RIP NJ cyclist

Santapez said:
What? Just because you're doing it wrong, and your FIL thinks it's OK, doesn't make it legally correct. In NJ bicycles clearly need to follow the rules of the road according to the law. Pretty much summed up as "if you can't do it in your car, you can't do it on a bike".
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ha you didnt read my entire post did you, i even stated its not a guarantee of accuracy, and i stated that i dont do it. But my understanding was that staying to the right included some allowance to roll up to the front. Im not a lawyer and i didnt write the laws, i just have to interpret them to the best of my ability.

@Carson could probably provide some clarification on this better than either of us sitting here arguing.
 
Required Equipment

39:4-14.5 Definition. “Bicycle” means any two wheeled vehicle having a rear drive which is solely human powered and having a seat height of 25 inches or greater when the seat is in the lowest adjustable position.


39:4-10 Lights on Bicycles. When in use at nighttime every bicycle shall be equipped with: 1) A front headlamp emitting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front; 2) A rear lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the rear; 3) In addition to the red lamp, a red reflector may be mounted on the rear.


39:4-11 Audible Signal. A bicycle must be equipped with a bell or other audible device that can be heard at least 100 feet away - NOT a siren or whistle.


39:4-11.1 Brakes. A bicycle must be equipped with a brake that can make wheels skid while stopping on dry, level, clean pavement.


Rights and Duties

39:4-14.1 Rights and Duties of Persons on Bicycles. Every person riding a bicycle on a roadway is granted all the rights and subject to all of the duties of the motor vehicle driver.


On August 1, 1998 this law was extended to include roller and inline skates and skateboards. Roller skates means a pair of devices worn on the feet with a set of wheels attached, regardless of the number or placement of those wheels that are used to glide or propel the user over the ground.


Operating Requirements

39:4-12 Feet and Hands on Pedals and Handlebars; Carrying Another Person. DO NOT drive the bicycle with feet removed from the pedals, or with both hands removed from the handlebars, nor practice any trick or fancy driving on a street. Limit passengers to only the number the bicycle is designed and equipped to carry (the number of seats it has).


39:4-14 Hitching on Vehicle Prohibited. No person riding a bicycle shall attach themselves to any streetcar or vehicle.


39:4-14.2, 39:4-10.11 Operating Regulations. Every person riding a bicycle on a roadway shall ride as near to the right roadside as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. A bicyclist may move left under any of the following conditions:

1) To make a left turn from a left turn lane or pocket;

2) To avoid debris, drains, or other hazardous conditions on the right;

3) To pass a slower moving vehicle;

4) To occupy any available lane when traveling at the same speed as other traffic;

5) To travel no more than two abreast when traffic is not impeded, but otherwise ride in single file.

Every person riding a bicycle should ride in the same direction as vehicular traffic.


In New Jersey, the law states that a bicyclist must obey all state and local automobile driving laws. A parent may be held responsible for the child’s violation of any traffic law.
 
MissJR said:
39:4-11 Audible Signal. A bicycle must be equipped with a bell or other audible device that can be heard at least 100 feet away - NOT a siren or whistle.



Operating Requirements

39:4-12 Feet and Hands on Pedals and Handlebars; Carrying Another Person. DO NOT drive the bicycle with feet removed from the pedals, or with both hands removed from the handlebars, nor practice any trick or fancy driving on a street.
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Does anyone have a road bike with an audible signal? Violation #1

And every time you take a drink from a water bottle while moving you're in violation? #2

Finally, no tricks or "fancy driving"? I do that all the time, really pisses off drivers.
 
rick81721 said:
Does anyone have a road bike with an audible signal? Violation #1

And every time you take a drink from a water bottle while moving you're in violation? #2

Finally, no tricks or "fancy driving"? I do that all the time, really pisses off drivers.
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It says BOTH HANDS. Reading comprehension is important. (You also have to remove a hand from the handlebars to signal)

And bells are cheap... Free even. If you road ride a lot, it might be good to pick one up. One could also argue your voice counts but I think it might be hard to fight in court.

That's all I have to say in this matter.
 
MissJR said:
It says BOTH HANDS. Reading comprehension is important. (You also have to remove a hand from the handlebars to signal)

And bells are cheap... Free even. If you road ride a lot, it might be good to pick one up. One could also argue your voice counts but I think it might be hard to fight in court.

