Almost got a ticket today!

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Today I went out for a ride since the weather was around 65 degrees with around a 15 mph wind
(yuk) but overall was a wonderful day to go riding. After about 10 miles of fighting the wind in
my face I started to get somewhat tired so I began to slow my pace. I rolled up to a stop sign in
a residential neighborhood and decided I was too tired to stop and restart so I rolled right
through it. After looking both ways I noticed there was a parked police car down the street and
then realized that there was someone in the car. Of course by the time I realized there was an
officer in the car I was already half way through the intersection so I decided to keep on riding
like nothing was wrong. Well a few seconds later I heard behind me the sirens coming from the
police car and I thought "Ut oh, how am I going to explain this to my wife....". When I looked in
my mirror I was surprised to see a brown car behind me and not a police car and then I realized
that the car behind me must have rolled through that stop sign as well. I guess the police officer
decided that it would be more respectable to write a ticket to a 4 wheel vehicle rather than some
guy riding a bike? Anyway, after I put my heart back in my chest I thought to myself "No matter
how tired I get I won't make that mistake again.". Of course I'll probably forget in a few weeks
but I am sure glad that car came along to get the officers attention.

I hope you write a nice thank you note to that driver <GGG>.

Quoted message said:

Dan.

--
Dave Kerber Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

"Daniel Ballagh" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I rolled up to a stop sign in a residential neighborhood and decided I was too tired to stop and
restart so I rolled right through it. After looking both ways I noticed there was a parked police
car down the street and then realized that there was someone in the car.

Quoted message said:

Anyway, after I put my heart back in my chest I thought to myself "No matter how tired I get I
won't make that mistake again.". Of course I'll probably forget in a few weeks but I am sure glad
that car came along to get the officers attention.

I wouldn't worry about it, I roll through stops & lights in front of cops all the time and have
never been stopped, much less ticketed. The only place around here that tickets for such things
is Cambridge, MA, where the bicycle committee has lobbied for it. I try to bike there as little
as possible.

Peter Cole said:

"Daniel Ballagh" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I rolled up to a stop sign in a residential neighborhood and decided I was too tired to stop and
restart so I rolled right through it. After looking both ways I noticed there was a parked police
car down the street and then realized that there was someone in the car.

Quoted message said:

Anyway, after I put my heart back in my chest I thought to myself "No matter how tired I get I
won't make that mistake again.". Of course I'll probably forget in a few weeks but I am sure
glad that car came along to get the officers attention.

I wouldn't worry about it, I roll through stops & lights in front of cops all the time and have
never been stopped, much less ticketed. The only place around here that tickets for such things is
Cambridge, MA, where the bicycle committee has lobbied for it. I try to bike there as little as
possible.

It probably reduces the potential for bicycle/car collisions. If you're on a residential street with
zero traffic, and the stop sign goes uphill, maybe.

Otherwise, stay safe, stay legal.

-Luigi Revolutionary discipline, comrades

"Peter Cole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

I wouldn't worry about it, I roll through stops & lights in front of cops all the time and have
never been stopped, much less ticketed. The only place around here that tickets for such things is
Cambridge, MA, where the bicycle committee has lobbied for it. I try to bike there as little as
possible.

In Toronto every once in a while the cops get on a "cycling safety" type of blitz which consists of
waiting at four-way stops and ticketing cyclists that come to a rolling stop but don't put their
foot on the ground. Fun.

If you find yourself forgetting, then ask youself this question:

"What if that brown car had been on the road I was CROSSING?"

"May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner geocities.comczcornerOpen ↗

From: [email hidden] (Peter=A0Cole)

Quoted message said:

I wouldn't worry about it, I roll through stops & lights in front of cops all the time and have
never been stopped, much less ticketed. The only place around here that tickets for such things is
Cambridge, MA, where the bicycle committee has lobbied for it. I try to bike there as little as
possible.

This "Bicycle committee" must have been made up of non bicycling motorists. I know from experience
not many cyclists obey the law when it comes to stop signs. Few motorists do, for that matter! Many
cyclists (mostly racers, I've seen) even ignore stoplights at major intersections, doing the insane
"right-turn-u-turn-right-turn-and-down-the-road-we-go" trick.

I keep hoping "natural selection" will someday weed these idiots out of the gene pool. Doubt it'll
happen in my day, though. Well, congrats to Cambridge for taking some action at least. Hey, maybe
they should put some of the revenues into better bike transportation issues?

"May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner geocities.comczcornerOpen ↗

On Mon, 1 Mar 2004 19:52:53 -0500 (EST), [email hidden] (Chris

Zacho 'The Wheelman') said:

From: [email hidden] (Tanya)

Quoted message said:

In Toronto every once in a while the cops get on a "cycling safety" type of blitz which consists
of waiting at four-way stops and ticketing cyclists that come to a rolling stop but don't put
their foot on the ground. Fun.

Next time they do, come to a complete stop and do a track stand for much longer than necessary (say
a few minutes). Just to see how they handle
it.

If they give you a ticket, take it to court and have the officer describe the situation to the
judge. Then ask the officer how five minutes without moving can be anything but a complete stop?

