The Truth About Bike Lanes: Bike lanes define space for bicycles on our crowded roads, but they are intended to keep cars out, not to keep bicycles in. Many bicyclists choose to ride in bike lanes but if they prefer to ride with other traffic, that’s legal too. Stopping or parking in a bike lane endangers bicyclists by forcing them out into traffic. The only time it is OK to cross a bike lane is when you are moving over to make a right turn.
- Bicycles may use the entire road
Every person operating a bicycle upon a way, as defined in section one of chapter ninety, shall have the right to use all public ways in the commonwealth MGL chapter 85, section 11B http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/85-11b.htm
- Only bicycles may use bike lanes
Bike lane, a lane on a street restricted to bicycles and so designated by means of painted lines, pavement coloring or other appropriate markings. MGL chapter 90E, section 1 http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/90e-1.htm
Last night, April 5th 2010, on WBZ at around 11:10 PM Dan Rae brought up the subject of Bicyclists right to use the road. His comments were made after telling of a story how his friend opened a car door which accidently hit a cyclist. At first he made comments on how much damage was and could have been done to the car door, then made a minor reference to the condition of the cyclist. Dan Rae suggested the incident could have been handled amicably and criticized the cyclist who seemed to have an “attitude” that he had the right of way and was agitated. Then Mr. Rae baited his hook for callers and put a juicy worm on it by saying something to the effect, ” You know, I see a lot of towns installing bike lanes but I wonder why cyclists think they have a right to use the road anyway? Afterall, doesn’t a motorist have the legitimate use through paying gas tax, registry taxes, automobile insurance, etc?
I promptly reached for the remote and shut off the radio, I needed to sleep and not be reminded of how progress in the last ten or so years could be so easily dismissed and the facts distorted. I suppose I could have called to point out that the Bicycle Safety bill makes motorists responsible for dooring accidents and in general, the roads are funded by general revenues, not just the gas tax. Further, these situations do in fact lend creedence to the arguments against bike lanes but only because the actual right of ways of cyclists are not effectively advocated to the public.
I looked on the WBZ website and don’t see a link to an archive of the show but you can supposedly email Dan Rae at:
DJREA@BOSTON.CBS.COM