BIKE: right turn lanes on 360

[Fred Meredith]

Give that officer a cigar for being one of the few who at least knows 
the law that applies. So often they don't know the law and tend to make 
stuff up that makes sense to their auto-centric mind set.

Lane, you are applying a bike-centric mindset as well. I understand 
where you are coming from and it has a lot to do with speed 
differential between road users. It also has a lot to do with not 
trusting other roadusers to follow traffic principles. You may or may 
not have grounds for that one.

The main problem with putting up "special" signage that changes the law 
for a particular group in a particular place, is that it tends to 
complicate and confuse in other situations. You correctly identify the 
problem with those signs that read, "Right turn only, except bicycles" 
in that we don't know whether that special rule should or does apply 
elsewhere.

The biggest problem I have with 360 is the use of exit and entrance 
ramps instead of right-angle intersections with traffic controls.

If you approach a traffic controlled intersection you should avoid a 
right turn only lane and position yourself in the right side of the 
rightmost straight through lane. That's sound vehicular cycling 
principle. BUT, yes, it is scary if the other road users are not 
slowiing for the possibility of the light changing. These intersections 
are safest to approach on the red light, where everyone has a chance to 
sort out their position.

I don't know the answer in advance for each situation (I evaluate all 
of the conditions and mesh them with the law and see what pops up in 
each case) and I don't necessarily always go with the vehicular cycling 
answer where exit ramps are concerned. It is tough, but you are 
supposed to be in the traffic lane unless you are exiting and finding a 
long enough empty space to bridge that exit ramp (since the distance 
you have to travel is much, much longer than with a conventional 
intersection) makes it pretty tough.

My take on the particular situation would be to credit the officer with 
knowledge of the law and as the engineers to come up with something 
better for us to use. I think that ramps are only appropriate on 
limited access freeways, like I-35 and Mopac and bicycles are 
specifically prohibited in the metropolitan parts of both. For good 
reason.

Fred (coffee is kicking in just right) Meredith

On Oct 1, 2004, at 9:37 AM, Lane S. Wimberley wrote:

> Good morning fair Austin cyclists!
>
> On another list today, I learned about some cyclists out on 360 being
> informed by APD that (a) APD is involved in stepping up enforcement of
> traffic laws among cyclists (and hopefully other road users), and (b)
> that proceeding straight through an intersection from a right
> turn-only lane to the shoulder on the other side is a ticketable
> offense.  The riders merely got a warning this time, but were told by
> the officer that the proper way to handle these intersections is to
> merge into right-lane traffic prior to the intersection, and move back
> over to the shoulder once through the intersection, and that tickets
> will be issued for such offenses starting very soon.
>
> Needless to say, this law is counter-intuitive to cyclists, as well as
> arguably impractical and downright dangerous.  I'll spare the
> discussion of why as I suspect all/most on this list already know and
> agree.  (Oh, silly me! ;-)
>
> Now, strictly speaking, I believe the officer was correct, as Texas
> law says that, with few exceptions, cyclists are bound by the same
> rules as motorists, so if it's right-turn only with no exception for
> bikes made explicit, then it's right turn-only.
>
> I will say, though, that I suspect the "right turn only except
> cyclists" signs on bike routes around town do tend to convince
> cyclists that this is normal, safe and expected behavior where there
> is a right turn-only lane, sign or no sign.  And, arguably it should
> be.
>
> Here's my feeling: right turn only should not apply to cyclists on 360
> (and possibly other places without explicit exception for bikes
> currently).  It seems the most straight-forward solution (as opposed
> to changing Texas law or APD/TxDOT enforcement policy) is to get
> signage out there to make exception for bikes explicit.
>
> Is this something that UTC would take up?  Is that the right place to
> start?
>
> Comments?  Discussion?
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Lane
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
> Lane Wimberley, Wayport, Inc.,  512.519.6195 (voice)  512.519.6200 
> (fax)
> Southpark Commerce Center II, 4509 Freidrich Lane, Austin, TX 78744
>
>
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>
When in doubt, ride your bike … or at least write about it!

Fred Meredith
P.O. Box 100
Manchaca, TX 78652
512/282-1987 (voice)
512/282-7413 (fax)
512/636-7480 (wireless)
visit <http://2merediths.com> for writings and photos