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+ Show Spoiler +for riding my bike in the bike lane!!
this happened not 20 minutes ago.
i was on my way home from downtown, i was riding against the flow of traffic in the bike lane.
now this part of road is hardly ever used since there are only 3 buildings, one is a juvinile detention center, there's a sherrif depot type place, and a park. the only vehicles ive seen here are heavy machines or government vehicles (sherrif, vans from the juvy detention place, stuff like that).
it's dark at the particular spot, and i am wearing a black shirt.
im riding on the left side of the road in the bike lane, and a sheriff truck pulls out and was probably not going to stop to get out of the depot place, but i am right in front of him so he sees me. he slammed on his brakes and squawks the tires, he was so close i could have put out my left hand and touched that black roll bar thing they have on the front of the trucks and cruisers. i kept riding home, didn't flinch.
i didn't get far before he flashed his lights at me. i thought to myself, whatever he almost hit me, i wont get a ticket. i rode up next to him and our brief convo went something like this:
cop: hey!
me: what?
cop: [somewhat baffled] are you talking to me?
me: umm, yeah.
cop: so i almost hit you
me: i noticed
cop: you know you're supposed to have a light on your bike
me: no i didnt, im not from this town, ive only been here a few months (i've lived here 11 months now)
cop: well, you supposed to ride on the sidewalk
me: really? cause last time i was on the side walk i got pulled over (true, in highschool. i got pulled over when i was so close to campus i could have thrown a baseball and hit a building)
cop: well you need to get a light on your bike, i almost killed you just now
me: well, if i was on the sidewalk [i turn around and point to where he almost hit me] you definitely would have hit me
cop: [his phone rings and he answers] ok you can go, just get a light on your bike
me: [i snicker to myself, but audibly] alright
and i ride off
i had my helmet on so he didn't have anything else to call me on
i really liked how the cop tried to justify him almost hitting me on my lack of lights, even though a light wouldn't help in this situation since he was perpendicular to me when he almost hit me.
 
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Sounds like he was trying to help you out, by advising you get a light for biking at night. Which makes sense.
Unrelated, but I almost hit a guy in downtown oakland today. Decided to run across the street when the light was yellow, but the car next to me was this giant SUV that kept me from seeing him as I slammed on the pedal.
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You sir have a ton of balls. You wear a helmet! Fucking pimp! ridiculous story as well, Whats the bike lane for? roller skaters?
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Most cops are actually pretty cool as long as you're not retarded but this guy seems slightly douchebaggerish so whatever. This is how i would have handled it so props.
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Osaka27179 Posts
The cop was overly nice. Why were you riding against the flow of traffic? TMNT taught me not to do that when I was 8. And get a light. You can get a cheap one that is powered by the rotation of your tires, so you never need batteries. God I had stupid cyclists.
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United States24805 Posts
Yeah definitely ride on the side with the flow of traffic. At the very least did your bike have reflectors?
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oh.. the right side of road from my perspective is being worked on for construction. so it's all torn up, and no bike lane on that side anymore.
aaaand i was on my bmx bike. i don't think the girls would talk to me if i had a light on that bike
edit: no reflectors on it either. they wouldnt matter in this senario, since there was no light coming towards me, we were at a 90 degree angle
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dude if you can pull off a helmet you can get any girls 
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is awesome32282 Posts
If the bycicle lane is separated from the traffic one you should always try to go (when walking too) AGAINST the traffic to see any incoming lights.
edit: notice this is only if you are riding on a separate lane / road with no signs.
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On July 08 2008 13:59 Manifesto7 wrote:
The cop was overly nice. Why were you riding against the flow of traffic? TMNT taught me not to do that when I was 8. And get a light. You can get a cheap one that is powered by the rotation of your tires, so you never need batteries. God I had stupid cyclists.
As much as I don't want to criticize, he's definitely right. You should have been riding with traffic, and you should have had a light.
The problem with being a reckless cyclist isn't only that you're endangering yourself and other people, but you create the general notion that cyclists are a hazard and should be hated. So many times riding my bike, following all legal procedures, I have people yell or throw things at me just because I'm on a bike.
I ride everywhere since I don't have a care, it gets annoying. So please, follow the law and be safe, but keep riding. It makes you stronger and saves money.
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On July 08 2008 14:03 Binky1842 wrote:
oh.. the right side of road from my perspective is being worked on for construction. so it's all torn up, and no bike lane on that side anymore.
aaaand i was on my bmx bike. i don't think the girls would talk to me if i had a light on that bike
edit: no reflectors on it either. they wouldnt matter in this senario, since there was no light coming towards me, we were at a 90 degree angle
In the United States at least, a bike is a street legal vehicle. You should have (assuming you had a light) been riding in the road, on the far right of the right lane, with traffic. Cars can pass you with discretion (you should have a tail light as well as a headlight at night).
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On July 08 2008 14:14 Ancestral wrote:Show nested quote +On July 08 2008 13:59 Manifesto7 wrote:
The cop was overly nice. Why were you riding against the flow of traffic? TMNT taught me not to do that when I was 8. And get a light. You can get a cheap one that is powered by the rotation of your tires, so you never need batteries. God I had stupid cyclists. As much as I don't want to criticize, he's definitely right. You should have been riding with traffic, and you should have had a light. The problem with being a reckless cyclist isn't only that you're endangering yourself and other people, but you create the general notion that cyclists are a hazard and should be hated. So many times riding my bike, following all legal procedures, I have people yell or throw things at me just because I'm on a bike. I ride everywhere since I don't have a care, it gets annoying. So please, follow the law and be safe, but keep riding. It makes you stronger and saves money.
get a car hippy
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if i had been wrong, and i am supposed to ride with the flow of traffic, i'm sure the cop would have mentioned that bit. he didn't, but to be fair, he may of overlooked that law, or whatever it is
i was always taught to ride against the flow of traffic.
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Where I live (Ohio) riding against the flow of traffic is illegal. But that doesn't really matter, unless it's like a two lane 45 MPH rode or something similar. And you're not allowed to ride on sidewalks either, but a lot of people do. They're usually like kids or people riding dirt bikes down the street, I go a little farther and faster.
Lights are pretty cheap and available.
And Mastermind, I won't get a car and watch my huge and chiseled legs atrophy.
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so ur riding with a black shirt at night and no light how exactly is the cop supposed to see you?
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When you hoover the blog title it says "got pulled over By Binky1842". I was more amused by that than your actual blog really 
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^HahhahAH :D
But cop was way too nice to you, I'm surprised he didn't cite you for some shit because you're being foolish in your manners.
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good job the cop almost killed you because you were riding at night without a light and you still try to act like a smart ass.
when you start driving you'll realize that cyclists at night without lights/reflective tops are almost impossible to see until youre about to hit them. i would seriously suggest that you invest in them (both).
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Getting a light sounds like good advice. If it is enforced by the law and he actually hit you, he'd probably get away with it. Lose-lose situation for you.
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try wearing a white shirt <_<
also riding against traffic is good
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EPT
