the rules and turn around and punish us for the same infraction then we have proof that they aren't engaged in safety enforcement but instead are generating revenue or harassing people for political or bigoted purposes.
____________________________________________
Dumbest post of the morning. You obviously get your info from sitting on your couch and watching tv shows. Playing with their computers? Ever think that they are entering data? An officer who sees a car and suspects that it is stolen has no recourse but to enter the tag number while his/their cars are moving. A ten year old can grasp that concept.

15 mph over the speed limit? Ever occur to you that when an officer is on patrol that he is really not going anywhere like you are? Most of the time when you see an officer going over the speed limit he is on the way to a call. Under local laws a police officer can violate traffic laws while on duty if he does so in a reasonable manner (or words close to that). If someone was on your deck trying a door and your neighbor called the police and it took the officer 30 minutes to get there you would be the first to whine and complain that it took forever for the police to get there. But you wouldn't know that.

The rest of your rant is the product of either being immature or having numerous contacts with the police which bring out such stupidity.

Posted by MKadyman (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm glad to hear that the cyclists were ticketed. When did it become legal and "good form" for people to disobey traffic signs/laws even if it is for charity. What gets me is that if a cyclist, God forbid, had been hit by a motorist or vice versa people would be wringing their hands and asking, "Where were the Police?"
If cyclists want to share the road they need to have basic manners and actually share the road. As one previous poster said, sharing the road does go both ways.

Posted by haydenduke (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As stated in the article, the "problem" is bicyclists being hit by cars and the "solution" is to ticket the cyclists. This makes no sense at all, except as another case of anti-cyclist discrimination.

Further, a slow rolling stop on a bicycle is safe and effective. A bicycle starting from a full stop is a wobbly danger to everyone and is only safe when other traffic is stopped (as in at a crowded four-way stop). Ticket or no ticket, I'll choose safe over legal any day of the week.

Posted by NotDeadYet (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Lane splitting is not illegal and drivers need to recognize sharing the road means being patient and driving slowly behind cyclists until it is safe to pass. I have had truckers actually drive on the shoulder trying to run me off the road before. While you are in your car getting fat and polluting the earth, I am getting in shape.

Posted by wags627 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with the police. On the WO&D trail, there are stop signs at every street that the trail comes to. On the WO&D trail website, bicyclist are instructed to stop at all stop signs on the trail. For those who believe the Police should have warned bicyclist before giving tickets...do you need to be warned to stop at stop signs and traffic lights before you drive down the street in your car?

Posted by shawnembrey (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by bradmoser (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 12:07 p.m.

Some of these cager comments really make me understand the birth of the Critical Mass ride movement!

Posted by BigRed8 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I rode in the MS Charity event last weekend. I have participated in organized cycling events throughout VA for over ten years. In every other one, the police were active participants in the safety of the event. They did this by positioning patrol cars at key intersections with lights flashing, assisting in directing traffic as the main body of cyclists came through intersections, and helping by their presence to highlight to motorists that there was some special event going on that day to be attentive to. I saw none of that active support on this ride. I did go through the intersection where they started handing out the tickets, and it was not a particularly dangerous one - plenty of visibility and an area of slow speeds for cars and bikes. It was a very convenient place to sit and hand out tickets. I appreciate bikes on the road inconvenience drivers. The guy going the other way in his pickup truck this past weekend made that clear with his finger gesture. The one who nearly put me in the ditch with his boat trailer as he passed at high speed demonstrated his disdain for the inconvenience of having to share the road. Loudoun sheriff that chose ticketing cyclists in bulk as a way to help with bike safety sends the message that bikes are not welcome in that community. It seems from many of the posts, that this message is what a number of locals in Loudoun want sent. I am going to suggest to organizers of all cycling events that Loudoun be considered a bikes-unwelcome county. Oh, and if it was not for revenue that tickets were issued, should we expect to see the ticket money get donated to MS?

Posted by usaf91 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

So this is what? For the safety of the cyclists? Really? When have automobile drivers given the slightest thought to cyclists? When have cops ever given tickets to cars that violate the rights of cyclists? We know of an experienced cyclist in NC who has ridden for 40 years, had every safety gimmick possible on his bike, flags, lights, is a safety nut and gives talks on bicycle safety. He got hit from behind by a stupid woman and was hospitalized for two months in intensive care. As far as we know the woman has not even been ticketed as she would certainly have been had she rear ended another car.....Right, I'd like to see cops start standing up for the rights of cyclists for a change...Bikes typically slow down to 1 mph? every try to run your car at 1 mph? it's like standing still isn't it. Bikes shouldn't run red lights or stop signs but cars do worse to cyclists constantly and cops? first they wouldn't have a clue as to what a car just did to a cyclist if they saw it, crowding them off the road, pulling alongside the leaning on the horn like cyclists don't have any right to be on the road, doing their best to gun their motors and try to frighten cyclists or simply to intimidate them trying to cause them to crash.....

Posted by Watcher1 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It is indeed ironic that so many cyclists complain about the lack of courtesy of drivers and the audacity of the police to enforce the laws. As a regular weekend hiker on the W&OD, I cannot tell you how many times I've been almost squished by discourteous Lance Armstrong Wannabes. As much as a third of all bikers/bike groups don't regularly announce that they are passing and certainly don't slow down when they are passing. Many of these people when confronted with a combination of traffic (pedestrian and/or bicycle) going in both directions will not wait for one side to clear but, instead, choose to "thread the needle" often without warning that they are passing.

I've got a special needs child who just can't understand the rules of the road. He's prone to bolting from one side of the path to other with no warning. It's just the nature of his condition. Yet these two-wheeled menaces refuse to slow down to reasonable speed when dealing with pedestrians. It's gotten so bad of late, that I've taken to "leashing" my child for his safety because the Lance Armstrong Wannabes just don't seem to care about anything other than their Tour de Fantasy.

Posted by JoStalin (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have to partially agree with the Sheriff's this time. I have come to quick halts before due to cyclist blowing through stop signs. To the poster 'onespeeder', your comment "It's more dangerous for a car to run a stop sign than a bike. If a bike hit something or someone, somebody might get bruised up or knocked over. If a car blows through a stop sign, dozens can be killed.", you are sadly mistaken! If a cyclist blows through a stop sign while a car is coming, the cyclist is going to lose. True, not dozens may be killed, but one or two casualties is still cause for concern. Not all roads have a stop sign for cars where the cycle path crosses over.

I do, however, agree that a slow speed at a cycle stop sign should be sufficient enough for the safety to be assessed, which is why I am only partially agreeing with the Sheriffs.

I agree that cyclist have the same rights as motorist on the roads, which is why I believe that cyclist need to STOP at red lights when they approach them and not coast through if no on-coming cars are coming.

I'm a motorcyclist, so I understand frusterations of being on two wheels and having to deal with the "cagers", but we have to follow the rules just like everyone else, so cyclist should have to do the same and pay the same consequences when the law is broken. Just my .02.

Posted by smjcjdj1 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am taking the liberty of repeating this post to emphasize the point made by "Watcher1":

Exclusive: Fox Newser Accused of Dragging Cyclist Through Central Park

Link: http://gawker.com/5284865/exclusive-fox-...

Posted by Decipherer (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Asking a cyclist to come to a complete stop is not the same as asking a driver to stop the car. This is apples to oranges. If we want to compare apples to apples then we need to ask the drivers to stop, open the door, get out and check for oncoming traffic and then get in and go. That would probably be closer to the same amount of time lost by un-clipping, stopping, checking, re-clipping and regaining momentum. I'd like to hear the drivers reaction to that. I know that I, as a driver, wouldn't want to do that each time I get to a stop sign/light. Another point I'd like to make, bicyclists are generally more aware of their surroundings than the average motorist. What I mean is that bicyclists don't have a car as their surroundings, but instead they are surrounded by everything else such as oncoming traffic. Sounds weird but seems to make sense when it comes to rolling(1-2mph) through a stop sign.

Posted by hillikus (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Traffic control and assistance, not tickets, is what a responsible and respectful police department would have done. What idiots.

Posted by 123cartoon (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

anonymous wrote: "It's more dangerous for a car to run a stop sign than a bike. If a bike hit something or someone, somebody might get bruised up or knocked over. If a car blows through a stop sign, dozens can be killed. Cars are larger, faster, heavier and MORE DANGEROUS vehicles on the road than bikes. Laws should be enacted that are stricter for larger vehicles. "

Does that mean that SMART cars and other small cars like them have the right to roll through stop signs while other larger cars don't?

Posted by ahashburn (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

So glad that the LoCo police did this... now if they could just ticket the drivers on Belmont Ridge Road who stop at the bike crossing there to let the bikers go by, while the other cars coming over the hill has to slam on their brakes in order to hopefully not rear end said stopped car... that would be nice. That's why the bikers have a stop sign. If they choose to not obey the sign... let them get hit.

Posted by chilipop (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How come cyclists seem to prattle on about sharing the road and following the rules then whine when they get a ticket for not doing so? Then you have to cope with their holier-than-thou attitude as well.

If I see a car run a stop sign, it's probably 1 out of 1,000 cars that I see that day. If I see a cyclist do it, it's probably 1 in 5.

Posted by ronjaboy (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Personally, if safety is the primary focus, ticketing for failing to come to a complete stop when someone slows down and uses some common sense/awareness is just silly. Just as it would be to ticket motorists for driving 2 mph over the speed limit. In practice, I think we all wish that police departments would target aggressive/negligent behavior instead of calling "touch fouls" on road users. In other words, ticket cyclists that blow through stop signs and ticket drivers moving 10-15% (or more) over the speed limit. A little bit of common sense and courtesy will go a long way to make the roads better for everyone.

Quick comments on other posts:

(1) I do think that there is a difference between someone whose actions increase their own risk versus increasing risk to others. By my standards, risking someone else's life is considerably worse than risking one's own life.

(2) "Sharing the road" implies something about sharing laterally as well as sequentially. There are times when sharing laterally is unsafe -- there is a literature on this -- such that the cyclist *should* be in the middle of the through lane. Common courtesy says that when a line of cars builds up, one should find a safe spot, pull over and let the line pass. Likewise, drivers should really think about how long they are being delayed. One minute? Two minutes? Five minutes? In my own experience as a driver, it is almost never a full minute. Every once in a while I run into a cyclist that is an inconsiderate jerk, but I run into inconsiderate jerks driving cars too. They just inconvenience me in other ways that are probably more dangerous.

(3) Consider the road conditions when you see a cyclist in the through lane. The AASHTO standard is that a lane needs to be > 14 feet for laterally sharing a lane to be safe at normal speeds. Moreover, there are times where part of the lane is unusable due to debris or other road issues making the lane effectively narrower.

(3) The WOD is governed by its own insanity of cyclists, pedestrians, roller bladers, and so on. But the general rule that a little common sense and courtesy goes a long way still holds true, IMO.

Posted by invisiblehand (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There is enough blame to go around regarding the tensions between motorists and cyclists. As an avid cyclist who lives in Loudoun County I recommend not cycling there. There are some scenic routes that cyclists enjoy but there is an unwelcome attitude about cyclists. I have not seen one "Share the Road" Sign in Loudoun as I have seen in neighboring Montgomery, Prince William and Fairfax counties. The drivers are largely unfriendly and seem to go out of their way to crowd or startle you. Why else would you wait to blow your auto horn until you are next to the cyclist? By the way, about 6 weeks ago I was crowded off the road by a Purcellville town cruiser which then proceeded though a 4 way stop without stopping, not in pursuit...no ligths flashing. But Loudoun County is a dangerous mix of narrow, overcrowded roads and arrogant attitudes and egos all way round. I've participated in large rides where the police paticipated by regulating traffic at intersections. Why couldn't they have done this here? It would appear to me that the organizers and the police departments did not adequately take into account the issue of safety, human nature and impatient cyclists and motorists. It is surprising that there were no serious injuries. Ive seen the posting about the W&OD trail. Last week I was knocked off my bike by a guy in jeans on a bike after I announced I was passing on his left. He made a U turn directly into me as I passed. He later stated he was trying to get out of my way. Perhaps to ease the tension some Public Education is in order. Sounds silly, I know. I just have to add, as a cyclist and a motorist, I pay taxes, I purchase biking services and equipment and I purchase drinks and meals where I ride. I am sure Partlow's must make some money off cyclists...so nobody has more "right" to the road than anyone else. And thanks to the 7-11 in Lovettsville where you are not permitted to use the restroom even after you've spend a couple bucks on drinks and snacks. To you fellow cyclists...it is not always a race, so just enjoy the ride, safely.

Posted by terryhil (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The Loudoun Sheriff's department is a fine organization which is doing a great job. They need more officers and resources but with what they have I salute them. Momof2 you need to rethink having anyone report to the BOS! Also we should tax all the MS Riders for using our roads and trails! Tax them all I say! Good day,PH

Posted by Funnyguyva (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I've never even heard of the road, but I would be willing to bet my bike that 50% of drivers don't drive the speed limit on Belmont Ridge Road.

Posted by wags627 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ronjaboy, wish I lived in your neighborhood. From my experience, it's 1 out a 1,000 cars that come to complete stop at a stop sign. Drivers are constantly treating stops signs as if they were yield signs and just slowing down not stopping.

chilipop, in my experience on the W&OD & Belmont Ridge Road, the cars have stopped not because cyclists are not stopping at the interesection. Cyclists do indeed stop there (wish I could say the same thing at other intersections on the W&OD, there are some giving cyclists a bad name by rolling right though)! The cars are stopped by drivers who are being courteous and just being nice in letting the cyclist ride across.

Posted by tm.taylor (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bike riders have every right to use whatever roads they please, minus freeways or other roads that are marked as not allowing bikes. The notion that bikes shouldn't be on the road or should only use trails that are frequently crowded with pedestrians, is ludicrous. Also, a complete stop on a bike is not practical. Imagine if in order to come to complete stop in your car you had to get out of your seat and exit for a moment. Bikes absolutely should obey stop signs, but if they roll through at 1 m.p.h because they don't want to dismount, that's fine. The cops in this case are overzealous and have a grudge against cyclists.

Posted by ermiwe (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ticketing cyclists who think the rules of the road don't apply to them might seem harsh, but it doesn't even begin to address the general attitude of audacity demonstrated by most cyclists I see on the road. I cycle frequently on the roads in Arlington and Fairfax Counties. I always do so with flashing front and rear lights (during the day.) I am constantly amazed at the number of fellow cyclists that I see in traffic with no lights, dark clothing, and expecting drivers to a) see them, and b) share the road. Cyclists need to wake up and obey the rules of the road but also ride defensively otherwise, they will eventually find themselves DEAD right.

Posted by Bumponthehead (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My Mother taught me as an young child:

Don't go into the Road! You'll get run Over!

Why do full grown adults FANTASIZE that this is NOT true for them?!

There is a VERY SIMPLE Rule of the Roads, Cars and Bikes need to remember-and in the case of some Brain-Dead (And soon to be really dead) cyclists: LEARN!:

Streets with LIGHTS, and more than two lanes, are for Autos! Bikes YIELD!

Side and Residential Streets, where Children might be playing, are for bikes!

Autos YIELD!

In Austin Texas, Bikers try to ride in main Roads used to expedite Traffic!

They, would lose next to no time at all, using the Residential Side streets adjacent;

but DON'T trying to somehow prove some suicidal moronic point!

Any Cyclist IN a thoroughfare should be FINED!

Posted by SAINT---The (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good. Cyclists can't have it both ways. Either you share the road with cars and obey every law cars are expected to (including signaling when turning, obeying all traffic signs and signals, as well as yielding to pedestrians), or you stay off any road without a designated bike lane. Simple as that.

Granted, I'd like to see the police ticket more drivers for running stop signs and red lights, but honestly, bikers doing it are a bigger risk because the biker isn't going to fare nearly as well being hit by a car as another car will be.

I think the law should be changed to prevent cyclists from using any road without a paved shoulder that is at least 2 feet wide. It's a public safety issue and there isn't anything stating that cyclists have any rights to the roads, as far as I know.

Posted by clovis_aa (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We need to make the distinction between "totally blasting" through a stop sign and ***slowing to 1mph***. The fact is, a car would rarely get a ticket for rolling through at 1mph. It is as good as stopping. It means the cyclist is within .05 second & a few inches of being at a complete stop if it seems at all necessary.

The comparison to a car's typical rolling stop is spurious.

I say, yes, do ticket riders who blew through, but to ticket bicycles' "rolling stops" is ignorant & asinine.

Posted by wapo3 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@wags:
>>There is no law in DC or Virginia that prohibits lane splitting!

No, but in Ffx they'll write it up as improper lane change or reckless, depending on how fast everyone's moving. I've got the court receipt (motorbike).
Only bicyclists seem to have morphing ability: along the road they're low-speed cars, entitled to a lane. At intersections they're pedestrians, hardly influenced by traffic controls. Working downtown and motorcycling in the countryside, I see this dangerous, irritating transformation quite often.

Posted by redlineblue (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Virginia Code as posted above

bicyclists have "...all rights and duties...."

§ 46.2-800. Riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, or mopeds; riding or driving animals.

Every person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, or an animal or driving an animal on a highway shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter and shall have all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, unless the context of the provision clearly indicates otherwise.

what don't we understand about the three words: all...rights...duties? The legislature is pretty clear on this.

The provisions of subsections A and C of § 46.2-920 applicable to operation of emergency vehicles under emergency conditions shall also apply, mutatis mutandis, to bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, and mopeds operated under similar emergency conditions by law-enforcement officers.

Posted by phannum (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Most organized charity rides have intersections blocked off so you don't stop at every intersection along the way. The reason for this is so you car drivers don't get all whiny about holding up traffic at several intersections at once, and it keeps the pack together in an orderly fashion to expedite our unfortunate departure from your cherished roadways. This looks like a money dodge, period.

Posted by cedrics (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Eric101-Most bike paths are really multi use paths, with speed limits on them because there are walkers, joggers, etc. sharing the same path. Where would you rather I ride? On your MUP blasting by at 20mph, or on the shoulder of a road that I helped pay for while riding a bike that counts as a vehicle, by legal definition?

Posted by cedrics (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Based on these posts, it seems that many people in Loudoun Co think that pollutionmobiles are the only vehicles that matter and that everyone else deserves to be run off the roads. What a sad way to live.

Posted by NotDeadYet (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

§ 46.2-857. Driving two abreast in a single lane.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504....

A person shall be guilty of reckless driving who drives any motor vehicle, including any motorcycle, so as to be abreast of another vehicle in a lane designed for one vehicle, or drives any motor vehicle, including any motorcycle, so as to travel abreast of any other vehicle traveling in a lane designed for one vehicle. However, this section shall not apply to any validly authorized parade, motorcade, or motorcycle escort, nor shall it apply to a motor vehicle traveling in the same lane of traffic as a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped.

Posted by wags627 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"I ride through traffic everyday commuting to work and sense drivers get frustrated when I ride between their cars to the front of every red light, but that's the luxury of riding a bike! I have been hit twice as ignorant drivers on their cell phones don't pay attention, yet I have never once even scratched a car while riding."
_____________________________________________
Wags, I *wonder* why you have been hit twice! When you cut through traffic like that, you are moving through blind spots, and motorists cannot see you. As someone who both rides and drives, I am appalled by both ends, but especially so for bikers. I'm sorry, but when you drive something so small, and with little protection, it is up to you to practice safe traveling. Don't weave through traffic, don't roll through stop signs/lights, and use a bike lane when they are provided!
_____________________________________________
I'm glad some police have started cracking down on the lazy additudes of bicyclists, because I'm tired of hearing about hit bikers. If you use the road, you need to follow the traffic laws or else accept the consequences. If the bicyclists didn't want to follow the traffic laws, they should asked for a parade route.

Posted by jennthehen (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good. You see motorists and cyclists ignoring the rules of the road everyday: running or coasting through stop signs and ignoring yield signs. Ticket all of them.

Posted by caribis (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am the bicycle messenger
And I ride and I ride
I ride through the city's backside
I see the stars
come out of the sky
Yeah, they're bright in a hollow sky
You know it looks so good tonight
I am the bicycle messenger
I stay out from under glass
I look through your window so dirty
I see the stars come out tonight
I see the bright and hollow sky
Over the city's a rip in the sky
And everything looks good tonight
Singin la la la la la-la-la la
La la la la la-la-la la
La la la la la-la-la la la-la

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv-ISen-U...

Posted by jeeemusna (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The problem seems to be in “sharing.” Drivers think cyclists aren’t sharing if they don’t get out of the way. Cyclists think drivers aren’t sharing because...well for a whole host of well-founded reasons. After 20+ years of driving, and 7 commuting by bike, daily, year round, I’m here to tell you, that the problem is mostly with you, the driver.

For those of you that complain that: WE OBSTRUCT TRAFFIC
We ride in the center of the lane or in the right tire track because that’s generally the law. As a general rule, cyclists are to ride as far right as practicable and safe, but when the lane is too narrow to share, we can take the full lane. Cycling on sidewalks is almost always against the law. We ride in the right tire track or center of the lane when it’s not wide enough to share because it’s safer. We are not intentionally trying to inconvenience you. We need room to maneuver around obstacles you don’t have to worry about and in case you do the types of things that prefaced this blog entry. Riding in the lane forces you look to look for other cars, and to pass safely, thus giving us the room we’re entitled to under the law. It forces you to slow down when you pass, rather than trying to squeeze by at full speed. The law considers us EQUAL vehicles on the road. Sharing the road DOES NOT MEAN A CYCLIST HAS TO OR SHOULD COMPROMISE HIS SAFETY FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. It means YOU have to acknowledge our right to be there, and you have to interact with us and other road users the same way, legally and safely.

MYTH OF THE SCOFFLAW CYCLIST
We shouldn’t be out there because cyclists run lights, stop signs, etc.? Yes, some do. Should we ban cars, because 90% of them speed, or because a small portion DUIs, drives in the bikelane or roll through stop signs? Of course not. That some cyclists disobey traffic laws, isn’t any more relevant to our right to be on the roads, or expect safe and legal behavior from other road users than yours. Should you get any less respect or right to the road because some drivers also choose to disobey the law? What would you do if someone through pennies at your car because that person was inconvenienced by another driver? If you missed a light because you were on the phone, should the drivers behind you run you off the road?

Posted by ianlitmans (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Under Virginia law, bikes riding on the highway must stop for stop signs, just like cars. OTOH, bikes using a crosswalk to cross from sidewalk or bike path to sidewalk or bike path are treated as pedestrians. (They don't even need to dismount.) Which means that cars need to stop for the crosswalk and yield to them, unless there's a traffic light or pedestrian signal.

The two cyclists who were killed on the W&OD trail in 2005 both clearly had the right of way. (In a crosswalk, no pedestrian signal.)

Here, read the state laws for yourself:

http://leg1.state.va.us/000/code/46.2-92...
http://leg1.state.va.us/000/code/46.2-90...

Posted by cypherpunks (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I frankly can't wait for next year when a couple of thousand bikers come to complete, dismounting stops at every intersection in Loudon county. I hope no one has anywhere important to drive that day.

And congrats to the Loudon Country Sherrif's office for making more money off of the MS Foundation Charity ride than the charity. Stroke of roscoe p. coltrane money grubbing genius.

Posted by nine6two (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I love breaking all traffic laws on my bike just b/c I can. I love to watch motorist get mad when I cut them off or pass them at a stop light. It is funny. I am indestructible b/c I am geared up in all the latest padding. Slashed tires and broken windows for all who test. I love all haters.

