Comments on izenmania: On Washington Bicycle Traffic Laws

Late to the party, but I do have a couple comments...

2009-05-21T18:15:50.170-07:00

Late to the party, but I do have a couple comments.

The argument that cyclists don't pay their share of taxes is tired and uninformed. As was pointed out, property, sales, and vehicle tax is the source of the majority of road funding. Anonymous #1 is just recycling the same old knee jerk reaction that has no merit or truth.

As far as the comment by the author that drinking and biking is illegal, you may want to clarify exactly what you mean. The WA DUI code DOES NOT expressly apply to bicycles. Of course, you could get something like Drunk in Public, and the police do have some authority to make sure you get home safely and/or impound your bike for your own safety. WA is one of the few states without a DUI/BUI law that is worded to specifically include bicycles.

oh lord, Anonymous 1. I'm just not elastic enough...

2009-05-12T11:01:00.000-07:00

oh lord, Anonymous 1. I'm just not elastic enough to get my head around people like you.

*clears throat*

I shall now tell the Story I Always tell!

My dad came off his bike on a tow-path (not hit by a car or anything) and was knocked out, unconcious for many minutes and was pretty lucky that someone coming the same way found him and called an ambulance. And my dad was *wearing* his helmet. Imagine if he hadn't been.

Kids - wear a helmet. Even if you're not on the road. You don't need to be hit by a car to have an accident.

And if you've ever driven you'll know that it's hard to see cyclists at the best of times - yes, drivwrs should pay attention but don't assume everyone's perfect. Lights, reflective gear. It's not worth not doing it.

Why shouldn't bicyclists pay taxes to pull thei...

2009-05-12T09:18:00.000-07:00
Why shouldn't bicyclists pay taxes to pull their own weight.All bicyclists pay taxes to pull their own weight. Sales taxes. Property taxes (either directly or via their rent). Federal income taxes. And most (though granted not all) vehicle taxes, because it's pretty difficult to live without a car around here.

And if you're in such a damn hurry that having to briefly slow down before safely passing a bicycle on a freaking residential street qualifies as the cyclist "aggravating traffic", I think maybe you need to take a fracking chill pill.

My earlier comments were a bit over the top, and I...

2009-05-11T23:52:00.000-07:00
My earlier comments were a bit over the top, and I freely admit that I should have stated my points differently.

That said...
Bicycles don't reduce traffic in any meaningful way. Indeed, they aggravate traffic much more than they help it.

And, all of the bicycle-friendly modifications to the roads consume resources. Why shouldn't bicyclists pay taxes to pull their own weight.

@Anonymous #1: When my bicycle starts causing the ...

2009-05-11T20:02:00.000-07:00
@Anonymous #1: When my bicycle starts causing the damage to roads that the fees repair, I'll start paying more for them. How's that? And when I start burning gasoline for my bike I'll start paying emissions taxes. Until then you'll have to settle for the sales tax I pay, which, shocking as it may sound, also contributes to public works funds.

Waving semantics around in a blind and uninformed attempt to justify being an ass doesn't work. It just makes you an ass who is also not very smart. And it doesn't make you any less of a hazard to human life on the road, which you very much are if that's how you feel about cyclists.

@4: I don't think your reasoning on "all of the d...

2009-05-11T17:56:00.000-07:00
@4: I don't think your reasoning on "all of the duties" would stand up in court. Shockingly, it refers to following the rules of the road rather than licensing. Good luck with your effort to require licenses for vehicles that perform the public good of reducing traffic and cause no wear and tear on the roads.

And as far as your "bumper fodder" comment goes ... first, you're a complete a**hole. Second, while "all duties" does not include licenses, intentionally hitting a cyclist (or anyone else) is vehicular assault or murder.

Um, about that "all of the duties" thing... it ai...

2009-05-11T17:21:00.000-07:00
Um, about that "all of the duties" thing...

it ain't true.

Bicyclists are NOT subject to "all of the duties" that come with driving a vehicle, because THEY PAY NO TAXES!

When bicyclists start paying for tabs, I will be a lot more willing to grant them some respect. Unless/until that happens, they are little more than bumper fodder taking up MY pavement.

So get the hell out of my way!

i know nothing of London cycling laws! which is a...

2009-05-11T13:33:00.000-07:00
i know nothing of London cycling laws! which is a good reason i don't cycle :p

Nice post. As the weather improves there will be ...

2009-05-11T12:25:00.000-07:00
Nice post. As the weather improves there will be more recreational cyclists such as myself on the road This is a good reminder to review the rules of the road.

I'm glad that some cyclists actually know the laws...

2009-05-11T09:34:00.000-07:00
I'm glad that some cyclists actually know the laws. Seattle cyclists are notoriously bad about this, especially stopping for stop lights. And the critical mass riders are the worst.