ERCC History

PRESS     RELEASE

PRESS   CONFERENCE   ANNOUNCEMENT

THURSDAY   JULY 8, 1999           11 AM

Charlottesville City Hall, Community Development
Conference Room (enter E. Market St.)

Photo/Video Op:

After meeting, on E. Market St. near WVIR-29 Studio

Currently existing traffic laws for bicyclists and motorists.

1)	Bicyclists Can Lawfully Take A Full Lane Whenever Necessary. The law says all drivers need a full lane to operate safely. Cyclists also get a full traffic lane to themselves whenever reasonably necessary to operate safely. Virginia State Law says so.

. (Va. Motor Vehicle Code 46.2-800, 46.2-905)
Every person riding a bicycle.. shall have all of the rights applicable to the driver of a vehicle...
Any person operating a bicycle shall ride as close as practicable to the right...
except !!

when passing,. .. turning,... to avoid conditions not limited to fixed or moving objects, moving or parked vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards,

Lawful, Vehicular Cyclists will merge and take the full lane when approaching narrow lanes or any possible hazard. This rarely slows motorists more than 20-30 seconds.

Traffic law never requires cyclists to "squeeze" over.
It is unlawful for motorists to "squeeze" past, threaten or endanger cyclists in any way. "Squeezing" Causes Accidents.
Share the lane only if there's safe space.
Wait Your Turn.

In other words, Slow Down. It is your responsibility to adjust your driving to assure everyone's safety."

Bikers' Bill of Rights: Group hopes to raise two-wheel awareness in area

Bicyclist Alexis Ziegler wants some respect. He acidly recalled how a city bus zoomed by his bike last week, coming within a foot of hitting him. "The bus driver endangered my life to save 2- 1/2 seconds,” he said.

Such incidents have prompted Ziegler and other members of the Charlottesville Area Bicycling Association, to spearhead a campaign educating area residents of bicyclist’s rights.

Association participants have written what they call a "public memo,” listing three key, if unobserved, traffic laws: bicyclists can take a full lane whenever necessary, bicyclists must obey lawful, vehicular rules, and bicyclists have equal rights on the road.

Members will get the word out in upcoming weeks with the help of area police. Ms. Lauren Cooper, one of about 200 pedal proponents in the association, said the group hopes to have the memo included with the August utility bills for area households.

The group also will advertise its missive on television, radio and in newspapers. "It’s not just a bicycle safety campaign," Cooper said. "It’s a bicyclist and motorist law-and-order campaign."

The association’s Wednesday news conference on the subject drew several local law-enforcement officials, including Albemarle County Police Sheriff Terry Hawkins. Hawkins called it important for motorists to realize that bicyclists have an equal claim to public highways and byways. Drivers often don’t respect their two-wheeled competition because, unlike larger vehicles, bicycles do not pose a physical threat to them, he said.

Cooper said it was important that bicyclists assert equality on the road rather than riding in a scared, "squirrelly" way. "Riders have to set aside childhood habits ... and take on their rights as lawful vehicular equals," she said. Passing a bicyclist, she said, slows down a car or truck by only about 30 to 45 seconds.

But not everyone agrees with the strategy. Todd Ely, owner of bike shop Basic Cycles, said he worries that too much public attention on bicyclists’ rights might exacerbate relations with motorists and create division. Though it’s good to apprise the public of the rules of the road, Ely said, "don’t ram it down people’s throats."

But city resident Robert Burton, who rides his bike about seven miles a day, said the association’s campaign sounded good to him. He said he didn’t realize that bikes legally could take up an entire street lane, and that he appreciated increased awareness for bicyclists.

Charlottesville Va. Daily Progess feature editorial Wed. Aug.1 1999

Bicycles are vehicles, have legal rights

Since area bicyclists last month launched an "equal rights" campaign, bikers' rights have been a heightened topic of watercooler chitchat and letters to the editor alike. To the extent that public awareness was a goal, this effort already has achieved a measure of success.

As with equal rights campaigns for some other constituencies, it can be argued that no special "bill of rights" is necessary in this case because the rights already exist.

For now it should be sufficient to note that bicyclists already have -- under Virginia statute -- rights and protections that allow them to use public roads with the same impartiality as motorists. Bicycles and autos are both defined as "vehicles".

Bicyclists can lawfully take a full lane whenever necessary for safe travel. State law gives cyclists the same instructions as it gives motorists, and that includes use of the full width of a travel lane as needed.

The law says bicycles ought to stay as far to the right as is practical so that cars can pass, but recognizes that often it is not practical for cyclists to do so and permits them to take up the rest of the lane. Such situations would include when cyclists are passing or turning or when they must avoid hazards in the road ranging from bad pavement to dead animals. They also do not have to stay to the right when the pavement is too narrow for a car to safely pass them; in such cases, motorists must stay back until safe passing conditions appear.