Posted by spagball (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm all for supporting Sheriff Simpson. I live off of a well-known and well-traveled scenic road in Loudoun and I can say firsthand that the cyclists do not respect the motor vehicles enough. I used to ride a lot in my younger days, so I am not antagonistic towards cyclists. I just want them to have more respect for sharing the road the way cars are supposed to respect their presence on the road. Hills abound in Loudoun, and sometimes it is a huge hazard to drivers when we suddenly come across cyclists. Honestly, I don't care anymore what cyclists say because the fact of the matter is that cyclists are out voluntarily mostly for personal enrichment and cars are out because they have somewhere specific to go (Sunday drivers excluded).

Posted by bunsnpigs (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

jennthehen, I only ride down the middle lane when traffic is completely stopped. It is impossible for me to get hit by a car when the cars are not moving. I got hit in the crosswalk when a car took a right at a "No turn on red" intersection.

Posted by wags627 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

...and if you drivers are so concerned about the law and justice, how about the fact that when drivers kill cyclists they more than routinely walk away with a slap on the wrists. "I didn't see him" has become an acceptable defense even when the driver is clearly at fault. One need only look at the sheriff who fell asleep on the road and ran into, killing, two cyclists last year in CA. A week ago he was sentenced to four months house arrest and community service. He's eligible to go back to work.

When drivers start being held accountable for their actions, and display better behavior on the road, then their criticisms of cyclists will have some weight.

If the police are actually worried about cyclists' safety they ought to concentrate on the real problem. Drivers.

Posted by ianlitmans (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"They forget the fact that they're sharing that road with motor vehicles, and by not respecting the rule of the road, they're putting themselves in huge danger," Simpson said. "They get into a collision with a motor vehicle, they're going to come out the loser in that deal."

What a cartoon! "Nice little bike you've got there. Shame if anything happened to it." Way to let those uppity two-wheelers know that Loudoun doesn't appreciate their kind 'round there.

Posted by csdiego (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by spagball (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:22 p.m.

This wouldn't be an issue if we switched to roundabouts for rural roads. This is one area where we actually could learn something from the Europeans.

Posted by LiberalsAreStupid (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

bunspigs is clearly not aware that millions of people commute to work each day by bicycle in the US. More than 6% of Portland, OR's entire workforce commutes by bike. And his point about having somewhere to go is ridiculous anyway. No where in the code does it indicate a road's purpose can't be recreational. Cyclists just like drivers pay for those roads. ..and by the way, cycling per mile is safer than driving (NHTSA).

Posted by ianlitmans (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bravo, ianlitmans. Also, I think that a lot of the cyclist-hating respondents here are just jealous. They know that we cyclists usually have more stamina and are therefore able to get significantly better looking sex partners than can the typical lazy, fat Loudoun County hog.

Posted by nospam4me (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

bunsnpigs (anonymous) Can you verify that a cyclist isn't biking as their primary form of transport. I guess "sharing", means "all cyclist get out of the way, b/c I drive a car and am more important". Clearly you are antagonistic towards cyclist. Seems "suddenly come across" implies you were likely speeding (aka, law breaking) If you have somewhere to be, you shoulda left earlier.

Posted by spagball (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I haven't scrolled through all the comments. But the same kind of ticketing occurred on a bike ride in California - the Solvang Century - some years ago.

Ticketing many of the thousands of riders was outrageous.

The police in this situation should do what the relevant law enforcement agencies ended up doing in following years: they directed motorized traffic to a stop and waved cyclists through the various stoplights and stop signs.

This is the reasonable approach, which means everyone is safe, and no laws are violated. This is the way to guarantee that riders return for an event and that they spend their money on the local establishments that you can bet want their business.

Posted by davewyman (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

4th Annual Naked Bike Ride

On June 13 the 4th annual Naked Bike Ride rides again here in Washington, DC!

This ride is one of dozens of rides around the world in which thousands of riders ride naked to protest dependency on oil and the unsafe conditions bicyclist face in a car centered society and to promote bicycles as a viable form of transportation.

The ride is open to all interested adults and there is no registration required, no fee, and no dress code - wear what ever you like. Riders are asked to conform to the DC laws, which means stopping just short of the "full Monty". This is a safe, legal and fun ride - so come and join us!

The ride leaves Franklin Park at 3:00. Questions may be sent to naturerunner@yahoo.com.

Posted by jeeemusna (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

So, uh, how many cars were ticketed for doing the same thing?

Yeah, I thought so.

The rules are the same for both bikes and cars. If there were no car drivers getting tickets, this is discriminatory. As for the bikers saying there should have been a warning, it's called a stop sign. It's all the warning you should get and if you can't pay the fine, don't do the crime.

Had I been cycling, I would've gotten a ticket as well, but that's just how I ride. IMO, Stop signs = Yield signs for cyclists (just like they should be for drivers).

Posted by SamFelis (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don;t have much sympathy for bikers. At Hains Point, every intersection is labled with a stop sign and right underneath "Bicyclists must stop at all stop signs"
They almost never do. Groups of biking teams go thru there 5 to 20 at a time, not even slowing down. I'm always tempted to start to pull out (after my stop) not to hit anybody, but just annoy them.
Same thing in Old Town Alexandria, every intersection, stop sign and bikers warning, yet I never see any enforcement. Then they go down the road and demand their HALF of the road. I once even saw about 20 bikers, apparently police cadets on police bikes, pour thru the intersection of King and Union Sts. a training officer with them.

Posted by sillygatboy (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

4th ANNUAL NAKED BIKE RIDE?
I heard that immediatly after the race there will be a public bonfire using bicycle seats.
Yes, a protest against oil - America's most plentiful, cheapest and most efficient energy source. And politically, one of our best aces in the hole.
Makes a lotta sense to me.

Not!

Posted by sillygatboy (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

When I see the photo of the Sheriff handing the check to the MS Society for all the money his crew raised ticketing, I will believe cycling safety was the focus of their actions.

The broader debate in the posts is interesting about the tension between drivers and cyclists. But, gets off the point of what the Sheriff's office did this past weekend. The Sheriff's office could have done many things to help with safety of the event, as many other police departments all over the state do for similar events. They did none of those. They wrote tickets in bulk at one location instead.

Posted by usaf91 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let's get real. It never ceases to amaze me how when one is held accountable for one's actions their first reaction is to point the finger of blame at someone else. For some reason, they always view their cause as justification to place themselves and others at risk. All of us at one time or another have taken a risk that could result in a traffic ticket, and ususally get a way with it. It would be advisable to work with Loudoun Co. authorities to determine how this worthwhile fundraiser can be held next year while assuring everyone's safety.

Posted by dennisapd (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

As one of the people ticketed, let me make a few comments:

1) People participating in the ride were raising money to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. I know other charity rides come through these areas as well. Oddly, the roads are chosen because of the combination of scenic beauty and sparse automobile traffic.

2) I did roll through a stop sign on a deserted square on a Sunday morning at approximately 1 MPH "after" looking to be sure the intersection was clear. I did so to avoid unclipping my shoe from the pedals of my bike. I would never roll blindly through a stop sign since the most likely outcome of that action would be my own injury or death. You can be sure that no motorist was put at risk by my action. And, btw, I think the Idaho law mentioned above makes a lot of sense for just this reason.

3) There may have been people on the ride who were doing things that were unsafe. If so, I'd encourage the police to consider doing more proactively, rather than just writing tickets.

4) I believe the complaints that motorists made to the police were likely triggered by cyclists on the roads upstream from where I received my ticket. I believe the sheriff's deputy, rather than addressing the issues he saw on the roads as he saw them, where he saw them, instead drove to the square where he could trap cyclists as they moved slowly through multiple stop signs and traffic lights. This was the cycling equivalent of a radar trap at the bottom of a steep hill on a 25 MPH road.

5) The officer that stopped me was angry. There was no conversation. I was told I am getting a ticket for failure to stop at a stop sign. Conversation over. That bothers me because being nearly run down by motorists is a fact of life for anyone who cycles. Do the police exhibit the same intolerence for motorist's infractions or are mitigating circumstances sometimes considered?

6) In response to the earlier comments that cyclists should simply stay on the bike path...the park police do not allow charity rides to use the bike trails because there is insufficient room. Additionally, for those of us who ride regularly, the roads are often preferrable because they offer varying terrain, different scenery, and access to locations not reachable by the bike trails. And...we have just as much right to use them as cars.

7) I make it a habit to ride single file when on a road, but the law states that two cyclists may ride side-by-side as long as they quickly move to single file to allow faster moving traffic to pass.

8) Cyclists need to operate on the roads safely. There is no question on this point. But I really think motorists need to take a hard look at their behavior too. How often do you see this headline: Fatal automobile accident caused by cyclist? Not often I think.

Anyway, looking forward to the ride next year and raising more money for a great charity.

Posted by alincoln9876 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I want to see all the good citizen's of Lovettsville get tickets for not coming to a complete and total stop at any of the stop signs forming the traffic square in their town, and for not doing the same when entering any road from a business, say, their 7-11. then we'll see who breaks down in tears and starts hugging the sherrif for saving them from themselves.

Believe me, you don't want bikers riding by the letter of the law. that means they are out in lanes of traffic, and slowing you down at every intersection while they get back up to an already very slow speed. they ride on the shoulder as a courtesy, not because their are legall required to. Legally, they should be in the lane. think about it. the Idaho rule is so intuitive and car friendly that you almost can't believe Loudonistas want it any other way. I think the real issue here is just old fashioned southern harrassment of people they don't want patronizing their communities.

I would have been less offended had the sheriff's deputies just hustled the bikers with something that actually makes sense, like their squad car was broken down and just needed $91 to get it fixed.

Posted by nine6two (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I propose a charity event in which people drive 150 miles in their cars for a worthy cause. And because they will be doing it for charity, the drivers should be allowed to run stop signs and traffic lights. If anyone complains about the car drivers driving through stop signs and traffic lights during the charity event, they are insensitive jerks and are just prejudiced against car drivers.

Posted by bakerjustin (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't have a dog in this fight, but if the Sheriff wants to make some real money and keep folks safe at the same time, set up shop along Elden street in Herndon and ticket all the j-walkers. Doing so would eliminate any county deficit in a few months and provide for a safe driving environment

Posted by collocation1 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just boycott Loudoun next year! Many of the drivers were rude and were out to make an issue because the charity cyclists clogged their roads. The cyclists were there for a great cause and too bad for Loudoun County Shariffs for exercising poor judgement. Perhpas they could have offered an escort for the hundreds of volunteers to safeguard the cyclists safety instead of a set up arrangement to generate revenue.

Posted by Herndon1 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

------------------------------
The Loudoun Sheriff's department is a fine organization which is doing a great job. They need more officers and resources but with what they have I salute them. Momof2 you need to rethink having anyone report to the BOS! Also we should tax all the MS Riders for using our roads and trails! Tax them all I say! Good day,PH
Posted by Funnyguyva
------------------------------

REALLY? Tax them all? Well, surprising position for someone from Loudoun to take given what would be, I am sure, rabid opposition to a commuter tax in the District to pay for all the exurbanite commuters who flood the city every day. I ride a bike, and guess what? I pay income taxes to the state just like you. So if you wanna be like that, I'd be glad to have all surrounding jurisdictions impose a tax on anyone attempting leave Loudoun.
-------------------------------

-------------------------------
I don't care anymore what cyclists say because the fact of the matter is that cyclists are out voluntarily mostly for personal enrichment and cars are out because they have somewhere specific to go (Sunday drivers excluded).
Posted by bunsnpigs
--------------------------------

What difference does that make?! Really? I have every right to be on the same roads as cars (unless otherwise marked). And, FYI, as a bike commuter (THANK THE FREAKING LORD NOT IN LOUDOUN), I do have somewhere specific to go every day Monday to Friday, so if getting to my JOB in the most environmentally friendly way possible is "personal enrichment", then I guess I'm guilty as charged... and liable to be fined for it in your "fine" county...

Posted by BigRed8 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good for the police. There was a situation in Chicago where a pack of cyclists were involved in a ride and ran through stop signs. One of them is now dead, and an innocent motorist traumatized.

