'Every Lane Is A Bike Lane'

LAPhoto

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=9034040

francisrose2005

1 Like

I ride a bike to work and around town because urban traffic slows *me* down. I am the one making traffic better by cycling. And! It is people, not cars, that have rights. Yeah, me (a person) has the right to travel on the streets in a car, on a bike, etc. Just all-around poor writing Romero. Better luck next time.

LAPhoto

http://laist.com/2013/03/20/bicyclist_who_lost_leg_in_hit-and-run.php

Josh

2 Like

This is the most ignorant thing I have ever read at the Weekly.

Bosco

1 Like

*[Corrected at 2:40 p.m.]: Some of you have pointed out that Dennis Romeo is, in fact, a journalist unwilling or able to do the requisite, remedial research on bike law before publishing an article on bike law. Our bad. -LA weekly

Bosco

*[Corrected at 2:40 p.m.]: Some of you have pointed out that Dennis Romeo is, in fact, a crappy journalist unwilling or able to do the requisite research on bike law before publishing an article on bike law. Our bad. -LA weekly

Bosco

wildbell1

In related news, for lack of anything substantive to write about next week Dennis the Menace will go pop-eyed bitching about those who don't agree motorists are rightfully entitled to occupy two lanes at the same time.

Kimmy Marshall

<---hates bicyclists

apalemick

@djromero There's hardly a day that goes by that you don't humiliate yourself with words.

It's easy to be a hack. More difficult to actually be good at what you do. You're not, sport.

PANdizzle69

Why is everyone tripping? I ride a bike and found nothing wrong with the article. Hey Romero, maybe they were just offended by the portlandia skit. I thought it was funny as shit!

ByeByeLAWeekly

I created an account just now for the sole purpose of saying that I will not be clicking on anything from Voice Media Group (or picking up the dead tree version of any of its publications) while this Romero dude is employed. I can get crappy reporting and arrogance from any number of other free media outlets. Why support one that is trying to get me killed?

apalemick

@ByeByeLAWeekly Romero is possibly the worst working writer today. I just read the site because he's hilariously poor.

It's like the way I used to watch Ally McBeal. Can't take my eyes off the horrible train wreck.

John344343

1 Like

Thanks for doing your part to ensure another defenseless cyclist -- or even pedestrian -- is killed by a multi-ton metal vehicle. Way to spread the good vibes.

John344343

Thanks for doing your part to ensure another defenseless cyclist -- or even pedestrian -- is killed by a multi-ton metal vehicle. Way to spread the good vibes.

LBClocal

I-don't-ride-a-bike-and-hate-cyclists Dennis at it again...

Joseph Baron

http://youtu.be/V3nMnr8ZirI

PANdizzle69

1 Like

Blah blah blah, blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, facts! Im smarter than you blah blah blah. Wasting time at work, blah blah blah blah blah. Yay bikes! http://www.ciclavia.org/

eazydoneit

1 Like

@djromero In all seriousness, how exactly do you feel posting generalized, incorrect, and slanted drivel such as this piece further your career and standing as a journalist? The only time I ever hear your name is whenever you write something dumb. Not once have I seen anything positive associated with your writing passed around the interwebs.

And while my comment is only adding to what seems to be a sacred hit count, are the hits really worth the greatly diminished journalistic credibility?

Roadblock

3 Like

Every lane is a bike lane. It has been the law for decades. but think about it like this...

50% of all car trips are less than a very bike-able 3 miles in length. Not all short range trips are to the lumber yard or big box store. If we continue to facilitate safe travel space for those of us who want and are able to use our own 2 feet to get around then traffic / pollution / noise / obesity can be reduced by 15-25% depending on what part of LA you live in.

truelovehealth

1 Like

Dennis Romero at it again with his hatred for cyclists. Remember when the LA Weekly was progressive? This reads like it's in the NY Post.

djromero moderator editortopcommenter

@truelovehealth I remember when LA Weekly was boring, and a piece on bicycling would have never generated discussion.

bikinginla

@djromero @truelovehealth Which is why you now feel the need to misrepresent the facts to attract page views? I'd rather have boring and honest, thank you.

nhuffman28

1 Like

@djromero @bikinginla @truelovehealth What do you call this statement, then? 'Metro notes that... taking up that full lane is only legit if they're "moving at the same speed as other traffic."' <--That's a demonstrably false statement. Metro never said taking a full lane is *only* allowed when moving at the same speed as other traffic, and that's not what the Vehicle Code says, either.

bikinginla

1 Like

@djromero @bikinginla @truelovehealth Yes, I do Dennis. Because the type of misinformation you present makes it more like that I, or some other bike rider, will be needlessly injured or killed by a driver who fails to understand the law, or is incited to act out as a result of your words.

Every time I ride my bike, I am placing my life in the hands of those around me. Every time you write something like this that is so obviously biased against cyclists, and make no attempt to present the situation honestly, you make it that much more likely that one of us won't come home to our loved ones.

djromero moderator editortopcommenter

@bikinginla @djromero @truelovehealth No facts have been misrepresented here. Name one.

You'd rather have boring, but you keep commenting.

My ruse works every time.

