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Road Conduct

7/1/07 by Denis Osowski

It has recently become apparent that certain local jurisdictions in the valley are going to be watching our TOP events (and cyclist in general most likely) like hawks this summer. If you are riding in the valley, HEADS UP!! The local police are now ticketing for infractions that typically have been let go. Be aware of the rules of the road for cyclists and obey them TO THE LETTER! This will serve the Club well to be showing respect and responsibility.

See the following for rules/laws associated with operating a bicycle on roadways in Ohio. Ohio has some very reasonable and easily obeyed bike laws. Know them. Live them...especially in uniform.

• Recent legislative changes to Ohio vehicle laws as they relate to bicycles.
• An on-line version of the ODOT booklet Ohio Street Smarts.

Anytime you are wearing a Freewheeler jersey please be aware that you represent us all and your conduct will affect the club's ability to put on special events in the future.

Conduct we need all riders to adhere to while wearing the club uniform (or anything really) anywhere but especially in the valley:

1. Come to a complete stop at all stop signs and traffic lights. Legally this requires one foot on the pavement. Anything else is potentially a valid ticket that you won't get out of in court.
2. Do not go through red lights even if no cars are coming. If a group is split by a traffic light, the group that made it through should wait for those that did not.
3. Do not ride more than two abreast. Riding more than two abreast is a valid ticket. If riding in a large group, run rotating pace lines instead of the two-by-two lines usually run on group rides. Do not "swarm" near driveways or on roadsides. Anytime a rider or group of riders stop, every rider and bike must be completely off the road.

If we ride our bikes according to the law and rules of the road, there is no law enforcement action that can be taken against us. Recent court cases have established our equal privilege to use the roads just as motor vehicles. These cases have set forth that bikes do not impede traffic...they are traffic. However, we are responsible for following the law and rules of the road. It is unfortunate that certain jurisdictions may be looking to enforce the law with a more strict bias toward cyclists than they do for motorists but obeying the law will help improve our relations with these jurisdictions and neutralize such a reactionary position.

If you are pulled over by the police, please try to follow these guidelines for the benefit of the club especially if you are wearing our uniform:

1. No matter how petty the allegations may seem to you or how much you feel the victim of harassment or bias, remain calm and cordial with the officer(s). A good measure of showing some respect will help your cause.
2. Comply with an officer's instructions and give plain answers to questions. Resist the temptation to get smarty and don't argue points of law with a patrol officer, it won't do you any good. They don't make the laws.
3. Remember that the one of the last things most patrol officers want to do is spend their time pulling over bicycles. What you perceive as an unfair crackdown by patrol officers is a result of orders put to them by their chief, who is getting heat from his mayor, who is getting heat from his constituents. It's the citizenry who complain that get the police on us. Police really do do. An officer may be looking for some conciliatory attitude from you in order to have better things to let you go with a 'stern' talking instead of a ticket.

Another point in favor of being cordial and respectful with police is that we do not want to color cyclists as a bunch of smarty pants attitude packin' losers in the mind of any given police officer. We want the officers on our side. Give the officer a reason to respect cyclists at least to some extent and then at the very least we may not create an individual police officer with a personal vendetta against us. At best we can impress officers with our behavior and attitude and have them in our corner when we really need them...like the next time a car tries to kill one of us or we need them to direct traffic at an intersection for a bike race.

Nuff said. Ride on ... Ride legal ... Ride safe.

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