E-Bikes and Bicycles Midd FPF Discussion Oct 4-6 (FYI)
Laura Asermily
From Chip Mitiguy • Washington St, Middlebury
Time for my annual rant about bike riders within the town of Middlebury. In case they have not received the message yet, people riding bicycles are required by both the town and the state to obey the rules of the road, which are identical for drivers of motor vehicles. I celebrate the rare bicycle rider (I truly do) that do this. Folks routinely fail to stop for traffic signals, stop signs, yield signs and indicate that they are turning.
More distressing has been the increase in E Biked and the way they are being used. Tonight, at precisely rush-hour, I was driving up Creek Road trying to turn onto Court Street when I noticed what appeared to be a young man at approximately 14 years of age, driving up the middle of Creek Road on his E Bike and then darting in front of me to travel on the sidewalk so that he would not have to risk turning onto Court Street.
All of which is unsafe and actually illegal. Bicycles, and especially E Bikes, do not belong on any sidewalks. And they certainly are not exempt from following rules of the road.
This is right up there with a gentleman I saw last week traveling on the sidewalk on an E Bike, with a young child in his lap without a helmet.
I understand how progressive the community of Middlebury is and how much in favor we all are of alternative means of transportation. Frankly, however, I would rather have a bicyclist removed from the road rather than allowing them to create unsafe conditions for motorist. Because that's what they are doing.
From Wendy Moore • Fields Rd, Middlebury
I looked up e bike laws in VT and it said that they are treated like bicycles yet they aren't allowed on sidewalks and kids under 16 can't ride them on highways...not sure how anyone under 16 could be even using them. Would like clarification.
From Ethan Kellogg • Murdock Ct, Middlebury
This post is meant to be a tongue-in-cheek response to the original post, and to show the hypocrisies of criticizing the very small number of bikers all while ignoring the unsafe & dangerous actions of much more dangerous cars. This post reads just as well when swapping the words "car" and "bike", which is essentially what I did (with a few other minor changes).
I actually agree that bikes don't belong on sidewalks. I also believe they don't belong on the road surface. But until we have adequate separated infrastructure for bikes, I and other bikers need to make do with what's available. This often includes biking in the tiny shoulder of a high speed limit road mere feet (or inches!) away from 4000+ pound machines, or riding on sidewalks. No matter where I ride (often times with a little one on the back), I feel uncomfortable to some degree. Sometimes this means I take over the full car lane, so that I'm less likely to be passed or clipped.
I challenge anyone who is truly interested in seeing what it's like outside of a car to go borrow one of the e-bikes (for free!) from Ilsley Library and ride it around town for a few hours.
From Holly Puterbaugh • Eastview Ter, Middlebury
Chip, you made some very valid concerns about bikers not following the law. I wish I knew the solution.
I am going to rant about the invisible walker or biker. They wear dark clothing, cross the street from between cars, and have no respect for traffic.
My wish is that walkers would wear some item of a bright color, something that could be seen in sunshine or after dark. I also wish that they would take the few extra steps to a cross walk. Maybe I am not caring, but I do not stop to let people cross the street in the middle of a block. I look and expect to see pedestrians at the cross walks and will stop. But I need to be able to see them, not disguised in dark clothing.
Now about bikers. By law, you need some type of reflector or light at the back of your bike. The reflector that is on your bike when you buy it are not adequate. Add a big reflector or, better yet a light, and best, a blinking light. I have seen blinking lights on the road before I get close enough to know it is a bike.
And finally, for lower or shorter users of the roads. Kids, please use the safety orange flags at the cross walks. Lower siting bikes such as recliners, please put an orange flag on a high pole on the back of your bike. They are an inexpensive way to add to your safety.
Please do everything possible to be seen. You are actually showing respect for others. Maybe you can start a new style.
From Chip Mitiguy • Washington St, Middlebury
Time for my annual rant about bike riders within the town of Middlebury. In case they have not received the message yet, people riding bicycles are required by both the town and the state to obey the rules of the road, which are identical for drivers of motor vehicles. I celebrate the rare bicycle rider (I truly do) that do this. Folks routinely fail to stop for traffic signals, stop signs, yield signs and indicate that they are turning.
