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London cyclist approaching junction.jpgCyclist produces homemade road signs informing drivers that cyclists are allowed to use the full lane
Irked after being told to stay in the bike lane by an irate driver, David Fox from Salem, Oregon, has embarked on an informal driver education campaign, reports USA Today. The owner of a local digital printing firm, Fox has produced a couple of his own road signs which a bicycle together with the words ‘may use full lane’ and he has put them up on nearby lamp posts.
Speaking about the incident that inspired him, Fox said he had been cycling in the nearside lane with two other lanes available when a driver behind had beeped his horn at him. "I kept my lane, and he pulled up next to me and yelled, 'Get in the bleeping bike lane, ***hole'. And then he sped off."
Fox chose to confront the driver at the next red light.
“The first thing I said was, 'Did you see a bike lane?' He said if I was impeding traffic, then I had to pull to the side. But I told him he had plenty of room to go around. The last thing he said was: 'I hope you are killed by a car.'”
While cyclists are expected to ride ‘as close as practicable’ to the kerb under Oregon law, they are permitted to take up the whole lane where there are hazards. Fox believes that people misinterpret the law. "It's not just drivers, it's cyclists too. I think the majority of cyclists believe they're supposed to ride next to all the parked cars, which is really dangerous."
Fox says that his signs are an effort to raise awareness and perhaps spark debate. However, they are unlikely to be around for long. Robert Chandler, assistant public works director with the city, said:
"We follow what is called a manual of uniform traffic control devices. The intention of the manual and the reason we follow it is so there's standardised signage across the country. So whatever he has put up ... it really cannot resemble a regular traffic control sign because that would confuse drivers. We would either remove it or ask him to remove it."
Another local cyclist, Doug Parrow, said the fundamental message was that the city and state had done an inadequate job of educating motorists. He feels that many people fail to see the bicycle as a vehicle. “They don't have the perspective that they need to maintain control of vehicles and wait until it's safe to pass to do so," he said.
Last year, we reported on a homemade sign which put across a rather different message. A Biggin Hill resident, apparently taking issue with organised cycling events put up a sign to inform ‘Lycra louts’ that they were not welcome.
The person responsible is presumably not in favour of cyclists taking up a position in the middle of the road as they also made reference to “blocking our roads”. They also criticised cyclists for “polluting the countryside with orange plastic signs” – apparently unaware of the irony in how they put this message across.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
Latest Comments
- David9694 1 hour 2 min ago
I hope you're all checking your insurance policies, helmets, test certificates and road tax, it's the 2024 round-up...
- check12 2 hours 42 min ago
200 people out of a close by population of how many? Just build it and stop being a wuss
- Spangly Shiny 4 hours 15 min ago
To paraphrase Field of Dreams, "Build it right and they will come: and use it!"
- Rendel Harris 6 hours 36 min ago
And a Happy Christmas to you, road.cc staff!
- Rendel Harris 7 hours 24 min ago
The odds of not being able to find a single pedestrian - just one, note, "any pedestrian" - in an area containing more than about ten of them who...
- bikeman01 9 hours 3 min ago
I love how wannabe racer reviewers talk about fork flex under braking like their tyres are made of glue. I find traction gives long before fork flex.
- hawkinspeter 10 hours 10 min ago
They don't make them like they used to
- LongitudeLatitude 11 hours 1 min ago
Thanks for using my picture of chocolate in your opening picture. The original can be found here, chocolate! | LongitudeLatitude | Flickr.
- lesterama 11 hours 28 min ago
Fair comments. I'll put my hands up and say I got the wrong end of the stick with this one. ¡Feliz navidad! Here's a pic for the season of goodwill.
- Mike Holmes 11 hours 32 min ago
A trip down memory lane (or street) for me - Harry Quinn's bike shop was at the top of our Street and I used to spend time staring at the bikes and...
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12 comments
I actually custom print my own shirts in performance safety colors with a repoduction of street sign stating: MAY USE FULL LANE. included is logo used on sign posted on streets. Below that I added: It is the Law. I get quite a few thumbs up while riding. A few single finger salutes.
From the original article
Lucky bugger.
Go into the police station, with the video on a memory card etc. and ask them. they may prefer it uploaded (but not public) so they don't have physical evidence to lose.
Make sure you do this as quickly as possible.
You might need to be quite insistent that they actually do something. but don't be surprised if it's just a warning - push them as to why they think this doesnt meet the criteria of "when a persons standard of driving falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver and it would be obvious to a competent and careful driver that driving in that way would be dangerous." This is the key criteria required for a dd prosecution.
As he's a taxi driver, get his carriage number from your vid and make a formal written complaint to the council include a link to video or on a memory card). Taxi drivers are supposed to be professionals (who'da thunk eh??), and it does not take much for the council to suspend his license.
Small memory cards are cheap, but will obviously cost a bit. However you often get them as pointless inclusions with digital cameras etc.
It will be a bit of effort, but you will be doing everyone a service (and not just cyclists - he's just as likely to do it to a car driver).
I had a similar incident with a van a while back. I wish I'd had a camera on. reported non the less.... got the no evidence but we'll send him a warning speech (our local plod have a good system where they log complaints against drivers for "antisocial" driving which is offered as part of driving history in any future prosecution)
Edit: just spotted it's Brighton. Sussex police have the same scheme
I am now the proud owner of a garmin virb. Only used it twice. Still testing for best set up. Who do i report dangerous or abusive drivers to?? Do i pop into a police station and show them or is their a way of emailing footage to them. On Twitter and Facebook they don't accept these sort of things i know that. Cheers.
How are you using it? As a helmet camera or on your bike's handlebars/frame? I'm seriously considering getting one and was wondering how heavy it is on a helmet.
How are you using it? As a helmet camera or on your bike's handlebars/frame? I'm seriously considering getting one and was wondering how heavy it is on a helmet.
Hope you're reporting his dangerous driving?
Nice one. I had a run-in with a taxi in Brighton on Sunday for the same situation. Hooted behind me and my (less experienced) wife despite the lane to the right being totally empty, then he overtook me with a punishment pass, followed by a brake test - which I had to swerve to the right to miss him, subsequently passing him again (that's how hard he braked). Miffed that I had "passed" him again, he did it again, but this time I was prepared. When I informed him I had him in glorious HD 1080p video he sped off. Too late.
7_1.JPG
Can I ask what camera you use?
reported to Operation Crackdown I hope
Got nailed by precisely one of these "brake tests" on Monday - sent me over the handlebars at around 23mph. Still off work, still waiting for police to even get back in touch with me despite them attending the scene at the time.
I don't think drivers realise how dangerous it is doing this, they just want to make a point.
They know EXACTLY how dangerous it is, and want to hurt you, severely. This is an act of violence.
Similarly, a "punishment pass" is quite often an attempt to clip you just hard enough to send you down without damaging the car.
If drivers did not want to cause you pain, suffering and injury, they wouldn't do it at all.