Move over or go to jail!
Not the bicycle… the driver of the truck!
The South Dakota Department of Transportation wants to force drivers into the lane of oncoming traffic, to accommodate bicycle riders. The SD House transportation committee unanimously agrees. So what’s wrong with this picture?
South Dakota has many scenic, winding roads with rolling hills.
Please picture a bicycle on the road above, and the hazard created when motorists are required to move over six feet into oncoming traffic. Frankly, bicycles should not even be allowed on roads like this. They create a hazard for themselves and others.
Many South Dakota roads simply do not have room for bicycles. Still, the DOT (and some Legislators) think things will get better (and safer) when motorized vehicles are required to move over six feet into oncoming traffic. They are so sure this is a good idea that they attach a penalty of up to 30 days in jail and $500.00 fine for drivers who don’t comply.
This is a BAD idea. A VERY bad idea. Ask drivers on South Dakota’s Lower Spring Creek Road. They will tell you that sightseeing bicyclists already create an extreme hazard. They will also tell you this proposed law would make matters exponentially worse.
A BETTER SOLUTION would be to prohibit bicycle traffic on roads that do not meet specifications that allow safe travel for BOTH motor vehicles and bicycles.
If you agree, you should email ALL South Dakota Legislators and tell them this is a VERY BAD idea.
Link to email addresses for all SD Legislators
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State of South Dakota
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NINETIETH SESSION
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 2015 |
| 400W0243 | HOUSE TRANSPORTATION ENGROSSED NO. HB 1030 – 02/10/2015 |
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Introduced by: The Committee on Transportation at the request of the Department of Transportation
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. That chapter 32-26 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:
Section 2. That § 32-20B-6 be amended to read as follows:
32-20B-6. A person operating a bicycle shall give a continuous signal of intention to turn right or left during the last one hundred feet traveled by the bicycle before turning. The signal shall also be given while the bicycle is stopped waiting to turn. A signal by hand and arm need only be given intermittently if the hand is needed in the control operation of the bicycle. No driver of a bicycle may overtake another vehicle on the right if the overtaken vehicle is signaling to make a right turn. Except as provided in this section, a person operating a bicycle shall comply with the provisions of §§ 32-26-22 and 32-26-22.1. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Please call or email South Dakota Legislators and tell them this is a BAD idea!
***Gordon Howie is an author and CEO of Life and Liberty Media***
“It’s not about right or left, it’s about Right or Wrong.”
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I am always amused by the assumption that bicycle riders only ride bikes and that they cannot see the perspective of a car driver. It is very rare in this state that a bicycle rider is not also a licensed vehicle driver.
There is another solution than adding this new law, one that personally I think would be appropriate – to require that you pass a written test based on the SD Driver’s Manual every time you renew your license. On page 50 of the Manual it states “Give extra space to pedestrians or bicycles, especially children. They can move into your path quickly and without warning. Do not share a lane with a pedestrian or bicyclist. Wait until it is safe to pass in the adjoining lane.” And on page 51 it also says “…if you are overtaking a bicycle and an oncoming vehicle is approaching, slow down and let the vehicle pass first so that you can give extra room to the bicycle.”
This manual is based on the existing traffic laws of this state. Perhaps if more people took the time to understand the laws behind the Privilege of driving, we wouldn’t need to add fines for things like texting while driving and crowding snowplows and bicycles.
Scott Stubb – as far as I’m concerned you won the internet today. I did not know those words were in there. I do know I’ve heard lots of riders say there should be something in there.
Thank you for the education!
Plus, how do I not know of you and your drivers manual reading ways?
The speed limit is just that. It’s the maximum speed you can travel in perfect conditions. Congestion is not a perfect condition. The pictures you posted are not perfect conditions either. In the BEAUTIFUL state of South Dakota we probably see more perfect conditions that other states. Suggesting that you always get to go the speed limit is kind of ridiculous. The law doesn’t force you to change lanes. It clearly outlines good passing behavior for passing anything moving slower than you are. You could also just lower your speed to match their speed. Then you don’t have to worry about on coming traffic.
When I first glanced at the title, I thought it was satirical because it was so outlandish, and then I kept reading.
Mr Howie, you’re a disgrace to the republican party. You want to kick bicycles off the road? How is that not taking rights away from Americans?! That’s as dumb as Michelle Obama’s candy ban. What’s next? You going to support restrictive gun laws too?
Let’s use the law to protect people, not to take away American liberties, shall we?
Gee… that sounds a little sharp!
i welcome sightseers on any road in my state. South Dakota is a beautiful thing to look at especially from a bicycle where I can do it long and slow and lingering.
That guy who said racists, that’s a weird word choice. Maybe he meant vehiclist?
Nonetheless thanks for typing in all those addresses. That’s far better than using the LRC website.
Vehiclist, I have also seen mode-ist. Same word different group of bigots.
I would be careful who you are calling stupid. This law is not forcing you into oncoming traffic. Would you pass that truck if there was a vehicle coming at you on the other side of the road?
Looks to me like if there was a bicycle on the road in the second picture the bicycle would be doing all the passing. And if all the people were on bicycles instead of automobiles there wouldn’t be a traffic problem.
After the third picture you say again that the law requires you to move into oncoming traffic. Where does it say that? Passing a vehicle when there is oncoming traffic, no matter how much room you give or don’t give, is a VERY BAD idea.
Restricting a group of individuals from using a public road sounds a bit racist to me.
Racist?? wow
May-be we could tap the brakes, slow down for 10 seconds to make sure everyone gets home safely. I thought we lived in SD where we actually give a **** about our neighbors.
I forget – who is my neighbor?
I couldn’t disagree with you more, Mr. Howie. The roads will become more safe with this law. The awareness created will create the space needed to safely pass. My question is why don’t you think you should give people riding bicycles enough room so you can pass without putting them in harms way?
Also, thanks for the link! I used it to tell them this is a great idea.
You are welcome, Mark.
What about a compromise? Insert language such as “Each road shall have a minimum speed limit equal to at least half of the maximum allowed for speed limits under 40 mph and at least two-thirds the maximum for speed limits above 40 mph; this minimum speed can be adjusted higher on a case-by-case basis if deemed more appropriate for safety. Any vehicle unable to maintain this minimum shall be in violation of the law and shall be subject to removal from the public roads and fines comparable to those given for speeds in excess of the maximum allowed.”
So by that logic, no farm machinery would be allowed on the highway. Is that okay by you as well?
So, all farm vehicles driving on the highway less than 40mph (which happens to me on my commute ALL the time) will be in violation of the law? 4 wheelers? Horse drawn vehicles? People on horseback moving cattle? Big giant “oversize load” turbine blades and machine parts? Street sweepers? Garbage trucks going house to house? Mail delivery vehicles? There are TONS of examples that would prove your example a bad idea… unless you’ll add a ton of exemptions for everyone except cyclists.
I drive back and forth on Highway 44 every week and frequently come upon farm vehicles or horse drawn carriages near the colony that pose exactly the same danger or more.
Its my job to be diligent of everyone/thing on the road, in my lane or another, and to safely operate my vehicle. Not force other, slower vehicles off the road.
But, but, but it’s good for Mother Earth! It’ll save our planet from the ravages of global warming by promoting bicycle riding! Save the planet!