I'm sick to death of bicyclists who treat the traffic rules as though they were merely suggestions.

Posted by jpantsios (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Kudos to the Police. Cyclists are held to the same rules of the road as an automobile, but rarely do they - and rarely are they held accountable. More cyclists are injured or killed on the roads because they fail to follow the rules of the road. Any cyclist who feels this was "dirty pool" on the part of the police, think of it as a Save a Cyclist's Life program.

Posted by asmith1 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

bunsnpigs- I ride my bike everyday. I ride to work, I ride to the grocery store, and I ride to weekly softball games. Those are all rather specific places/events. Have fun sitting in traffic on the way home! Jokes on you!

Posted by wags627 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good work. And here's another pet peeve: so-called "bike paths" that cost localities a lot of money, but seldom see a bike. If I were king, I'd make it against the law for a cyclist to ride in the roadway if a bike path was present next to it.

I have no time whatsoever for cyclists constantly complaining about inattentive drivers, blah, blah, blah. Automobiles, through the gasoline taxes, build the roads.

Posted by Curmudgeon10 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by FapFap (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 4:35 p.m.

For all the bicycle riders grinding-an-axe for the police/sheriffs...what do you think the elected Prosecutors are going to do?

Fall in behind the Police and prosecute the infractions?

The Judges? Think you'll see any convictions?

From a lawman's perspective, you're pretty much out there on your own when you cite someone for a violation of the Virginia Code that is distasteful to the public.

Sometimes no one cares which laws the legislature has enacted.

Be patient and see how much support the charging Deputies are given in the Criminal Justice System.

If you feel strongly about this, get the law changed so that bicycles are given the very special status they deserve.

Posted by phannum (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Taking a bicycle out on roads with lots of cars is something best done by those under 25, who still have a sense that they are immortal. The recent trends toward car drivers who are on the phone, text messaging, or fiddling with their GPS, greatly increase the chance of a bicycle being hit. But some bicyclists seem to take a satisfaction out of being legally or technically right, no matter how much danger they put themselves in.

Posted by evelyn911 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

evelyn911 wrote: Taking a bicycle out on roads with lots of cars is something best done by those under 25, who still have a sense that they are immortal. The recent trends toward car drivers who are on the phone, text messaging, or fiddling with their GPS, greatly increase the chance of a bicycle being hit. But some bicyclists seem to take a satisfaction out of being legally or technically right, no matter how much danger they put themselves in.

Well, I'm 32 now. According to your logic, I guess I'm not supposed to ride my bike, legally I might add, on the road because motorists are breaking the law not paying attention to where they're going, putting me and fellow law-abiding cyclists at risk while they put on their make-up, read the paper, text, etc., while behind the wheel?

Excuse me if I suggest that cracking down on that kind of bad driving behavior might be a better use of police resources than ticketing cyclists for "rolling through a stop" at 1 mph...

Posted by BigRed8 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ok, somebody ought to have seen this coming. Surely this was not the 1st event of this nature to hit your county. Seems like poor planning. On both sides. Either make exceptions for events such as this or advise/remind all parties the traffic laws will be enforced. TIP: For all parties involved in the planning of this ride, for future reference....add this to your list of things to cover.

Posted by vivey (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by NotDeadYet (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 5:01 p.m.

Is this some kind of joke?

Posted by creamit20 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Nobody seems to mention that coming to a full stop on a bicycle is quite different from coming to a full stop in a car. The car driver sits in a solid, stable seat, stops (well, some drivers do "rolling stops" too, but we won't go there today..), and then presses his/her foot on a foot lever. If a manual transmission, then a shift lever may be moved. For the cyclist, remaining mounted on the bike is not an option, since a stationary bicycle is not a stable seat. After stopping, the cyclist has to remount and pick up speed while dealing with pedals, clips, shifters, and looking for oncoming traffic, because the bike will accelerate more slowly from a complete stop. You are comparing apples and oranges.

And in a charity ride, there are most likely more intermediate riders for whom this is more of a balancing act. If there is a clear view in all directions and no approaching traffic, slowing but remaining on the bike is actually often the safer option.

I don't know where the Loudon stops took place, or what the traffic and visibility were, but I will reiterate: stopping and starting a bike is not the same as a car, and spewing hate is not going to provide any workable answers that improve safety for everyone.

Posted by icyone (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Not to generalize, but bicyclists are a pretty self-righteous, inconsiderate and dangerous lot. This is America--and the car is king baby!! Kudos to the Loudoun Sheriff's Office for trying to restore some sanity...

Posted by thebone (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 5:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

In the 70's, gangs of thugs would ride stolen bicycles without regard for traffic rules with loudly blowing whistles. A cement truck hit one of the critters at 16th and Arkansas and the coroner had to remove the whistles from the miscreants throat. A good laugh for the day for some.

Posted by 1911 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 5:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You're on a bike, you're on the road, you follow the same rules as a car. I live a couple blocks from the Mt. Vernon Trail in Alexandria and frequently see cyclists go through stop signs without even slowing. I'll give you that the "idaho stop" is okay, but if there is a car coming, you have to take turns just like another car. If there is a pedestrian in the crosswalk, THEY have the right of way.

Posted by chuck520 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 5:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And another thing cyclists, get that chip off your shoulder. thebone is right, many cyclists are self-righteous and inconsiderate. If you want equal rights to be on the road learn to follow traffic laws.

Posted by chuck520 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 5:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Take a trip to Amsterdam and observe the way they handle this. Dedicated bike lanes everywhere (often separated from traffic). Thoughtful drivers and riders. AND the bikes have the right of way (really). Maybe we can find a solution somewhere in the middle for our car-obsessed culture?

Posted by jiboo (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 5:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think it is about time that cyclists are treated the same as drivers. They tend to disregard everyone else and fail to follow any traffic rules, endangering themselves and those who share the roads with them. I can't tell you how many times I've almost hit a cyclist zooming through my parking lot -- despite the fact that there is a bike path immediately next to the lot-- with complete disregard to any of the cars around the. I don't mind cyclists, but they need to realize that they are no better than the rest of everyone else on the road.

Posted by EmilyJeann (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 5:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Why weren't the police escorting the bikers on this charity ride rather than ticketing them?

Posted by seaduck2001 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 5:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good job by the police. There is a guy who keeps posting that he was going "one mph" when he rolled through a stop sign. That is bull. A child can walk faster than 1 mph.

I would bet the officer was sent to this intersection after the department received complaints. The last thing that an officer wants to do is to get into (peeing) contests with holier than thou people on bicycles.

Posted by MKadyman (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm just visiting from Canada and I'd have to say the drivers and cyclists in the maryland/virginia region around DC are absolutely terrible...i was supposed to be training for triathlons here but am terrified to use crosswalks outside let alone ride a bike...the drivers are impatient and most cyclists i've seen don't follow the rules either...need some serious road education here people!

Posted by aniket (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 5:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Lesson to cyclists: Next time have a bag of donuts to bribe the cops.

Ohhh, imagine a line of 200 cyclists riding single file, near the middle of the lane, and individually stopping at a stop sign. I sure hope that the motorists don't have anywhere they need to be anytime soon.

Then again, maybe not. Having been run off the road by a Lovettsville red neck, I imagine that some red neck would pull out a gun and start shooting the law abiding bicyclists. Anyone wanna bet whether the cops would be around?

Posted by angelos_peter (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 6:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Have any local cyclists ever been ticketed outside of a publicized, well-organized ride? Seems like the only time the rules are enforced on the W&OD is during these events. What is LE doing to promote safe cycling outside of this? I have no problem with consistent enforcement, but this is bad form and exposes institutional hostility towards cycling.

Posted by dave (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 6:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How did the cops know what names to write on the citations? The bicyclists could have given any name -- they aren't required to show a driver's license.

Posted by postisarag (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 6:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I find it funny that most of the bikers I see commenting here find it incredulous that they have to follow the laws. Get over yourselves. If bikers don't want to follow the rules of the road and stop at stop signs, than it should not be illegal to hit them with my car either. It's not about how hard it is to start a bike from a stop, it is about safety.

Posted by Pirate2 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 6:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good Job to Loudoun Sheriff. Long overdo. Its needed in Fairfax as well.

Cyclists insist that motorists share the road. Cyclists must obey the laws for their own safety.

Posted by AWWNats (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 6:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good question? And how will it be enforced. There's that ticket I got in DC for jaywalking about 20 years ago...same deal.

Posted by seahawkdad (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 6:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If cyclists want to use the roads, they have to obey the road rules. Why do they have such a hard time understanding this?

Posted by Sam888 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 6:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Does the DOT have jurisdiction over the W&OD regional park? Who put up the stop signs? Do they have DOT stickers on them? Are they on county land, state land or W&OD land? If I got a ticket, I'd be checking to see if the signs were legal. Most of these intersections are marked as pedestrian crossings, and motor vehicles are not allowed on the W&OD. A stop sign only valid for bicycles? Questionable, IMHO.

Posted by goaway41 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 6:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"If cyclists want to use the roads, they have to obey the road rules. Why do they have such a hard time understanding this?"

A: Because bicyclists are treated like dirt by auto drivers. Just today I took my turn through a green light, following the road rules, and an impatient SUV driver turning left pointed his/her car at me and honked the horn in my face, as if I had no right to be crossing straight through an intersection on a green light.

Posted by goaway41 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i'm a cyclist and i love riding the bike.

i roll through stop signs every chance i get...wouldn't mind getting a ticket.

if you see my on the road i'll be riding a straight line freaky close to the edge. i don't mind if you come close, just please don't hit me.

Posted by edvanrensyahoocom (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 6:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

One missing part of this discussion is that the road exists because of a gasoline tax, license, and car tax tax (e.g. cars and trucks pay for the road.) Bicycles that take up space on the road reduce the capacity for paying customers (cars.) If the road is underutilized there is no problem. If the road is busy the payees (cars) feel like they are being taken advantage of by the freeloaders (bicycles).

Posted by EdwardMyers (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 6:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Music to my ears...

Posted by HDiniMFO (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 6:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

screw that edward...i pay my taxes.

Posted by edvanrensyahoocom (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 6:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is a really silly use of police time to make a point at the worst time. Next thing you you this sheriff will be ticketing everyone who jay walks going to church on Sunday. Now that Tin-Eared Simpson has gotten his kicks off he needs to retire pronto before another of his smart ideas makes him into a bigger fool than he is now.

Posted by tom100 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 6:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I live out on Mountain Road between Lovettsville, and Hillsboro. I hate to say the number of times I have seen bikes with total disregard for the stop signs on Mountain, or the light at Rt9 in Hillsboro. They love to ride 2, 3, and even 4 abreast, and refuse to move over. The thing they seem to forget, even if they collide with the smallest Smart Car---they are going to lose--they have no protection. I ride a Motorcycle, and am a very defensive rider, knowing that I will lose any fight with any car on the road. They come out this way from all over, and seem to forget that we live here. I am tired of also seeing our roads defaced for "their rides". I don't go into their neighborhood and deface their roads, DON'T do it out here. Get over it, you all are NOT LANCE.

Posted by jamespmoran (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 6:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

james. if you don't want me to start talking about all the stupid things i see motorcyclists do then stop typecasting cyclists as suburban pigs.

i live right by you fool and freely understand that its my own life every time i'm on our roads.

i know if a car hits me, i might be killed or smashed up but the smasher is going to have to live/deal/call the ambulance. enought to ruin anyone's day.

Posted by edvanrensyahoocom (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 7:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Nonsense EdwardsMyers. Usage taxes only pay partially for the cost of roads; typically, by far its tax expenditures that pay for building of such roads. Bicycles, unlike cars and trucks do not put appreciable wear and tear on a road, and by substituting for vehicle use, reduce auto usage so on net increase capacity. Far from being freeloaders, bicycle usage reduces overall traffic congestion.