Meanwhile, of course, cyclists must obey the same rules of the road as do motorists. When everyone follows the same rules, the consistency and predictability that result make for safe travel.

In a time when cooperation between Charlottesville and Albemarle County is at a major low, four area law enforcement heads found this issue to be so important that they agreed to endorse a joint statement containing this information about the vehicular laws that already give motorists and cyclists equal rights.

That statement, apparently prepared by the Charlottesville Albemarle Bicyclist Association, carries the names of John Miller, Albemarle County police chief; J.W. Rittenhouse, Charlottesville police chief; Michael Sheffield, University of Virginia police chief, and Terry Hawkins, Albemarle County sheriff. It includes this interesting tidbit of information: Road-paving programs were begun in this country not to accommodate cars, which were then a rarity, but to serve bicycles.

Regardless of who prepared the statement, the General Assembly of Virginia prepared the laws. They are in force, they are indisputable, they are indispensable. And they are here for our safety.

For the driver, endangering a bicyclist is never worth the couple of minutes such a selfish act might afford. For the cyclist, ignoring vehicular laws is scarcely worth the criticism it calls down on all bicycle riders and the backlash it creates against shared use of the road.

If physical welfare, ours and others', is our top priority and our chief perspective -- as it should be -- then the conflict between cyclists and motorists will dwindle in significance. We will not only be sharing the road, we will be sharing the crucial goal of safety.

POLICE PUBLIC MEMO

From:

Chief J.W. Rittenhouse, Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Sheffield, Univ. of Virginia Police Chief John Miller, Albemarle County Police Charlottesville-Albemarle Bicycling Assoc. (CHABA)

Clarification of existing traffic laws for motorists and bicyclists.

Motorists: Bicyclists are by law allowed a full traffic lane whenever needed.

"Every person riding a bicycle... shall have all of the rights... applicable to the driver of a vehicle." "Any person operating a bicycle ... shall ride as close as practicable to the right ....

EXCEPT when passing ... turning ... when reasonably necessary to avoid conditions not limited to fixed or moving objects, moving or parked vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes ... too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to pass safely side by side within the lane."

"In passing a bicycle ... the driver of a motor vehicle shall pass at a safe distance and reasonable speed."
(Va. State Motor Vehicle Code 46.2-800, 46.2-905, 46.2-837)

Traffic law never requires bicyclists to "squeeze over". Bicyclists need to merge and take a full lane when approaching narrow lanes or other possible hazards. This rarely slows motorists by more than 20-30 seconds. Motorists who "squeeze past" are endangering bicyclists, and other road users as well. Always leave a generous space cushion around bicyclists and pedestrians. It is their only protection.

Bicyclists: Obey vehicular rules for your own safety and freedom.

Every road user, motorist or bicyclist, is responsible for operating by vehicular rules, and for going no faster than the posted speed limit. Nobody is safe when someone nearby is ignoring these rules or making up their own.

Vehicular Cycling is bicycling in traffic by predictable vehicular rules, instead of darting around like a squirrel. Studies show that Vehicular Cyclists are safer than people in cars, and can avoid 95% of accidents that occur to other cyclists.

Much more than just signaling turns, Vehicular Cycling is keeping a straight line. It is moving sideways by merging across the lane, exactly the same way a car changes lanes. It is "creating a space cushion around your vehicle" (DMV) - riding about 4 ft. away from parked cars, curbs, debris, etc. Most importantly, it is "Taking The Full Lane" on narrow roads, in narrow traffic lanes, or when any possible hazard is ahead. This makes the cyclist much more noticeable, prevents motorists from "squeezing past", and creates a space cushion in case they try. (see Bicycle Drivers Manual on the web.

Everyone has equal rights on public roads. Roads are shared, public facilities.

"Look for bicycles on all public roads ... Bicycles are considered vehicles and have the same rights-of-way ... The rider will use the entire lane as traffic situations and road conditions change." "In rural areas, adjust your speed for hills, curves .... bicyclists, and other slow-moving vehicles. By law, you must drive slower ... these conditions make the posted speed unsafe. It is your responsibility to adjust your driving to assure everyones’ safety." "In other words, SLOW DOWN." (Va. State Drivers Manual)

Public roads have always been shared by different types and speeds of vehicles. In US history, paving roads began at bicyclists’ request back when cars were slower and experimental. Everyone, without exception, has the right to use and be safe on all public roads. However, people who operate dangerous high-speed machinery (motor-vehicles) on public roads frequently cause massive damage and injury to others. That is why they are licensed and insured.