That's all I have to say in this matter.
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I use both hands to drink water
 
@shrpshtr325 On filtering....
When my office was in Parsippany I would ride to work especially early in the year to get my base miles going. On the way home I'd hit Big Piece Road (almost no traffic) to Sand to 2 Bridges, Pinebrook, Chappel hill then Beaverbrook up towards your place then Brookvalley and home. On most days at 5 pm there were 2 big backups (Passaic ave at 2 Bridges and 2 Bridges at Pinebrook School). And not 5 cars, we're talking 20-30. I'd always filter up. Well, one day, just as I get on Pinebrook a car buzzes me and I get hit in the helmet with something (turned out to be a glass gator-ade bottle). Let's just say this situation didn't end well for the car (the only time I ever put down over 400 watts for 5 minutes).

Clearly, I had pissed people off to the extent that would attack me. Fucking insane that someone would consider something like that but this is the level of misunderstanding on a drivers' part. We can all argue whether my filtering was legal or disrespectful but to think that someone felt they had the right to attack me. This attitude is not pervasive but it exists and I have run up against several times. Of course this all different than someone distracted.

I've been hit 3 times all in my youth and I have learned you have to ride aggressively here in NJ. Assume every car is trying to hit you. All things considered, my riding has shifted almost completely away from road riding. Of my 300 hours of riding 90% has been MTB or Zwift.

Each person's experiences contribute to how they behave and perceive what's going on around them. If you talk to people that have logged thousands (tens of thousands) of miles their perspective will much different than a casual rider and especially a legislator.
 
graveyardman67 said:
@shrpshtr325 On filtering....
When my office was in Parsippany I would ride to work especially early in the year to get my base miles going. On the way home I'd hit Big Piece Road (almost no traffic) to Sand to 2 Bridges, Pinebrook, Chappel hill then Beaverbrook up towards your place then Brookvalley and home. On most days at 5 pm there were 2 big backups (Passaic ave at 2 Bridges and 2 Bridges at Pinebrook School). And not 5 cars, we're talking 20-30. I'd always filter up. Well, one day, just as I get on Pinebrook a car buzzes me and I get hit in the helmet with something (turned out to be a glass gator-ade bottle). Let's just say this situation didn't end well for the car (the only time I ever put down over 400 watts for 5 minutes).

Clearly, I had pissed people off to the extent that would attack me. Fucking insane that someone would consider something like that but this is the level of misunderstanding on a drivers' part. We can all argue whether my filtering was legal or disrespectful but to think that someone felt they had the right to attack me. This attitude is not pervasive but it exists and I have run up against several times. Of course this all different than someone distracted.

I've been hit 3 times all in my youth and I have learned you have to ride aggressively here in NJ. Assume every car is trying to hit you. All things considered, my riding has shifted almost completely away from road riding. Of my 300 hours of riding 90% has been MTB or Zwift.

Each person's experiences contribute to how they behave and perceive what's going on around them. If you talk to people that have logged thousands (tens of thousands) of miles their perspective will much different than a casual rider and especially a legislator.
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Apparently, either fewer people are cycling in NJ or else they are getting scared off the road:

https://bikeleague.org/sites/default/files/BFS_Progress_Report_2018_New_Jersey.pdf
 
rick81721 said:
Does anyone have a road bike with an audible signal? Violation #1

And every time you take a drink from a water bottle while moving you're in violation? #2

Finally, no tricks or "fancy driving"? I do that all the time, really pisses off drivers.
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I actually do have a bell on my drop bar bikes.
I put them on for July 31/31. Though if I’m being honest, it’d have to be quite to hear it from far away. I also ride with radar so I get an audible and visual warning of overtaking traffic,

9958D9C3-0DCF-463A-90BA-C3C1185D47A1.png
 
rick81721 said:
Apparently, either fewer people are cycling in NJ or else they are getting scared off the road:

https://bikeleague.org/sites/default/files/BFS_Progress_Report_2018_New_Jersey.pdf
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I am in an office about 12 road bike miles from home. 14 years ago, I commuted frequently to a client 3 miles further west. I could take the bike to work and put it in my office. I am the first one here often and have good flexibility, but in the last 13 months, haven't gotten around to actually doing so. Part of the reason is that I am here in 21 minutes in the morning (uphill) and I am fat and lazy.