Posted by tom100 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 7:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Note to self: don't ride in next year's event unless they move it to a different county.

Posted by stratman1 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the tax argument is ill-conceived anyway.

its like saying you shouldn't be able to walk on the road because walkers don't pay taxes.

Posted by edvanrensyahoocom (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 7:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Look I'm a motorcyclist, I see both sides of this. Yes, a 1 mph roll thru is a rotten ticket. Yes, cyclists often refuse to go single file to allow faster traffic an opportunity to pass. Yes, cagers need to put down the phone and drive more than 1 foot of off my ass. Cycle guys need to share the road so faster traffic can pass. Cagers need to pass with a little more care. Can't we all just get along?

Posted by Krooz (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i can hear the "all just get along" jibe.

don't think anybody wants to hurt someone.

drivers...chill, go around.

cyclists...get over. get fast.

Posted by edvanrensyahoocom (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 7:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good for the cops. I have been scared witless by jacka$$es on bikes riding without lights at night, coming out of nowhere from behind me, and darting across intersections inches from my bumper, daring me to hit them. Take your toys and play with them in a playground. Get them off the road. And stop acting like you are so superior to people who drive cars.

Posted by sevenstones1000 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 7:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I participated in a MS-150 last weekend too. This one took place in western Pennsylvania and Ohio. We had 1,700 riders and we were assisted by the Goldwingers motorcycle club. The Goldwingers had flagmen wearing safety vests at every major intersection over the 150 mile course of the ride. The Goldwingers have helped us with the ride for many years, maybe they need something like that in Virginia.

Posted by john_fleet (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 7:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What difference does it make if they were riding for charity? It's a stop sign--so STOP. Not that hard to figure out.

Posted by bendan2000 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

cyclists are scum

Posted by slim4 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Give me a break!! What a joke. The problem with biking in the greater DC area, or walking, or running for that matter, is nearly every car fails to stop and look both ways at the stop signs. I assure you, if we roll through a stop sign at 1 MPH we have determined with 110% certainty that the intersection is either clear or all cars are stopped and waiting for us to go. Nearly anyone who has cycled seriously for years has had at least one, I have had a half dozen, close encounters with cars. I got bumped off my bike twice (car pulled to the right and directly into me as I was, oh yeah, to the right of the passenger window! the car having just passed by me) and another time I thought for sure I was going to be a hood ornament (at a five-way I was crossing after waiting for all cars that arrived before me and crossing at the same time as a car next to me - in other words I had right of way as did the car in the same position, and after coming to a complete and total stop and making eye contact with all motorists!). These sheriffs need to get focused on the real problems out there. This is yet another reason you can't enjoy biking down here. Motorists are clueless!!

Posted by jdp123 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It always amuses me that some cyclists want to share the road with autos, but they don't want to abide by the same laws.

Posted by Wildfire1 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is wishful thinking: "bicycle usage reduces overall traffic congestion" When bicycle traffic is recreational it is additional traffic that impacts the capacity of the road for paying customers. You have a better argument that bicycles reduce congestion during commuting, but only if they do not slow down traffic by more than the space the cyclist would have taken had he/she drove a car. Same for the joggers who think the road is the place to run. You aren't paying fuel tax so you don't own the road.

Posted by EdwardMyers (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by ImpeachObama (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:16 p.m.

AS IF, cyclists going through red lights actually pose a real threat to anyone. You want them to come to complete stops at stop signs? Do you realize that this will really just increase the amount of time it takes YOU in your car to get through the intersection? Do all you fools who are criticizing cyclists for going through stops think they just blast through with no regard for the traffic that is already present? Of course not, that's ridiculous. They obviously make a value judgment as to whether they can proceed safely, and if they can, they do. I really feel like a lot of drivers who get all bent out of shape over cyclists who don't come to a 100% complete stop are really just annoyed that these are the same cyclists that occupy some space in the road and might impede their progress. But guess what folks? It won't delay you more than a few seconds to wait for an opportunity to pass them. Take a chill pill. Roads are for everyone.

Posted by grfab (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Cars are expected to share the road with bicycles and that applies to bicyclers as well, including obeying traffic laws. A bicycle running a red light could also cause a car accident, possibly even a fatal one. Lesson learned the hard way....good.

Posted by logcabin1836 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

angelos_peter at 6:04pm has the best comment. Illustrates my point perfectly.

Posted by grfab (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"You've got nothing better to do at 10 o'clock on a Sunday morning than sit there and wait for people to run a stop sign?' " said David Jennings, 47, of Vienna, a cyclist"
------------------
It may be called "sharing the road," but many area cyclists hog the road, ride double-file to prevent cars from passing at safe opportunities, and refuse to pull over themselves occasionally as a courtesy to almost-idling motorists. Cyclists also claim they're good for the environment, but driving to a distant town to get on a bike and force drivers to queue in a long line for miles is not good for the environment. Cyclists also pull over along the road to "answer nature's call" in full view frequently along River Road despite nearby outhouses. We pay a lot in taxes for barely-used bike trails and bike lanes and still get stuck behind them on 50 mph roads. The laws are for everyone, including smug cyclists. I do everything possible to ensure their safety when I'm on the road with them, but I will never vote for a law that benefits cyclists until they start showing equal respect to motorists.

Posted by Voter4Integrity (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Years ago, the two-day MS ride was held in Loudoun County, and it was an excellent, scenic outing. However, the county -- which was growing fast in those days -- said the big bike ride was too disruptive, and the next year the ride moved west into more rural, less congested Fauquier County. I was sorry about the change because Loudoun was a beautiful area with more moderate terrain than hilly Fauquier. And now this -- I hope it does not drive this wonderful, worthwhile event out of the Loudoun again.

Posted by hmccomas (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Obviously, there are good bicycle riders and there are bad bicycle riders. I applaud the Sheriff's department for taking action against those who decide the laws don't apply to them.

I had an experience on the W&OD trail one day while driving an emergency vehicle. Most bicyclists on the trail refused to yield to my vehicle, even though I was operating with lights and siren! At one point, when additional information about the location of the incident we were looking for was relayed to me, I had to turn around. From right behind my vehicle (and I mean right behind!) I heard "Nice turn signal, a@*#%le". This as I made a very quick right to get onto a small trail I couldn't have seen more than 20 feet ahead of me. I was incredulous!

If this is how bicyclists choose to behave, then I hope law enforcement steps up their efforts. The actions of quite a few riders are truly a safety issue for the law abiding users of the trails.

Posted by whatsinaname30 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is WONDERFUL! At least in DC, cyclists believe they are above the law and need not stop for traffic lights. I wish this would be instituted in the District!

Posted by whirlwind81 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

it's about damn time someone ticketed a cyclist for violating the law. never seen it done in the district.

Posted by jay4811 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think I now will personally enjoy each motorist accident I cause by a friendly stopping in the middle of Sterling Blvd or BRR because some impatient fella behind the courteous driver was tailgating to close after reading these comments. I say all cyclists invade Waxpool road on a Tuesday evening and cycle our way out to Ashburn, loop up Belmont Ridge Road and then down Rt 7 to show what a real nuisance we can be.

Posted by fuzzyturtle35 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 8:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

finally, and next let's ticket the fat guys that wear inappropriate spandex and make all of us motorists suffer

Posted by derikswan (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Cyclists don't demand that people in cars share the road with them. Its the law. I don't know a single cyclist who doesn't also drive a car, pay auto taxes, etc. No one is commuting from loudon county anywhere on a bike, its purely recreational. I lived in Bluemont for a long time and rode from there most weekends. most of the cyclists you see on the road out there are attorneys, doctors, business owners, etc., who drive the same SUVs and audis that you do. Its why they don't assert their legal right to take up the entire lane of traffick like couriers do in dc. And in exchange for that courtesy, they expect that in the absence of oncoming traffick they should be able to roll through a stop sign at 1 mph like EVERY CAR IN THE COUNTRY DOES so they don't have to unclip their shoes and lose momentum. And that is the most courteous way to do it with respect to cars. Because if they do come to a complete stop, and you're behind them, you are going to be much more annoyed at how long it will take them to get going again than you will be indignant that some person you don't know but feel some unchristian amount of hate and bigotry toward is getting away with treating a stop sign the same way you do.
As a driver, I appreciate these courtesies from bikers. I don't want them in a lane as opposed to the shoulder; I don't want them stopping in front of me at intersections and making me wait while they get going again. Even though they are legally identical, bikes are fundamentally different than cars and cyclists try to accomodate cars with respect to those differences. And you think that would earn them a little goood will with the good christian people of Loudon county.

Because believe me, when the courtesy stops and bicyclists start asserting their legal rights, which is the way the Sherrif's office apparently wants it to go, you'll really have something to complain about.

In short, you want complete stops at stop signs, you can also expect to follow a bike just to the right of the center lane all the way from leesburg to point of rocks.

Posted by nine6two (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I participated in the MS150 this weekend. I saw cyclists being pulled over at the traffic square in Lovettsville. I did not see if they were blatantly running the stops or "rolling at 1 mph". I was just ahead of them and did not get pulled over but then I did stop at the signs. Maybe I was just lucky.
-
Some things to think about:
-
Cyclists: Follow the rules of the road! Ride single file, Stop at signals and signs, pass other riders safely. Take the lane that you are entitled to but move to the right if it is safe to allow faster traffic (cars or bikes) to pass. I saw some behavior this weekend that was embarrassing and gives cyclists a bad name.
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Cars: The cyclists have just as much of a right to be on the road as you do. It does not matter if they are "too slow". By law, a cyclists on the road is a vehicle and is covered by all of the same laws as a car, truck, etc. Please keep a safe distance when passing. Do not be rude and try to startle the rider when you pass (honking, yelling, throwing items, etc). Just because you have seen rude cycists on the road in the past does not mean that we are all that way.
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Police: I have no problem with you ticketing cyclists (or cars) that blow through stop signs or signals. They are breaking the law. But equal enfrcement of the law is in order. It does seem to be a bit extreme to issue tickets to riders that come to a near stop, look and yeild to any traffic at a stop.
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On the issues of trails vs roads: Just because there is a multi-use trail does not mean that a cyclist must use it instead of the road. The W&OD is not a "bike" trail. It is a multi use trail that is used by walkers, rollerbladers, strollers, etc. There are many times when the trail can become crowded and it simply is not safe for a cyclist to be on the trail with the other trail users.
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There are drivers and riders at fault on both sides. Can't we just get along!

Posted by m20120 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"You've got nothing better to do at 10 o'clock on a Sunday morning than sit there and wait for people to run a stop sign?' " said David Jennings, 47, of Vienna, a cyclist"
**************
A police officer? Most likely they don't have anything better to do at 10 o'clock on a Sunday morning. Ticketing people for running a stop sign, motorists or cyclists, seems to be a perfectly valid use of time that keeps them busy performing a public safety activity while still keeping them available to respond to emergencies.

*********
AS IF, cyclists going through red lights actually pose a real threat to anyone. You want them to come to complete stops at stop signs? Do you realize that this will really just increase the amount of time it takes YOU in your car to get through the intersection? Do all you fools who are criticizing cyclists for going through stops think they just blast through with no regard for the traffic that is already present? Of course not, that's ridiculous.
*************

This argument goes both ways. A motorist making a rolling stop also makes a judgment but is more likely to fail than if they come to a complete stop (as is a cyclist). A motorist making a rolling stop will also clear the intersection faster, but again, there's a reason for the STOP sign and not a Yield sign.

Here in Reston, I frequently see cyclists running the RED light / Don't Walk at full clip at Reston Avenue, cutting across moving traffic on Wiehle Avenue, and pulling out as packs of training cyclists across all four lanes of Sunrise Valley Drive with little disregard to oncoming traffic. Sad to say, it isn't the inexperienced cyclists doing this. Instead, it's the racing cyclists - the ones who are out there day after day training, the ones who are so uncomfortable to share a trail or recreational space with, and the ones who routinely ignore 15 mph posted speeds closer to DC.