It could well be the ticket instead reads "obstructing traffic" or "refusing to obey a policeman
directing traffic."

At which point, you're shafted.

-Luigi

I once got stopped by the Police here (U.K) for speeding whilst out on a ride and a much welcomed long descent!!!! I think they must have been bored out of their tiny minds. Saying that they did just 'warn' me about the regulations and didn't take it further. Would have been rather funny if they had though 😉

"alicem" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I once got stopped by the Police here (U.K) for speeding whilst out on a ride and a much welcomed
long descent!!!! I think they must have been bored out of their tiny minds. Saying that they did
just 'warn' me about the regulations and didn't take it further. Would have been rather funny if
they had though 😉

Over the years, I've tried to get a speeding ticket just for bragging purposes. I've not succeeded
despite some flagrancy. I did once get threatened with arrest for "disorderly conduct" for
disagreeing with a cop when he claimed our little group wasn't riding single-file.

Peter Cole said:

I wouldn't worry about it, I roll through stops & lights in front of cops all the time and have
never been stopped, much less ticketed. The only place around here that tickets for such things is
Cambridge, MA, where the bicycle committee has lobbied for it. I try to bike there as little as
possible.

It's not just about the practical likelihood of getting a ticket. It's about showing the same
respect for the rules of the road that we expect from motorists.

MP

alicem said:

I once got stopped by the Police here (U.K) for speeding whilst out on a ride and a much welcomed
long descent!!!! I think they must have been bored out of their tiny minds. Saying that they did
just 'warn' me about the regulations and didn't take it further. Would have been rather funny if
they had though 😉

PC Plod strikes again.

-Luigi

"it were a fair cop--but society is to blame"

"MP" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Peter Cole said:

I wouldn't worry about it, I roll through stops & lights in front of cops

all

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the time and have never been stopped, much less ticketed. The only place around here that tickets
for such things is Cambridge, MA, where the

bicycle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

committee has lobbied for it. I try to bike there as little as possible.

It's not just about the practical likelihood of getting a ticket. It's about showing the same
respect for the rules of the road that we expect from motorists.

For me it's about getting from point A to B. If I stopped for all the traffic controls I might as
well drive. The only thing motorists respect is not being slowed down. Me too.

Peter Cole said:

"MP" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Peter Cole said:

I wouldn't worry about it, I roll through stops & lights in front of cops

all

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the time and have never been stopped, much less ticketed. The only place around here that tickets
for such things is Cambridge, MA, where the

bicycle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

committee has lobbied for it. I try to bike there as little as possible.

It's not just about the practical likelihood of getting a ticket. It's about showing the same
respect for the rules of the road that we expect from motorists.

For me it's about getting from point A to B. If I stopped for all the traffic controls I might as
well drive. The only thing motorists respect is not being slowed down. Me too.

Yes, I feel the same way when I'm in a car. Who needs to stop at all those steenkin'
signs? <eyeroll>

Scott, really at notscape det not

Peter Cole said:

Over the years, I've tried to get a speeding ticket just for bragging purposes.

i've heard mount diablo in the bay area is pretty good for this?
--
david reuteler

Peter Cole said:

For me it's about getting from point A to B. If I stopped for all the traffic controls I might as
well drive. The only thing motorists respect is not being slowed down. Me too.

Twit.

"Scott" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Peter Cole said:

For me it's about getting from point A to B. If I stopped for all the

traffic

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

controls I might as well drive. The only thing motorists respect is not

being

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

slowed down. Me too.

Yes, I feel the same way when I'm in a car. Who needs to stop at all those steenkin' signs?
<eyeroll>

Traffic signals are all about efficiency, not safety or courtesy. If motorists ignore them gridlock
ensues (earlier than normal). Bikes don't have the same effect. While you slavishly obey the letter
of the law, you violate the spirit.

"Harris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Peter Cole said:

For me it's about getting from point A to B. If I stopped for all the

traffic

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

controls I might as well drive. The only thing motorists respect is not

being

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

slowed down. Me too.

Twit.

[censored].

Peter Cole said:

"Scott" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Peter Cole said:

For me it's about getting from point A to B. If I stopped for all the

traffic

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

controls I might as well drive. The only thing motorists respect is not

being

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

slowed down. Me too.

Yes, I feel the same way when I'm in a car. Who needs to stop at all those steenkin' signs?
<eyeroll>

Traffic signals are all about efficiency, not safety or courtesy. If motorists ignore them
gridlock ensues (earlier than normal). Bikes don't have the same effect. While you slavishly obey
the letter of the law, you violate the spirit.

I'm glad you don't drive through my neighborhood.

Scott, really at notscape det not

Scott said:

I'm glad you don't drive through my neighborhood.

he should really move to mine. it's perfectly legal to treat a stop sign as a yield in idaho.

idaho 49-720 i believe.

respect.torolling stops.htmlOpen ↗ webs.uidaho.edubicycles.htmOpen ↗

i can't bring myself to do it, tho. for proponents of give an inch take a mile most people treat
stop lights the same way and many believe they're justified.
--
david reuteler