Part (small) of the reason is a nagging concern in the back of my head-about two years ago an Audi convertible buzzed my best friend and his two kids about a mile east of here, who I was riding behind. He chased the guy down and reasoned with him.

Too many assholes, who don't have too much to say when they have to talk to you.
 
On the rare times I’m riding after 6 am I filter but talk to the driver I end up next to. I’ll wave and tell them what I’m gonna do, and say I’ll get out of their way as fast as possible. Never had a bad response. The only times I don’t talk is when it’s a diesel pick up or large truck. They can’t see/hear me. So I won’t filter and will just hug the bumper until I’m through the intersection. It’s not safe because no one expects you to be back there if opposing traffic burns through making a left, but hanging out solo in an intersection is bad news too. I don’t filter on the shoulder if I can avoid it. I’ll split lanes. They aren’t looking for you at the shoulder.

All that I guess is communication. Make eye contact. If you don’t, assume they don’t see you.
 
Juggernaut said:
I actually do have a bell on my drop bar bikes.
I put them on for July 31/31. Though if I’m being honest, it’d have to be quite to hear it from far away. I also ride with radar so I get an audible and visual warning of overtaking traffic,

View attachment 82038
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Bells on a road bike are silly, the only people who would hear them are pedestrians. Might make sense if you ride in stinkin NYC but I don't ride in cities so not gonna happen.
 
thegock said:
Too many assholes, who don't have too much to say when they have to talk to you.
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I think one of the issues is that when people get behind the wheel they don't see traffic as other people, they see it as other cars. Another car is a thing, not a person or a family or whatever. There is nothing personal when you cut off another car. I assume that sentiment translates to bikes somehow. It seems crazy as a cyclist is clearly a human being but I have no other explanation.

I ride maybe 100 road miles a year. Most of it is riding too and from trails I can access from home. I don't like it one bit. I ride aggressively and within the law (I even have a bell) but even with the small amount of road miles I log I was buzzed and nearly hit this summer. I was 100% within the law and correct in the way I was riding, had my blinky light on and all and still almost caught a right hook.

People are assholes. Period.
 
clarkenstein said:
On the rare times I’m riding after 6 am I filter but talk to the driver I end up next to. I’ll wave and tell them what I’m gonna do, and say I’ll get out of their way as fast as possible. Never had a bad response. The only times I don’t talk is when it’s a diesel pick up or large truck. They can’t see/hear me. So I won’t filter and will just hug the bumper until I’m through the intersection. It’s not safe because no one expects you to be back there if opposing traffic burns through making a left, but hanging out solo in an intersection is bad news too. I don’t filter on the shoulder if I can avoid it. I’ll split lanes. They aren’t looking for you at the shoulder.

All that I guess is communication. Make eye contact. If you don’t, assume they don’t see you.
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How do you talk to drivers when windows are up? Bang on the passenger side window? I'd think that would annoy them more than skipping the line.
 
rick81721 said:
Bells on a road bike are silly, the only people who would hear them are pedestrians. Might make sense if you ride in stinkin NYC but I don't ride in cities so not gonna happen.
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I think you are 100% right on with this.
 
rick81721 said:
Bells on a road bike are silly, the only people who would hear them are pedestrians. Might make sense if you ride in stinkin NYC but I don't ride in cities so not gonna happen.
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I actually use it to signal other riders that I’m coming up on them. Of course it only happens if they are non-cyclists on Walmart bikes, cuz I ain’t overtaking anyone else. 😉

Other than the towpath, the only other time I use it is to obnoxiously ding it when I pass a cop.... because I’m petty and spiteful... as if you didn’t already know. 🙂
 
rick81721 said:
How do you talk to drivers when windows are up? Bang on the passenger side window? I'd think that would annoy them more than skipping the line.
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Wave, get their attention, make a circular motion with your finger like “roll down your window”. They’ll look confused, and usually roll down the window. If they are behind me, I’ll turn around, wave and talk loud. I don’t bang on cars. Bad idea.
 
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