Should Road Rules for Cyclists Be Enforced?

Learning to Ride a Bike in Terra Linda

Learning to ride a bike has not been fully accomplished if the rider can simply avoid falling off and proceed in the intended direction. No - if you cannot abide by the laws of the road then you cannot truly say you have learned to ride a bike.

In just the last week alone I've observed several "incidents" in Terra Linda, occurrences that may be familiar to some:

- this morning at Freitas Parkway and Las Gallinas Avenue I was waiting on Las Gallinas heading east at a red light for oncoming traffic to turn left on a red. While the traffic was turning left a racing cyclist blew through the red light going southbound on Los Gallinas. He blew through without slowing doing probably 15-20mph. While he was not crossing the path of traffic it seemed a remarkably risky thing to do.

- On Sunday morning I was on Las Gallinas and Cedar Hill Drive - here another cyclist approached the 4 way stop, and again didn't even stop to slow down, there were cars at or approaching (within 20 yards) the stop from 3 different directions at the time.

- On another occasion I witnessed a cyclist cycling down Las Gallinas not in the center of the designated bike lane, but riding with his wheels on the outside white line of the bike lane. I realized he might have been concerned about parked cars opening doors (and this can happen) but he was out by more than a safe margin to do this. This made it more difficult for passing traffic to give the cyclist the appropriate berth.

- and finally we have the art of "salmoning". I've witnessed this several times over the last few months with Las Gallinas riders cycling down the cycle lane on the wrong side of the road.  This is highly dangerous as the rider faces oncoming traffic.

Bicycles are vehicles - the rules say they need to follow the rules cars do at traffic lights and stop signs. 

I'm highly aware and sympathetic of the recently passed Idaho law allowing cyclists to go through stop signs when there is no other traffic present. I do see the benefits in this law - and as a cyclist I respect the need for maintaining momentum/saving energy. But none of the incidents above would have differed had this Idaho law been in effect here in California. In the case of the blow through the stop sign incident there was lots of traffic present.

Questions

- Am I a fool for abiding by the rules of the road for cyclists?
- Am I needlessly wasting energy and I should cycle through any stop sign or traffic light regardless of the color of the light or if traffic is present?
- Should we remove from the traffic rule book all rules for cyclists?

Or conversely:
- should better efforts be made to alert riders to rules and the importance of following them (e.g. signs like the one shown, leaflets, training in schools, public service TV commercials...?)
- should San Rafael's Police start ticketing cyclists for these kinds of infringements (before an accident happens)

I'm genuinely interested as both a cyclist who follows the rules (perhaps foolishly) or as a motorist. I'd like to see cycling encouraged but at the same time I want riders and motorists to be safe.

More Roundabouts?

Another solution I loved as a cyclist and motorist alike is the roundabout. As the controller of any vehicle I've learned the importance of maintaining momentum and keeping things fluid. Mythbusters proved that roundabouts are better at maintaining traffic flow.

I was also thrilled recently to see that the county is planning to put a roundabout at the junction of Civic Center Drive and Peter Behr Drive - a location where at most times traffic does not turn which would be adversely hindered by a stop sign. 

What Do You Think?

What do you think? Should I join the club and starting blowing through red lights and stop signs on my bike or should traffic rules on the books be enforced before there's another accident? (many accidents must surely have occurred already).