Tag: bicycle

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E-Bike or Road Rocket?

Q: I am looking to join the world of electric transportation. As a former scooter rider I am looking for something with a little more power than your average e-bike. One company from California has a model with pedals but the vehicle can top out at 60 mph. It has a switch to limit the speed to 28 mph, but that switch can be flipped releasing the full power. Where does this fit into the e-bike/moped/motorcycle spectrum, or is it just a legal quagmire of advancing technology? It looks like fun, but I would rather be riding than sitting in a courtroom.

A: What? You don’t think courtrooms are fun? How did Judge Judy get so popular? Oh, wait, I think I’ve figured it out. Millions of us feel better about ourselves when we watch someone else struggle through a court proceeding because, no matter how bad our day is going, at least we’re not part of a Tupperware dispute on a courtroom reality show.

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The Right Way to Signal Right (on a bike)

Q: What is the correct hand signal for a right turn when riding a bike? Do you extend your left hand up or your right hand out?

A: Yes. At least according to the law. But before we get to that, let’s agree that signaling, no matter how you do it, whether you’re on a bike or in a car, is one of the bare minimum behaviors that we commit to practice when we’re on the road. If you’re not signaling, you’ve not only violated the written law; you’ve also violated the unwritten rules that define how other drivers will feel about you as a fellow human. Signals help other drivers understand our intentions, making driving more predictable and safe. Not making the effort to push on that little lever on your steering column or extend an arm is essentially like telling everyone else on the road that you think you’re too special to play by the rules. Okay, enough preaching. Back to the question.

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Cycling on the Freeway

Q: I thought it was legal to ride my bike on the freeway, but I don’t ever see people doing it. Can I ride on the freeway, and if I can, is there some reason nobody does it?

A: Back when I was 15, there was a girl I liked that lived about 15 miles away from me. Not having a driver license, I hoped on my bike and rode to her house on a route that included a five mile stretch of I-5. A few months later I got my driver license, and that was the last time I rode my bike on the freeway. Until now. To properly answer this question I had to do some research, so I grabbed my bike for a round trip between Blaine and Bellingham on I-5. How’s that for commitment to your questions?

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Traffic Law vs. Safe Driving – Part 2

Q: Is it legal to text while riding bike on a public road? I saw this yesterday.

A: This seems like a great opportunity for Traffic Law Vs. Best Practice, Episode Two. A few weeks ago we covered several examples of how the law sets a pretty low standard for road user behavior.  Those cases were all for drivers, so this time let’s focus on bike riders. Should you text while riding bike on a public road? No, of course not. That would be ridiculous. Is it legal? Pretty much. I’ll explain.

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DIY Moped – Is It Worth It?

Q: I am considering putting a small gas motor kit on a mountain bicycle. Does it then become a moped? Does it require a license? Can It be driven on sidewalks? Or bike paths? Or freeways? Any other information on this? I have been looking online and I get conflicting information.

A: That sounds like a fun summer time project, but if you’re planning to ride it on public roads, I hope you haven’t started yet. I don’t think you’re going to like the answer, or answers really, given the number of questions you were able to cram into fifty words. I’ll tackle each question separately, and by the end you should have a good idea of what it’ll take to make your project legal.

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The Idaho Stop – It’s Not Really Stopping

Q: Are you familiar with the Idaho Stop? It’s the law, in Idaho of course, that lets cyclists treat a stop sign like a yield sign. What do you think of that? It seems like there would be more crashes. Is it more dangerous than making cyclists stop?

A: Since 1982 Idaho has allowed cyclists to roll through stop signs after yielding to other traffic, and for over three decades it was just this odd little rule in one smallish state. That law became known as the Idaho Stop because, well, you could only legally do it in Idaho. Why are we talking about an Idaho law in a column on Washington traffic laws? First of all, Idaho is our neighbor, and also, the law is spreading. Delaware legalized the Idaho Stop in 2017, but called it the Delaware Stop. Last month Arkansas adopted the law; no word yet on whether they’re calling it the Arkansas Stop. Some cities and counties in Colorado allow it, and several other states in recent years have considered but not yet enacted the law.

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The Dutch Reach – It’s Probably Not What You Think It Is

Q: What is the Dutch Reach?

A: I’m going to guess that most people have never heard the term “Dutch Reach.” I hadn’t heard it until about a week ago; I was in a meeting when someone mentioned it as part of a conversation that offered very little context. The meeting went on and I was left wondering, so this week I’m both asking and answering the question.

As the Dutch Reach was new to me, I thought it would be interesting to ask some friends, without giving them any clues, what they thought the Dutch Reach might be. Here’s what I got:

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Free Right on a Red Light Isn’t Really Free

Q: In other states in which I have lived, cars are required to come to a complete stop before turning right on a red light. However, here so many cars do not stop; I was wondering if the law is different here. I did a very unscientific survey at an intersection I regularly crossed and found about half of the cars did not stop. Police did better, with only one-third that didn’t. One group I must compliment is city buses; I never saw one not stop. The one semi that I saw at the intersection did not stop.

A: Most drivers are probably familiar with the expression, ‘free right on red.’ However, if you were to ask a room full of economists, I’m pretty sure they’ll tell you that nothing is free. I’ll get to one of the costs of the ‘free’ right on red in a moment, but first let’s review the law. Continue reading “Free Right on a Red Light Isn’t Really Free”