As a motorist, I do my best to play it safe around cyclists and use caution, but I recognize there are instances where my cautiousness actually puts the cyclist in greater danger - stopping on a multilane street for instance puts the cyclist in greater danger if he chooses to go even when the other motorists don't stop. I wish cyclists would exercise similar caution. Furthermore, I wish all users of public roadways including paved bicycle trails were required to meet licensing requirements. It just makes more sense.

About a month ago, a cyclist who failed to stop at a trail head met a motorist making a legal right turn onto my street. He was evacuated to Fairfax Hospital by helicopter. At the crossing by Wiehle Avenue? In the summertime I see paramedic response there about once a month, if not more, and usually pretty serious. Arguing that cutting across traffic without stopping is as safe as stopping just plain makes no sense whatsoever.

Posted by rnorwood01 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And for all the "motorists" posting: when is the last time you came to a complete stop, where you could put your car in park, at a stop sign when there was no oncoming traffic? Cars don't get tickets for that. That's the point. That's all we're talking about. So no more self righteous handwringing that cyclists think they are exempt for a rule that cars follow. Because cars don't. We know, because we all drive them, all the time.

Posted by nine6two (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

nine6two, I pedal from Ashburn to the office in Reston 5 days a week. A few coworkers from Leesburg and Lansdowne commute as well. Don't know where you're getting the idea that no one in the county commutes.

Posted by dave (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't know about Loudoun County, but there's money to be had by ticketing people who run stop signs in DC, whether they are driving a car or riding a bike.

At the intersection of 27th St NW and Q St NW, both cars and bikes treat the stop signs as if they were nothing more significant trafficwise than mail boxes or fire hydrants.

Doesn't matter who it is or what kind of car or bike they use. Young or old, male or female, rich or richer--they all run the stop signs.

God help the pedestrians who don't look both ways, especially during rush hours.

Posted by maryec00 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

nine6two, I come to a complete stop everytime I come to a stop sign. Really. I understand, it feels silly, especially when you are sure no one is there. But I do it anyway. I understand about the rolling stop on a bike when no one is coming. We don't really know the complete story from the sheriff's department so who knows why they did what they did.

I think the greater concern from motorists is the safety concern and I am in that category. Although some people may not care if they hit a cyclist, I think many of the motorists here would be extremely upset if they hit a cyclist, even if the cyclist were at fault.

I think the scariest comment here was posted by fuzzyturtle: "I think I now will personally enjoy each motorist accident I cause by a friendly stopping in the middle of Sterling Blvd or BRR...."
You seem pretty immature, fuzzy, and your thinking is very fuzzy. If you ever deliberately cause an accident, I hope a cop will be there to arrest you.

Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 9:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

momof2, I'm with you there. I was going to say, when I learned to drive, in New York even, we were taught pretty clearly that a stop was always a full stop even when turning right on red (something which is not taught in Virginia). I still stop for a stop and I see people doing the same every day, but it's clear that those who don't care or don't take driving seriously don't do the same. Most of these would not be driving for long in most western countries.

One thing I read in a driver's manual several years ago was as follows - a pedestrian always has the right of way but a pedestrian, and particularly one with driver training, should understand that it is frequently more wise to surrender the right of way. The same applies to cyclists.

One final thing to say in regards to cyclists on Evergreen Mill Road - the same applies. Just because you have the right to use Evergreen Mill Road does not make it wise. Only a foolhardy cyclist would use a 55mph road with no shoulder frequented by dump trucks.

Posted by rnorwood01 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sounds like the drivers were ticked off that they had to actually stop at the stop signs.

Posted by shhhhh (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Loudon county is full of Hillbillies- why would anyone bike there? There are excellent trails in Arlington, DC & Fairfax.

Posted by Troglodyte (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bicyclists want to share the road w/ auto's, obey the same laws that are reqireed of auto's. Bicyclists are hazards on the road in todays driving world like it or not. Prime example...Skyline drive w/ its blind turns and massive hills is a hazard in itself w/out adding road hogging , slow bicyclists to the mix. They should be outlawed for the sake and safety of all and not used as a training course for bike riders which the majority is riding.

Posted by cjcanu01 (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I would like to know one thing. How many drivers were given tickets during that time for "rolling" through stop signs? You can not tell me that there weren't any automobiles doing the same thing.

Posted by segdmd (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

dave, my guess is you're not peddling from ashburn to reston on the greenway, although I would be very impressed if you were. assuming you and you're buddies are on the W&OD, touche, I guess, buy when I think of Loudon county I think of west of Leesburg, where the tickets were given. For example, if you were commuting from Lovettsville to Reston, I'd be really impressed. Maybe someone does, I don't know, I've never seen it. So how about 99% of the riding out there is recreational. Can you agree with that?

and momo2, I'm sure you do. really. and I respect that. but that doesn't mean you would get a ticket if you didn't. Because I don't get tickets when I don't. Just like I don't get tickets for going 5mph over the speed limit, or jay walking, or other things that on duty sherrif's deputies do.
But I really like people who respect and obey the letter of the law because if someday I choose to excercise my legal right as a cyclist to ride down the center of a lane of traffic on a two lane country highway, as I'm assuming the Sherrif's office would encourage me to, they're the people who are going to be patiently following me at 20mph waiting for a passing lane because they know that is what the letter of the law requires. Because I'm a considerate person always thinking of others its probably not going to happen, but always nice to know people like you are out there.

Posted by nine6two (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Another ticketed charity rider, Charles Rothrock of Oakton, said he agrees that safety is paramount but that authorities could have taken better steps to "proactively warn cyclists" to obey road signs."

---

Quit whining.

If you don't already KNOW that the same rules apply to anything on wheels on the road - including bikes - you are thick as 2 bricks.

In that cas, store the bike and WALK!

Posted by eabpmn (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

why do all these cyclists wear outfits like they are in the tour de france? LOL.

Posted by slim4 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 12:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I, for one, am tired of the cyclists who whine incessantly about "sharing the road," but who are very selective about which traffic laws they comply with. Failure to stop at stop signs is only one of them.

How many times have you seen drivers inching along on a country road, trying to pass a cyclist (or group of them) traveling 15-20 mph below the posted speed? Then everyone comes to a stop sign. Do the cyclists pull up to their place in the line and take their turn going through the intersection? Far more often, they jump the line by (illegally) zipping past all of the stopped cars on the right, forcing everyone to again try to pass them further down the road.

On long and winding country roads do they stop every mile or so to let backed up traffic pass? Of course not, since to them, "sharing the road" seems to grant them the privilege of impeding all other traffic.

Much has been made recently of the diagonal striping painted on Sterling Boulevard and at one other location in Loudoun where the roads cross the W&OD trail. What hasn't been made clear is that the bike trail has stop signs at those locations. They are not "4-way" stops, so they should be treated in the same way as every other intersection with stop signs for the side street. If walkers or cyclists are IN the crosswalks, drivers are obligated to yield to them. But drivers are not supposed to just suddenly -- and unexpectedly -- stop simply because some cyclists are waiting to cross.

In answer to Mr. Rothrock, who complained that the police should have taken steps to "proactively warn cyclists to obey road signs," they did. They put up the signs. You're operating a "vehicle" on the road. You don't get a special invitation. You are obligated to obey the signs, all the time, just like everyone else with whom you "share the road."

And to Mr. Jennings, who wondered that the police "had nothing better to do on a Sunday morning than sit and wait for people to run the stop sign?" No, they didn't. Loudoun County on Sunday morning is generally a pretty peaceful place, so stopping the self-righteous scofflaws who endanger themselves and everyone else around them was pretty much it.

Cyclists complain constantly about the lack of respect they receive from motorists. Well, this article might be a good example of why that situation exists. When you begin acting like you are "sharing" the road, rather than like you own it, and showing some consideration for others by obeying ALL of the rules, not just the ones that you find convenient, maybe that situation will change.

Posted by alert4jsw (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 1:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If, as stated, the cyclist slowed to 1mph before entering the intersection, for all practical purposes, there is no difference between that and actually stopping. People walk at about 3-4mph; this was the a fraction of the speed of a pedestrian. If the police were issuing $91 tickets for nothing more than failing to touch a foot to the ground, yes, I'd call that bad form on their part.

Posted by devnull1999 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 2:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is why I would never consider living outside of the beltway. From these posts, it's easy to see you Loudoun County people are a bunch of ingorant roobs. Enjoy each other out there, suckers--please don't drive east.

Posted by robert7ii (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 5:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey Wags I think I know you. You drive a big SUV to work, am I right?

Posted by rstull1949 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 6:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Everybody, and I mean everybody, that criticizes a cyclist for "breaking the law" doing whatever they do on the road is a bike-hating hypocrite. You all break traffic laws yourselves, usually by speeding a couple miles over the limit, at some point in your day, because it's harmless. I roll stop signs all the time, but only if I can see the intersection is clear, and that's harmless too. Nobody gets irate about it until I do in on my bike instead of my car. I realize it stinks to be stuck behind some bike doing 15 MPH, but that's traffic for you. If I'm on the right side of the road in VA, that's legally my place to roll, and you'll just have to deal.

Posted by tungsram12 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 6:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

hey momof2 I was being facetious after reading all of these bike hating comments! You all gripe about getting tickets and then complain its simply a revenue raising measure, a few cyclists complain about getting a ticket for failing to stop and it turns into "GET THEM OFF THE ROAD ENTIRELY". I am so glad this county is full of a bunch of lazy, inactive citizens who have no appreciation for outdoor activity; long live in your 1hr+ commutes while I stroll though the roads faster than you can drive at rushhour!

By the way- I wouldn't be arrested since another motorist is ALWAYS AT FAULT BY TAILGATING TOO closely to the other vehicle or not paying attention. That is what mostly causes accidents with cyclists- and is what the cops should be enforcing. Adios and see you all on the roads. I'll be sure to get in a real long ride this weekend.

Posted by fuzzyturtle35 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 6:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

To those saying it is one of their rights to travel well below the speed limit, I don't believe that's accurate.

Just as traveling a certain mph OVER the limit is termed reckless driving, you can be ticketed for traveling a certain mph UNDER and creating a road hazard.

I think that's the hardest one for many drivers to swallow, particularly coupled with the attitude displayed by many here.

Yes, it is a cyclist's right to use the road.

Yes, it is their right to travel in a traffic lane.

No, you may very well NOT have the "right" to do so at 20 mph or more UNDER the limit.

If that's your speed (or less) and a long line has formed, it's time to pull over and (yes, you too) SHARE.

Imagine any car going 10 in a 40-mph zone, for blocks or miles. Someone would call it in, and they should.

Posted by BarbaraMunsey (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 6:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

the idaho stop is currently being considered for the district. i expect it will go ignored like most other bicycle safety laws recently instituted in the district. most recently the law requiring cars to give bicycles at least three feet of clearance when passing has very obviously been ignored by motorists as well as by enforcement officials. i actually watched in awe as a pedestrian when a police cruiser clipped the elbow of a cyclist when passing on mass. ave. the cyclist did not go down but the officer drove on without even realizing. these new laws need to be publicized much better then they are to be honest. i would like to see the washington area bicyclist association take the reigns on such a thing. one can not realistically expect the district to take up that fight. the laws need to be a two way street however and as a very avid cyclist would like to see more laws enacted regulating cyclists for our own good. currently it is unlawful to ride your bicycle on the sidewalk downtown (south of mass. ave.) i would love to see them banned from the sidewalks entirely for everyones safety. nothing irks me more then when a cyclist is on the sidewalk and there is a bike lane four feet away. bicycles belong in the street and to reiterate, if a bike lane is present or not the cyclist is legally entitled to an entire lane. i would also like to see cyclists traveling the wrong way on a street or bike lane subject to enforcement. just as i would like to see the DC no cell phone while driving law enforced i also would like to see legislation deeming it unsafe to ride with headphones on. you need to be able to hear what is happening around you. from sirens to honking to warnings shouted your way. this is also a concern on bike paths in regards to cyclists and joggers alike. how are you supposed to hear someone shout on your left with dave matthews whining in your ears?