More distressing has been the increase in E Biked and the way they are being used. Tonight, at precisely rush-hour, I was driving up Creek Road trying to turn onto Court Street when I noticed what appeared to be a young man at approximately 14 years of age, driving up the middle of Creek Road on his E Bike and then darting in front of me to travel on the sidewalk so that he would not have to risk turning onto Court Street.
All of which is unsafe and actually illegal. Bicycles, and especially E Bikes, do not belong on any sidewalks. And they certainly are not exempt from following rules of the road.
This is right up there with a gentleman I saw last week traveling on the sidewalk on an E Bike, with a young child in his lap without a helmet.
I actually agree that bikes don't belong on sidewalks. I also believe they don't belong on the road surface. But until we have adequate separated infrastructure for bikes, I and other bikers need to make do with what's available. This often includes biking in the tiny shoulder of a high speed limit road mere feet (or inches!) away from 4000+ pound machines, or riding on sidewalks. No matter where I ride (often times with a little one on the back), I feel uncomfortable to some degree. Sometimes this means I take over the full car lane, so that I'm less likely to be passed or clipped.
Chip, you made some very valid concerns about bikers not following the law. I wish I knew the solution.
I am going to rant about the invisible walker or biker. They wear dark clothing, cross the street from between cars, and have no respect for traffic.
My wish is that walkers would wear some item of a bright color, something that could be seen in sunshine or after dark. I also wish that they would take the few extra steps to a cross walk. Maybe I am not caring, but I do not stop to let people cross the street in the middle of a block. I look and expect to see pedestrians at the cross walks and will stop. But I need to be able to see them, not disguised in dark clothing.
Now about bikers. By law, you need some type of reflector or light at the back of your bike. The reflector that is on your bike when you buy it are not adequate. Add a big reflector or, better yet a light, and best, a blinking light. I have seen blinking lights on the road before I get close enough to know it is a bike.
And finally, for lower or shorter users of the roads. Kids, please use the safety orange flags at the cross walks. Lower siting bikes such as recliners, please put an orange flag on a high pole on the back of your bike. They are an inexpensive way to add to your safety.
Please do everything possible to be seen. You are actually showing respect for others. Maybe you can start a new style.
As a senior, occasional bicyclist in town I consider my safety paramount. I do wear bright/reflective clothing & a helmet; I take trusted routes on my errands [I rarely ride for pleasure]. I use my mirror and ears to navigate what can be an unsettling experience. I ride for exercise and to avoid using my car on short trips. Those routes include riding on sidewalks except where expressly prohibited, i.e. downtown. Yet, I will not ride on Court Street. The shoulder is quite narrow & necessitates avoiding sewer grates. I've been clipped and managed to keep control of my bike. Another gray hair! Even on the sidewalk there's danger: pedestrians with earbuds who are oblivious to their environment, dogwalkers and their leashed pet who straddle the path, and cars going out of/ into driveways. My working philosophy is that a crash with a pedestrian on a sidewalk is likely survivable whereas any contact with a moving vehicle is more damaging or even fatal.
I'm not sure all the umbrage is justified from folks complaining about cycling on sidewalks. I daresay many of the critics opining may not even ride a bicycle. As a semi-professional driver and bicyclist, I see things from both sides. However my empathy always is with the cyclist first. Slowing down and/or waiting behind until traffic allows for safe passing isn't always practiced by other drivers however.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of bad actors on 2 wheels. My eyesight ain't what it used to be; someone in non-bright clothing on the roadway on foot or bike scares me. I want to message them to say, "Yo! Not all drivers have great eyes or reflexes. Consider that the next driver may be a senior who can't see you or see you in time." The grievances against clueless and/or wanton road users are rife on both sides of the discussion. Perhaps increasing our own levels of patience while sharing the same travel routes would go a long way to calm traffic.