[SDCBC] Obeying the traffic laws

[John Forester]

Trevor Bourget posed a question with the following words: "p.s. John 
alludes to some European cultures where cyclists are cited and 
prosecuted as rigorously as motor vehicle operators (whether it's for 
the same or a different set of rules, does not really matter). I'd be 
interested to know the name of these countries, in order to find out 
more about them. They could shed light on this ideal-world thought experiment."

I did not use the present tense in this statement. And I used that 
statement in the context of pointing out that a large-lettered 
bicycle license plate is not necessary in order to stop an unlawful 
cyclist and issue a citation, any more than people need to pass 
examinations about not stealing and to carry placards so that they 
can be identified if they are caught in the act of burglary.

Be that as it may, I have often made this statement before this. It 
is perfectly possible for a society to require that cyclists obey the 
traffic laws and to enforce that requirement by prosecuting those who 
disobey. I grew up in such a society, as did my parents before me, 
and, for all I know, my grandparents also. Indeed, when I last cycled 
in England, for five weeks in 1985, the only cyclists whom I saw 
behaving foolishly and unlawfully were (I was so astonished that I 
interviewed them) participating in a trip organized by the 
Massachusetts Youth Hostels. Indeed, because of my interest in the 
sociological aspects of cycling, I took care to talk about cycling 
with the people whom I met in pubs along the road. They were 
universally astonished when I described to them the typical American 
opinion, just as expressed by Trevor here, that cyclists did not have 
to obey the traffic laws, or were supposed to obey different laws. 
They asked, "How is it possible for the roads to function when 
different people obey different rules?" I know several good cyclists 
who have cycled extensively in France, and they have never remarked 
about foolish and unlawful behavior by French cyclists, but rather 
have said how refreshing it was to cycle in a nation in which proper 
cycling was expected. In all the years that I read the British 
cycling press, I never read complaints about general cyclist 
misbehavior; I understood, as did the writers and the editors, that 
cyclists were expected to obey the traffic laws, generally did so, 
and that disobeying the traffic laws was not a significant problem. 
There were a few articles about obeying the more complex rules, and 
there were significant articles on the occasions when the government 
made changes to the Highway Code that appeared to be unfavorable for 
cyclists. In short, the assumption was that cyclists did obey the 
traffic law, were expected to do so, and in fact did so.

I also understand that cyclists in the Netherlands are pretty 
law-abiding, although to a different set of rules. I also understand 
that cyclists in Germany have become somewhat disobedient, disobeying 
the bikeway rules when they see that it is better to obey the rules 
for drivers of vehicles.

John Forester, MS, PE
Bicycle Transportation Engineer
7585 Church St.
Lemon Grove, CA 91945-2306
619-644-5481 www.johnforester.com