Kelsey Rose

Hell no. I'm always having to drive around them.

bikinginla

3 Like

Nice job of completely misrepresenting the facts.

Had you bothered to research the matter, rather than lashing out against bicyclists in a typical kneejerk fashion, you'd know that there are a long list of exceptions to the law requiring cyclists to ride as close to the right as practicable (CVC21202). As the press release noted, those include making a left turn, going straight through an intersection, and avoiding the door zone, as well as a long list of other common factors.

In fact, the LAPD estimates that the overwhelming majority of traffic lanes in Los Angeles are too narrow to safely share with a motor vehicle, allowing cyclists to legally use the full lane virtually everywhere in the city.

As for that proverbial little old lady on Wilshire Blvd, there is no minimum speed law in the state of California, so what, exactly, would she or a bicyclist get ticketed for?

Both bicyclists and motorists can be cited for impeding traffic. However, the standard for that is a minimum of five vehicles stuck behind the slow moving vehicle and unable to pass; the law does not apply to any situation where drivers can use the next lane to go around — such as four or more lane boulevards like Wilshire.

And rather than only allowing bike riders to use the full lane when they're riding the same speed as traffic, what the law says is that CVC21202 doesn't even apply unless the bike is traveling at slower than the normal speed of traffic at that time. If a cyclist can ride at the same speed as other vehicles on the street, or faster, as is often the case at rush hour, they can legally ride anywhere on the road where motor vehicles are allowed, as well as designated bike lanes, parking lanes and the right side of the roadway.

C'mon Dennis, you're better than this.

djromero moderator editortopcommenter

@bikinginla Did you read the part where I said "they 'shall ride as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway as practical'"?

Roadblock

@djromero@bikinginla please show me where you got the quote from metro stating the word "practical" ??

that is not actually the law. its says "practicable" not practical. Please read it more carefully. There are also provisions of the law that exempt a cyclist from riding to the right at all. Study up on it, familiarize yourself with it THEN report on it. That's what journalists theoretically are supposed to do.. here is some reading for you...

%%s

Roadblock

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_law_in_California

nhuffman28

5 Like

@djromero @bikinginla Go read the relevant Vehicle Code Section. Metro, and the DMV guidelines their blogger was quoting, are wrong. The lane has to be wide enough for a car and a bike side-by-side for the right-side requirement to apply. If it's not, the person on the bike can ride anywhere in the lane they want, including the center.

Basically, if the car driver can't fit their entire car inside the lane *and* leave a safe buffer space between their car and the bicyclist while passing, the bicyclist is under no obligation to try to share the lane with them.

nhuffman28

@djromero @nhuffman28 I should emphasize that *Dennis* added the word 'only' in quoting that Metro statement, meaning *he* most definitely got the facts wrong re: state law and lane positioning for bikes. It's all there in the Vehicle Code: there are many situations *other than* 'moving at the same speed as other traffic' when a bicyclist can move away from the far right side of the lane. Approaching an area where right turns are made, preparing to turn left, avoiding hazards, traveling in a narrow lane, etc.

So... when can we expect a correction to appear?

Roadblock

1 Like

@nhuffman28 @djromero not to mention the fact that bikes in LA are actually FASTER than traffic if you account for average speeds. I can consistently beat a car in LA proper anywhere so... GTFO of my way cars. pull over as I come through!

nhuffman28

2 Like

@djromero @nhuffman28 The statement 'taking up that full lane is only legit if they're "moving at the same speed as other traffic"' is most certainly in conflict with what's actually in state law. There are many other exceptions to the far-right requirement besides moving at the same speed as traffic, one of which I described above.

nhuffman28

4 Like

@djromero @nhuffman28 You're the one splitting hairs. You can be just as dishonest by omitting relevant and correct information as you can by including wrong information. Is there really that much of a difference?

djromero moderator editortopcommenter

@nhuffman28 Nothing Metro says conflicts with this. There's nothing wrong with their facts, or mine. You're splitting hairs.

bikinginla

3 Like

@djromero @bikinginla Of course I did. And your point is?

Bicyclists are required to ride as close to the right as practicable under a limited number of circumstances, the first of which is that they must be traveling below the speed of traffic for that restriction to apply.

A better question is, 1) did you read my comment, and 2) why didn't you bother to get the facts straight before flying off the rail with yet another misinformed anti-bike screed?

bikinginla

@djromero @bikinginla This comes directly from the LAPD training module used to train their officers on bicycle law: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1N3Q3lLBIk page 27, 12:20.

bikinginla

3 Like

@djromero @bikinginla Sorry, Dennis. You are not entitled to say "these are my 'facts', and no one can add any others to correct me," while you continue to misrepresent the law. To claim no inaccuracies is disingenuous at best.

The information I cited about the the lack of a minimum speed law, and the requirements for obstructing traffic, come directly from the LAPD. If you have more knowledge of traffic law and enforcement than they do, feel fee to correct me without citing any source to back you up.

djromero moderator editortopcommenter

@bikinginla @djromero I read it. There are no facts that are not straight in my piece. You fail to demonstrate a lack of facts. You add facts. Thanks.

Actually, in terms of a "minumum speed law" people can be cited for going much slower than the speed of traffic, regardless of how many vehicles are following.