Steamboat Today: George Krawzoff: Right to use road

Archive for Sunday, June 24, 2007

Sunday, June 24, 2007

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Steamboat Springs — Anybody threatened by an aggressive driver should call *277 to report the license plate and description of the driver.

Our right to use Colorado's roads is not based on who has the largest, most threatening vehicle, and cyclists are not, as Jack Horner asserts in his letter last Sunday, required to ride to the right of the white line to allow motorized vehicles to pass. On the contrary, Colorado law states: "Every person riding a bicycle shall have all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under this article" and "Any person riding a bicycle shall ride in the right-hand lane. When being overtaken by another vehicle, such person shall ride as close to the right-hand side as practicable. Where a paved shoulder suitable for bicycle riding is present, persons operating bicycles shall ride on the paved shoulder."

Bicycles aren't required to ride on dirt shoulders or to yield to motorized vehicles. Motorists need to wait for a safe passing zone whether they are passing another vehicle, a slow moving truck hauling horses or hay, bicycles, pedestrians or anybody else.

tomclancy (anonymous) says...

In Summit County we have signs everywhere telling motorists to share the road with bikes. In Oregon there are signs everywhere saying the same thing and also showing a 3 foot requirement for cars to maintain away from bikes. How about in cowboy country Steamboat?

June 24, 2007 at 8:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

paddlefisher (anonymous) says...

works both ways you want respect give respect..I give bikers plenty of room even if they are riding two or more abreast...it is a law single file

June 24, 2007 at 8:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mtroach (anonymous) says...

Thanks for giving room when passing, but, single file is not the law, it is only mandated when it impedes the normal and reasonable flow of traffic.
Please view:
http:/bicyclecolo.org/page.cfm?PageID=45

Kudos to George for his response to Jacks letter, way to fly the flag!!

Let's all Share the Road.

This week is the statewide bike to Work week, try getting out of your car and riding a bike to work this week. There is a free breakfast on the courthouse lawn for bicycle commuters hosted by the Routt County Riders Wed. morning, as well as a full schedule of other events planned.

Check out the RCR website for details:

http://routtcountyriders.org/BTWW.shtm

June 24, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

cheesecake (anonymous) says...

Bicyclists want respect yet dont think they should obey the traffic signs/signals, I watch many bicyclist run right through a stop sign or a red light, simply because they are on a bike they don't think these apply to them? You just stated that the rules apply for car or bicycle rider, why isn't it being enforced that they follow these rules?

June 24, 2007 at 9:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ranch76 (anonymous) says...

There are so many roads in Routt CO. that have difficult and blind areas making driving a challenge for many motorized vehicles. Add a bike or two or four and the danger is increased for all. Why would anyone want to put themselves in this area when there are many safer places to ride?

June 24, 2007 at 12:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

weallnutz (anonymous) says...

Being given advice on how to share the road from the guy who runs SST, how ironic

June 24, 2007 at 1:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

paddlefisher (anonymous) says...

mtroach..so i gfuess riding two or three abreast on rcr 129 where the speed limit is 45 and bikes are going 20 at best it is not impeding normal traffic flow..sorry but there are some (not nessacarly you) that just plain won't move and it makes all the rest of the riders look bad..just like the mountian biker at the emerald park meeting..stay safe

June 24, 2007 at 3:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

paddlefisher (anonymous) says...

not even you

June 25, 2007 at 6:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

dundalk (anonymous) says...

SO, you bikers think you should have a nice cute little number to call when you might encounter a threatening driver.

Seems like this can work both ways. I drive with a cell phone and could report the hundreds of brain donors I see pedaling aggressively, breaking the laws, and creating dangerous conditions for not only themselves but the drivers of the big bad vehicles.

Of course, with all the real crime in this community, I am quite confident that law enforcement is not going to be too happy when they receive tattle tale phone calls from the blissfully stupid bikers.

But fear not auto drivers of the road, with Routt Co. S.O. vehicles clustered in town, or in Vernal, Utah, one can presume that the little bike rider won't get very far with their special little number.

June 24, 2007 at 8:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

fish (anonymous) says...

I would suggest that this special number could also be used to report bikers who are not abiding traffic laws and riding in an aggressive manner. It seems to me that the squeeky wheel is the one that gets the grease.

June 25, 2007 at 1:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

corduroy (anonymous) says...

oh tomclancy, we've got oodles of signs about share the road.
Sadly not everyone takes it to heart

June 25, 2007 at 12:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

corduroy (anonymous) says...

paddlefisher: was that directed at me for some reason?

June 25, 2007 at 6:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

bwatterson (Brian Watterson) says...

The right to use the roads is not in question. Following the laws and having common courtesy/sense is the point of these discussions.

June 26, 2007 at 11:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ejneill (anonymous) says...

Everyone needs to take a chill pill........how about just common decency both ways? Why do people become Dr. Jeckyl when they get behind the wheel? Jealous of the fitness capacity of the bikers? maybe.........or maybe too many twinkies..........

June 26, 2007 at 4:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

bwatterson (Brian Watterson) says...

ejneill: Thanks for the irrelevant misdirection. Can't you address the substance of issue, which is following the law and courtesy. You act like this is strictly a motor vehicle problem. There is obviously a bicycle component to the problem.

June 26, 2007 at 5 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )