| Bikers: What are your rights and responsibilities? |
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| Written by Bob Ward | |
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We’ve all seen bicyclists around campus, and many of us have gotten on two wheels to get us around from time to time, but how many of you actually know your rights and responsibilities as cyclists? In this article I will attempt to provide a brief overview of the laws that apply to bicyclists in Missouri as well as a few personal comments on biking manners and etiquette. First of all, for the full text of the Missouri laws, please visit our web site. As you can see, I’ve outlined for you your rights and responsibilities as detailed in Missouri law, but that’s really not all there is to it. First of all, to expand a little bit, I want to talk about what it means that bicyclists have the same rights as motorists. That literally means that you have a right to the road the same as any Honda or Ford, but that right is a double edged sword. You as a cyclist also have to follow all of the same rules. This means that stopping and waiting for red lights isn’t optional, it’s required. You might be thinking, why should I have to stop at a light, it’s not like they can write me a ticket. Wrong again, you can be issued a citation for a traffic infraction on a bicycle the same as you can in a car. Just because you have the right to occupy a lane, and be on the road, doesn’t mean that you have to be a jerk and have a line of cars behind you. Missouri law requires you to allow cars to pass you as long as it’s safe. Besides, just like you have a right to the road, they do too, and you should try to make sure that they can get where they’re going. Riding on a sidewalk is required to get around on campus, but as a cyclist, you may also use the sidewalk to avoid spending time on the road, as long as there isn’t a designated bicycle path, and you aren’t inside a business district (this means Pine Street). If you are riding on a sidewalk remember that you’re the guest there, and the pedestrians have the first right of way. If you are going to be passing someone, give them a little notice. Most of your behavior on sidewalks, and on campus especially should be governed by common courtesy. Respect pedestrians and other cyclists. Now I’d like to talk just a little bit about cycling in general. In most cities around the U.S., cycling as a means of transportation is finding a difficult time getting accepted into the mainstream. Many people who ride on a regular basis even in Rolla have found that shouts from passing cars to “Get off the road” or even things much, much, worse are fairly common. What doesn’t help this cause is when people see bikes cutting around cars stopped at lights to run them, failing to obey signs, and simply being a jerk. If cycling as transportation is ever going to be accepted, it’s going to be those of us on two wheels that need to make the first move, not the rest of society in their cars. And one final note: Wear a helmet, we don’t want to lose you to a random car door opening or a brush with an icy patch, and having to redo your hair isn’t nearly as bad as losing your life. |
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