Ask the "Advice Pedaler"
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (www.sfbike.org) used to have a great column in their newsletter called "Ask the Advice Pedaler, Etiquette for the Conscientious Cyclist." Now that we have reached the half-way point of the 2006 Team Bike Challenge, what questions do you have about how to stay safe and courteous out on the road while biking? Ask your dedicated Advice Pedaler your questions of etiquette or your ponderings concerning your rights and responsibilities while on your trusty two-wheeler. Have you had a scary encounter or close call that you want to know how to avoid in the future? Ask the Advice Pedaler!
8 comments:
Advice peddler,
I remember from elementary school that bicylcists are supposed to use arm signals to signal when they turn left or right. Is this really true? Or can we just turn without taking a hand off the handle bars to signal?
Thanks!
Yes, you should use arm signals. Ain't no other way to do it. Bikes are supposed to obey all the same traffic laws as cars, too. Signals are one of them.
What about rolling stop signs? What does a bicyclist have to do to not get a ticket for not stopping at stop signs? I've heard the City of SB police are harsh about that!
The advice peddler often sees bikers running stops signs and finds it very rude. Just as you expect to be treated with courtesy by motorists out on the road, so should you be polite and communicative to other users. My police officer friends tell me that the best way to avoid getting a ticket on your bike is to follow the same laws as you would while driving your car. It is especially important to come to a complete stop at stop signs when other roadway users have gotten there first. The smile on the driver's face when you wave them through will make their day and improve motorist/bicyclists relations one stop sign at a time.
I think it would be super romantic to ask a girl out on a bike date but how do I ask her out carfree without scaring her off? What dates would be bike friendly?
how does that have anything to do with the bike challenge? I really hope you're kidding..
In case you aren't.... Sunday ride from brophy's to the bird refuge is a very nice ride. Stop at Stella Mare's or Cafe del Sol for lunch then ride back.
The Advice Pedaler does not think BikeDater was kidding and in fact thinks it to be a most delightful question. A bike date would be a perfect trip to count for the Team Bike Challenge; if the invitee is also a participant you could both log a trip!
If your date-to-be is already a bicyclist, there are many wonderful places to go for a bike date. You could arrange to ride to dinner, then bring desert to a park or to the beach. You could meet for lunch (by bike, of course) and then see an afternoon movie at a nearby theater.
Indeed, for the non-cyclists, you do have to be careful not to scare him or her off by asking to ride bikes if they have yet to discover the joys of biking for transportation.
The Advice Pedaler, therefore, recommends that you go on a few dates first and find a good time to ask your date about his/her interest in going on a future date by bike. That will allow your date to answer honestly and without pressure.
Good luck!
I saw a bicyclist the other day ride to the left of a vehicle that was starting to turn left and then the bicyclist went straight and then flipped off the driver. I hope he was flipping him off for driving a car and not because he almost got hit while riding erratically.
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