Posted by bill12807 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 7:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

BarbaraMunsey

Virginia Bicycle Riding Laws
(From Code of Virginia On-line)

§ 46.2-800. Riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric powerassisted
bicycles, or mopeds; riding or driving animals.
Every person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted
bicycle, moped, or an animal or driving an animal on a highway shall be subject to the provisions
of this chapter and shall have all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle,
unless the context of the provision clearly indicates otherwise.

§ 46.2-905. Riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric powerassisted
bicycles, and mopeds on roadways and bicycle paths.
Any person operating a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric powerassisted
bicycle, or moped 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 the roadway, except under any of the following circumstances:
1. When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction;
2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway;
3. When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving
objects, parked or moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width
lanes that make it unsafe to continue along the right curb or edge;
4. When avoiding riding in a lane that must turn or diverge to the right; and
5. When riding upon a one-way road or highway, a person may also ride as near the left-hand
curb or edge of such roadway as safely practicable.
For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane too narrow for a bicycle,
electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped and another
vehicle to pass safely side by side within the lane.
Persons riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, or electric power-assisted
bicycles on a highway shall not ride more than two abreast. Persons riding two abreast shall not
impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, shall move into a single file formation as
quickly as is practicable when being overtaken from the rear by a faster moving vehicle, and, on
a laned roadway, shall ride in a single lane.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Department of Conservation and
Recreation shall permit the operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices on any
bicycle path or trail designated by the Department for suc h use.

Posted by edge24 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

fuzzyturtle states: By the way- I wouldn't be arrested since another motorist is ALWAYS AT FAULT BY TAILGATING TOO closely to the other vehicle or not paying attention. That is what mostly causes accidents with cyclists- and is what the cops should be enforcing.

You said you were being facetious before, is this more of the same or what? It is not always the motorists fault. The whole point I have been trying to make is that there are behaviors by cyclists that put motorists, other cyclists, and pedestrians at risk. If you can not see that and are not willing to consider that responsibility you have when you take to the roads, you are being quite immature. If by your actions, you cause an accident (ESPECIALLY deliberately), you should be held liable. Here's an example, you pull one of your stunts where you go to the middle of Belmont Ridge Rd and stop. A car traveling towards you with a full dump truck traveling behind them slams on their brakes to avoid you. They stop but the truck has no time to stop completely. The truck rear ends the car and kills the occupants of the car. How smug and self-righteous will you feel after yes, causing the death of other, innocent people? If you can't see the responsibility we all have on the roads, maybe you shouldn't be out there. BTW, I have 35 years driving experience. I have seen MANY near misses in all those years on many kinds of roads with many kinds of vehicles.

GROW UP!

Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

For the police - if you really have that much time to go out and ticket cyclists, why not actually go out and give tickets to people in cars for breaking some of the exact same laws. How many times have we seen people getting cut off by cars not using turn signals? How many times do we see people tail gaiting?

While I agree that bicycles must obey the law. Is the juice really worth the squeeze? If a cyclist risks their life by being stupid, thats their life. If a car risks their life by being stupid, they are risking the other cars life, the pedestrians lives. For my money, go after the cars, they're more of a danger than bikes, or at least admit that the past weekend was specifically targeted towards CYCLISTS and not some standard procedure thing.

Posted by scjelli23 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

i'm a cyclist and i love riding the bike.

i roll through stop signs every chance i get...wouldn't mind getting a ticket.

if you see my on the road i'll be riding a straight line freaky close to the edge. i don't mind if you come close, just please don't hit me.

Posted by edvanrensyahoocom (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"For the police - if you really have that much time to go out and ticket cyclists, why not actually go out and give tickets to people in cars for breaking some of the exact same laws."

Dear scjelli23: I got a ticket on Sunday morning in my car. It ain't about you.

Posted by mitlen (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I suspect posters like alert4jsw have never ridden a bike on a road and also do not really understand the law or that the road serves ALL citizens, not just those who some think should be permitted on the road. A cyclist, alert4jsw, has a legal right to the road and you must respect it if you are a law abiding citizen, regardless of how inconvenient you may find it. If it is convenience (and not safety) that is a concern, perhaps we should also not allow construction vehicles, mowing equipment, farm vehicles, school buses, horses, and maybe even some Toyota Prius's on the road either. Also, you should probably only drive your car at 3 a.m., probably the only time you will not run into artery choking traffic anywhere in this area.

To continue, I think the law applies to all - both cars and cyclists should be ticketed for running signs, lights, exceeding speed limits, illegal passing, etc. If everyone is truly honest with themselves they are guilty of all the above .. both cyclists and drivers.

The reasonable question remains who is most at risk? Cyclists no doubt will lose the collision battle with a 2 ton vehicle. Since bicycles are legal vehicles and I assume drivers want to follow the law, they must be respected for their rights to have and to share the road. Likewise, cyclists need to respect the laws in all cases - and mostly for their own good.

It is a shame, in my opinion, that the law is not applied as it is in many european countries - The larger, faster vehicle must yield to the smaller slower (including pedestrians). Ultimately, the law is about preserving safety and preserving life, not an argument about who has a right to the road. The right to share the road has already been established.

Posted by boblas (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Two amateur racers died Tuesday while on a training ride after being struck by an SUV near Tulsa, Oklahoma. Another rider was seriously injured in the crash.

The driver of the SUV, 38-year-old Tausah Borland, was detained Tuesday evening on suspicion of drunk driving. She was released after posting bail of $100,000. An Oklahoma Highway Patrol spokesman told VeloNews that it could be four to five weeks before Borland's blood test results are available and county prosecutors decide whether to charge her.

Killed in the accident were Angela Voss, 33, and Matthew Edmonds, 34. Both were members of the Bicycles of Tulsa Race Team. Another team member, John Moore, 40, was injured and was treated and released from a nearby hospital.

According to a Highway Patrol report, Borland was driving the same direction as the cyclists on State Highway 51 in Sand Springs when she "swerved onto the south shoulder for unknown reason, striking the three bicyclists." The report said Borland continued on for another quarter mile before stopping.

A report on the TulsaWorld.com Web site said that passing motorists stopped Borland.

"Our team is devastated," a Bicycles of Tulsa member told VeloNews. "Matt and Christa were bright stars and the world is a lesser place without them."

----------------
Now who was following the law, and who wasn't?

Posted by ablatecky1 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

With the arrival of the warm weather, I have seen a sharp increase of weekend bicyclist in and around the Potomac, North Potomac, Darnestown and Seneca areas where I live. Although there are bicyclist that ride safely on our roads I have seen many that don’t. I have personally witnessed or be party to:

1. Watch cyclists fail to stop at stop signs.
a. In a two hour period last Saturday I videotaped only 3 to over 60 cyclist stop at the intersection of Travilah and Glen roads.

2. Watched cyclist pass cars that were lined up at stop signs on both the left and right sides living the motorist dangerously confused.

3. Swarm out of the convenience store at Travilah and Glen roads around the front and back of a moving car that had just stopped at the intersection.

4. Run through red lights at the corner of Falls and Glen Rd.

5. Speeding above the posted speed limits.

During this past Saturday I videotaped several of these issues and chatted with several cyclists. It turned out that many where from DC (where they admitted police write tickets for running stop signs). Although some where sorry for their actions, many rationalized running stop signs and reckless driving with excuses like “…. cars do it”, “… my foot pedals don’t easily come out” or “…not stopping is for my safety”. There were others that said I was wasting my time and/or threaten me.

When I called the police they indicated that they can’t write a ticket from a video tape done by a resident and that they have to be present and witness the violation to issue a citation.

If there is an acccident it will be presumed to be the fault of the car ... being black .. I suspect that I would be handcuffed "for my own saftey" if I my car was in an accident with a bike

I'm not saying that all cars aways obay the law ...

Hopefully getting this issue out into the public will lead to increased awareness by the bicyclist, increased police activity in the area on Sunday mornings, possibly in lieu of speed cameras that can’t catch bicycles before there is a tragedy.

Posted by sully (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

sully, wow. Interesting observations. Hopefully the police in your community will take your complaints seriously and monitor these areas before, as you say, there is a tragedy.

Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This debate never gets old to me. And from my point of view, it's about time cyclists started being held to the same standards as motorists. Wanna play on the big roads - play by the rules (which goes for motorists as well). I'm tired of packs of cyclists trying to wave me past them on back roads and hills. Risk my life so you don't feel hurried? I don't think so.

Posted by KMDoodle8 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

wow- sully:
I would encourage you to do the same thing with motorists and see what type of reaction you would get. I doubt a cyclist on a leisure ride will be more aggressive than an angry driver who has to sit in traffic on his way home.

Posted by mwb2218 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Message for Sully:

1. Watch cyclists fail to stop at stop signs.
a. In a two hour period last Saturday I videotaped only 3 to over 60 cyclist stop at the intersection of Travilah and Glen roads.

...
How many cars in that time came to a complete stop, or do you think only bikes should be held to that standard?
...

2. Watched cyclist pass cars that were lined up at stop signs on both the left and right sides living the motorist dangerously confused.
...
Why would this be confusing? You are stopped, a cyclist passes you. Maybe you mean "unfair"? There's nothing confusing about it, dangerous for the cyclist perhaps, yes. Let us hope during his dangerous behavior he does not get injured or killed.
...

3. Swarm out of the convenience store at Travilah and Glen roads around the front and back of a moving car that had just stopped at the intersection.
....
How can car be both moving and stopped? Again, the ones in danger are the cyclists, perhaps if the car hits them they can use a buffer to rub out any possible lycra scrapes off their bumpers. The cyclists should obey the laws, but my question to you is who are you concerned about and why?
....
4. Run through red lights at the corner of Falls and Glen Rd.
....
Again, very dangerous for the cyclist.
....
5. Speeding above the posted speed limits.
....
If a cyclist is speeding above the speed limit he should be offered a professional contract, not ticketed!!
....

Look, Sully, if you have time to video tape this and take this to the police it seems you must have too much time on your hands and that you need a life. It offers little help in solving the problem, which exists on both the tolerance of drivers and cyclists. Both sides are at fault and the cyclists have the most to lose.

Posted by boblas (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Reading these comments is pretty funny. Motorist want bikers to follow the same rules, all of them, if they are going to complain. The truth is, vehicles are different. On highways at weigh stations cars are not forced to stop like semis. And about all the complaining. . . people are going to complain whether they get a ticket on a bike, in a car, or jay walking so give the police a break.

Posted by create.mv (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey! All you motorists! Want to actually do something about all those slow bicycles that block your way on the roads? Don't post here, write to your state delegate!
-
http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/ma...

Posted by NotDeadYet (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Check out the answers given by Capt Shaw on today's live chat. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...

antontuffnell, momof2 is "profoundly ignorant" - turns out I'm NOT!

Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Momof2, not only is antontuffnell the ignorant one on the law, but it appears that everyone whining about ticketing people for doing the nebraska slowdown or whatever they want to call a rolling stop are a little off in this case (taken from the washington post live chat):

"Reston: Capt. Shaw....Thank you for taking questions today. I rode through one of the intersections on Sunday where citations were given out (with stopping).I did see at least one of the cyclists who were ticketed go through the stop without much slowing. I have no complaints with a ticket being given in those cases. "

I have no problem with a very slow, rolling stop by a cyclist until they decide that they automatically have the right of way once they have done so. If it is a 4 way stop, they still get to take turns with the rest of us.

Lets remember that until laws are changed, we are supposed to follow them. ben18 summed it up best: when I run stop signs on my bike or occasionally exceed a speed limit in my car I can accept the consequences. Only those self-centered spoiled members of the cycling community (we've all met them) will throw tantrums when a violation of the law results in a ticket.

