5 ms·

> I think the actual issue is a step beyond that: cyclists are treated as if they were equal to drivers sometimes (e.g., bikes being entitled to the whole lane

by u801e 4y ago

> I think the actual issue is a step beyond that: cyclists are treated as if they were equal to drivers sometimes (e.g., bikes being entitled to the whole lane even if they're going 20 under the speed limit) Unless the road has a minimum speed limit posted, there's no requirement to drive at or near the speed limit. The rules of the road were designed to accommodate drivers moving at different speeds. Where traffic keeps to the right, the general rule is that slower traffic keeps further towards the right and faster traffic passes them on the left. But when there are marked lanes, slower traffic just uses the right lane and faster traffic passes using one of the lanes to the left (even if that lane is normally for traffic moving in the other direction. Whether the slower vehicle is a bus, truck, or pedalcycle doesn't really matter. The lane isn't wide enough to share side by side anyway because lanes are really only wide enough for a single dual track vehicle. The only exception to that is two single track vehicles traveling side by side within the same lane. This is what makes it possible for traffic moving at different speeds to share the road.

lsaferite 4y ago
Where I live, FL, this is not technically true. > Drive with the flow of traffic (within the speed limit). You should not drive so slowly that you block other vehicles moving at normal, safe speeds. You can be issued a ticket for driving too slowly. I would imagine that other locations may have similar laws. Do the police enforce these? Not that I have ever seen.
- u801e 4y ago
  The law[1] you're referring to says the following: >> (5) No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law. So this restriction only applies to motor vehicles. Safe operation would involve yielding to slower traffic in front of you, so you would not be ticketed if traffic in front of you is also moving slowly. Compliance with the law would include yielding to oncoming traffic while waiting to make a left, or stopped while waiting for the light to change, so you wouldn't be cited for this either in those cases. [1] http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.183.html http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Displ...
  - rsj_hn 4y ago
    > So this restriction only applies to motor vehicles. No, the requirement does not apply to only to motor vehicles, because we have another law: s. 316.2065: Every person propelling a vehicle by human power has all of the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle Therefore the law applies to bicyclists as well. Too many think they have a right to the road, but not the same duties.
    - u801e 4y ago
      > Therefore the law applies to bicyclists as well You left out the second part of the law you cited: >> (1) Every person propelling a vehicle by human power has all of the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under this chapter, *except as to special regulations in this chapter, and except as to provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.* A statute that applies to motor vehicles, by its nature, cannot apply to a pedalcyclist. Also, the definition of the term "motor vehicle"[1] in the same chapter reads as follows: >> (46) MOTOR VEHICLE.—Except when used in s. 316.1001, a self-propelled vehicle not operated upon rails or guideway, but not including any bicycle, electric bicycle, motorized scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, mobile carrier, personal delivery device, swamp buggy, or moped. For purposes of s. 316.1001, “motor vehicle” has the same meaning as provided in s. 320.01(1)(a). That definition specifically excludes bicycles. [1] http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.003.html http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Displ...
  - lsaferite 4y ago
    Just to clarify, I was directly rebutting _your_ statement: > Unless the road has a minimum speed limit posted, there's no requirement to drive at or near the speed limit. The rules of the road were designed to accommodate drivers moving at different speeds. Sure, I'm making an assumption here, but I'd say it was a reasonable assumption that "driving", in this case, was referring to operation of a motor vehicle. With that baseline assumption clarified, what I mentioned was 100% correct. You said "Unless the road has a minimum speed limit posted, there's no requirement to drive at or near the speed limit." and I refuted that statement. Driving 20mph under the speed limit is most definitely impeding 'normal' traffic flow.

by u801e 4y ago

lsaferite 4y ago

Where I live, FL, this is not technically true. > Drive with the flow of traffic (within the speed limit). You should not drive so slowly that you block other vehicles moving at normal, safe speeds. You can be issued a ticket for driving too slowly. I would imagine that other locations may have similar laws. Do the police enforce these? Not that I have ever seen.

u801e 4y ago
The law[1] you're referring to says the following: >> (5) No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law. So this restriction only applies to motor vehicles. Safe operation would involve yielding to slower traffic in front of you, so you would not be ticketed if traffic in front of you is also moving slowly. Compliance with the law would include yielding to oncoming traffic while waiting to make a left, or stopped while waiting for the light to change, so you wouldn't be cited for this either in those cases. [1] http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.183.html http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Displ...
- rsj_hn 4y ago
  > So this restriction only applies to motor vehicles. No, the requirement does not apply to only to motor vehicles, because we have another law: s. 316.2065: Every person propelling a vehicle by human power has all of the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle Therefore the law applies to bicyclists as well. Too many think they have a right to the road, but not the same duties.
  - u801e 4y ago
    > Therefore the law applies to bicyclists as well You left out the second part of the law you cited: >> (1) Every person propelling a vehicle by human power has all of the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under this chapter, *except as to special regulations in this chapter, and except as to provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.* A statute that applies to motor vehicles, by its nature, cannot apply to a pedalcyclist. Also, the definition of the term "motor vehicle"[1] in the same chapter reads as follows: >> (46) MOTOR VEHICLE.—Except when used in s. 316.1001, a self-propelled vehicle not operated upon rails or guideway, but not including any bicycle, electric bicycle, motorized scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, mobile carrier, personal delivery device, swamp buggy, or moped. For purposes of s. 316.1001, “motor vehicle” has the same meaning as provided in s. 320.01(1)(a). That definition specifically excludes bicycles. [1] http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.003.html http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Displ...
- lsaferite 4y ago
  Just to clarify, I was directly rebutting _your_ statement: > Unless the road has a minimum speed limit posted, there's no requirement to drive at or near the speed limit. The rules of the road were designed to accommodate drivers moving at different speeds. Sure, I'm making an assumption here, but I'd say it was a reasonable assumption that "driving", in this case, was referring to operation of a motor vehicle. With that baseline assumption clarified, what I mentioned was 100% correct. You said "Unless the road has a minimum speed limit posted, there's no requirement to drive at or near the speed limit." and I refuted that statement. Driving 20mph under the speed limit is most definitely impeding 'normal' traffic flow.