Posted by chuck520 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey here is an idea... rather than waiting to pounce on a violator - on a bike OR in a car - why can't the police department remain in plain view.
I am so sick of undercover police cars. I prefer my tax dollars be spent PREVENTING crime in any form or fashion rather than "catching the violator after the fact."

I fear the police department is too interested in generating revenue.

What ever happened to the slogan "Protect and Serve". Get rid of the low profile lights, cover your police cruiser in HUGE police stickers, paint it in black and white and make yourself seen. I want you cruising up and down the street so everyone can see you - knows you are there - and out of respect for your presence they should then obey the law. If they don't then please ticket, fine, arrest, and/or stop and question them.

btw... next time a charity is rolling through town Mr. Police Officer why don't you step out into the intersection and direct traffic protecting the cyclist and the automobile driver.... you know - "to serve and protect" !!!

Posted by dohara1 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow. As a fairly new cyclist, completely in love with that mode of transportation, I am shocked and alarmed at the emotion unleashed by many of these posts on both sides of the issue. Seriously? From the cyclists perspective, I understand emotion surrounding the risks to their personal safety. I understand emotion surrounding the actual or perceived bias of law enforcement towards one group or the other. But emotional responses based solely on the incovenience? Bikers having to come to a full stop? Cars going slow for a stretch or moving over when possible? Stop and go's are draining on a cyclist, no question. But it's the law. An extra five to ten minutes getting to your destination is frustrating. But is stopping or being late the end of the world? I plan to ride the Tour de Cure through Leesburg and Purcellville this weekend, and I thank in advance all of the motorists who are kind enough to give me room (still working on hugging that shoulder). In return, I pledge to obey the traffic law. All 63 miles.

To my fellow cyclists, I too wish we had some better cycling trails with fewer crossings for the purpose of training and enjoying a nice hard ride with minimal interruption. If anyone knows of any lobbying or grass roots efforts to promote this, post them!

Posted by zmalinoski (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't believe all the drama and emotion in these posts..... y'all need to relax and take a deep breath!!!

The economy in crisis, housing market in the tank, wars going on overseas ..... and you all can't figure out how to be civil to each other on the simple (petty) issue of road use. You'd think you all were fighting over the West Bank or something......

You're supposed to be neighbors! Chill people!

Posted by of4stars (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

To edge24 at 7:32 a.m., here's the part I was talking about (and thank you for posting the statute): "Persons riding two abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic".

Some here have made some pretty broad statements about their "right" to do that very thing.

How long a line of cars is reasonable, if we want to call it "sharing"?

BOTH need to share.

Posted by BarbaraMunsey (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

KUDOS to the police! I am sick of trying to go for a peaceful ride on the W&OD trail and being screamed at by Lance Armstrong wannabes who seem bent on creating their imaginary Tour de Loudoun. Slow down!!

Posted by glastonbury27 (anonymous) on June 13, 2009 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by robert7ii (anonymous) on June 14, 2009 at 11:32 a.m.

At a charity ride, the police are supposed to be directing traffic , stopping the cars.
I have no qualms with the Police issuing tickets to stop-sign runners, any OTHER DAY of the year, but during a charity ride, the cyclists are supposed to have the right of way.
It's tantamount to stealing money from a charity, in this case Multiple Sclerosis.
If you're in a charity ride, and you see the Police ahead, you would expect them to stop traffic for you, to allow you to cross the street.

This is not about running red lights, it's about finding a cure for an incurable disease. It's anti-humanitarian, what the sheriff did.

Posted by AviationMetalSmith (anonymous) on June 14, 2009 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Having moved back from a much more bike friendly area (Texas, of all places), after not riding a bike while growing up here, I am alarmed at the treatment of cyclists around here. I understand both sides of the issue and will admit that I do not come to a complete stop at stop signs. However, after five years of riding, I consider my self a safe rider. i avoid riding on high traffic roads with no shoulder as much as possible in this area, I stop at all lights and am generally pretty cautious. The only two run-ins with cars I have had were caused completely by the car. The first was a driver who was on a cell phone and pulled 6 feet into the intersection against the light...I just happened to be the first thing in their way. the second was a driver who turned directly in front of me without even a turn signal...they said the never saw me even though they had just passed me. I know one individual who has hit four cyclists, a couple runners and a pedestrian in the past 18 months, by their own count. How does this person still have a license?
I understand the annoyance of getting stuck behind cyclists, I really do...I get mad sometimes, even though I usually know the people I am stuck behind. However, the road is the only place for some riders who are there for more than a liesurely ride or a slow commute. The sidewalk is not an option and the "bike paths," while OK for some one out to enjoy the weather while cruising at 12 mph, are actually pretty dangerous. Quantitatively, more, though less severe, injuries to cyclists happen on a bike path because of slow moving bikers and pedestrains not obeying the traffic laws that govern the path. The paths here are not in good repair either, which makes taking a high dollar road bike on them impossible. Some even have a speed limit of 15 mph, which would be like asking a person training to run a 10K to try to get in shape by going for a walk. Until a viable alternative is thought up, everyone just needs to relax and use common sense...and obey the rules, on both sides of the issue.

Posted by buckwiemers (anonymous) on June 14, 2009 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

(Loudoun)motorists can't be bothered to slow for cyclists--that's the bottom line. It tough noogies, I'm afraid. Leave early. Set the alarm. But you will wait, and like it.

Posted by robert7ii (anonymous) on June 14, 2009 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I always wondered what comes first, spandex bike clothing or the suicidal urge to ride a bike on a winding country road with no shoulder?

Posted by nilpo34 (anonymous) on June 14, 2009 at 8:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Charles07971 said:

"EXCELLENT work! I am SO tired of cyclists who think no laws apply to them. They think THEY own the road. Not all - but many are a menace. So many run stop signs it is unreal. I wish they got tickets for $1000 each."

I'm fine with that idea, as long as motorists get tickets for $1000 each every time THEY run a stop sign or drive at ANY speed above the posted limit. I figure by the time we nail all the drivers who habitually zoom through residential neighborhoods at 30, 40 or even 50 mph, we'll have solved any government budget issues and made the roads safer at the same time. Heck, the beltway alone could create an enormous budget surplus, since I can't recall the last time traffic was moving at or below the speed limit, except when at a near standstill.

Posted by tymn61 (anonymous) on June 15, 2009 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Interesting opinions, I think I will follow law enforcement’s interpretation, from “Transcript of Chat with Loudoun Sheriff's Officer on Rules of the Road”:
Question from, Sterling, Va.: “ …
If there is a stop sign on the bike trail, and no stop sign on the road, then no, the drivers should not stop if the bicycles are not yet in the crosswalk, correct? I think there is a lot of misunderstanding about this. Drivers do not stop at a crosswalk with pedestrians or bikers next to it, especially if only they have a stop sign.
Capt. Thom Shaw: Yes, in cases where the trail crosses the roadway and a stop sign is only present for the cyclist, the motorist has the right-of-way.
“

Posted by baraol (anonymous) on June 15, 2009 at 8:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ticketing cyclists? This is GREAT news!
I just have to laugh at all the cycling apologists on here - from trying to defend that they shouldn't have to stop, to asserting that they have just as much right to use a curvy back road with a posted speed limit of 40 MPH. "Maintaining momentum"? Wow, I'll have to make sure I use that in court if I ever decide to arbitrarily roll through a stop - after all, we could save hundreds of gallons of fuel a year by not losing momentum at stop signs in our cars! Also, I've said it before, and I'll say it again - cyclists, there are PLENTY of bicycle paths that my tax dollars are going to, so stop trying to cram yourselves onto back roads with lots of hills and high speed limits, unless you want to have my car's hood ornament forever memorialized in your rear end.
Ticket them all. Loudoun is hurting for cash, right?

Posted by Hoqenishy (anonymous) on June 15, 2009 at 9:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Reading the comments below raise more concerns with me than cyclists being ticketed, which I'm not necessarily arguing with. There is no doubt that some cyclists flout traffic laws just as there is no doubt that an even greater number of motorists do so. What bothers me are the aggressive bent remarks towards cyclists by obviously impatient drivers. Cyclists have every right to be on public roads unless specifically prohibited (such as interstates). Lazy, impatient, aggressive drivers who are terribly inconvenienced by having to slow down and wait for an opportunity to pass a cyclist safely have nearly run over me and many other cyclists I am sure. Seriously, are you in that much of a hurry? Will an extra 30 seconds delay you from supper or catching tonight's episode of 'America's Next Top Model'? We have the right to be on public roads. Bike paths are already crowded with cyclists, pedestrians, children playing, dogs, joggers, deer, etc. and present their own myriad dangers. Not to mention they limit where we can ride greatly and are for the most part terribly boring after a few rides. Maybe drivers should just stick to major highways and also avoid these curvy, narrow, dangerous backroads. That rational makes about as much sense as cyclists limiting themselves to bike paths.

Posted by e163975 (anonymous) on June 18, 2009 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think this is hugely complicated issue with broad implications for transportation, the environment, health, energy consumption, foreign trade, and national security.

I don't favor a wholesale "cracking down" on either side. I do favor making the roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Enforcement of existing laws isn't sufficient in the long run. In order to make the roads safer, we also need better education, better road design, and policies that recognize the inherent differences between autos, bicycles, and pedestrians.

With respect to enforcement of existing laws, of great concern to me is that after cyclist Daniel Hersh, a Navy SEAL, was struck from behind and killed in Virginia Beach on April 19th, Commonwealth Attorney Harvey Bryant refused to file charges because the driver said she never saw the cyclist (www.vabike.org/virginia-beach-cyclists-m...). The only explanation I have seen as to why the driver didn't see the cyclist is that there was glare from the morning sun.

So while I don't favor "cracking down" on either side, I find it totally unacceptable that drivers can employ the "I never saw him" defense and kill with impunity. I want better education, better road design, and better policies. In the meantime, I want better enforcement of existing laws.

Posted by FB2909772 (anonymous) on June 18, 2009 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is way stupid: "Another ticketed charity rider, Charles Rothrock of Oakton, said he agrees that safety is paramount but that authorities could have taken better steps to "proactively warn cyclists" to obey road signs."

What about the law that says you have to abide by the same rules as a vehicle? How hard is that to understand? And why should I care, I nearly hit a cyclist last week because he rolled up on my right to the stop sign rather than follow the law and stop behind me. You cyclists do NOT follow the law and if I hit you I'm up on manslaughter charges, sheesh!

Posted by datdamwuf2 (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let's stop these scofflaws before "cracking down" on cyclists.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGA3YhfsH...

Posted by antontuffnell (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The bicyclists that ride through my community do not obey the traffic signs, are arrogant and act as though they are above the law. One on Sunday in June we video taped cyclists actions and posted same on u-tube “Unsafe Cyclist in Montgomery County Maryland” during this period only 3 of over 60 bicyclist stopped at the stop signs. We have sent same to the county council and the police urging ticketing of bicyclist and for egregious violators impounding the bicycles. This direction is gaining popularity in our community

According to the MoCo police any time there is an accident between a car and a bike, the car is automatically assume to be at fault. I don’t believe this assumption is fair especially given the actions of the riders in my area.

Most of the cyclists have responded to the U-tube post along the lines of:

1) Cars run stop signs
a. IMO this is no excuse for bikes to run stop signs
b. The stop rate of my neighbors was much higher than the bikers

2) My community should pay for wider roads so that the bikers can ride in the area
a. IOM let the bikers pay the higher taxes for wider roads

3) Bikes are lighter / smaller than cars and deserve special treatment.
a. Using this logic smart cars should have different laws than an SUV.
b. IOM the law needs to be equally applied.

4) Bikers / drivers need to be educated
a. IMO anyone (car or bike) that doesn’t know to stop at a stop sign should not be on the road.

All I’m asking for is equal treatment for bicyclist in the event of an accident as well as ticketing and the same enforcement for both cars and bikes.

I have never been ticketed by a speed camera, had an accident or moving violation in over 30 years in MoCo.

Posted by tallsglguy (anonymous) on July 15, 2009 at 3:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)