June 4, 2008 1:01 pm
Talk about a twofer this morning. In the first clip I come up behind an insecure moped rider on Venice Boulevard who — despite it being illegal and able to attain and maintain traffic flow speeds — opts to ride exclusively in the bike lane:
And in this next encounter a few blocks later I come up to a Fedex delivery vehicle parked like a tard in full blockage of the bike lane, so with room on the right (where the driver should have pulled the vehicle) I opt to avoid entering the No. 3 traffic lane and instead go the inside route instead:
Previously on This Is Why I Hate: Trucks & Wrong-Way Cyclists
UPDATE: I stand stupid and corrected. A commenter to the moped video’s page on YouTube wrote that I’m totally incorrect in my belief that mopeds are not legally allowed in California Class II bike lanes — and he or she is totally right. It turns out in my research I read an incomplete version of CVC 21207.5, which stated: “No motorized bicycle may be operated on a bicycle path or trail, bikeway, bicycle lane, equestrian trail, or hiking or recreational trail…” The part I missed was: “…unless it is within or adjacent to a roadway.”
So: it’s totally legal. And it still totally pisses me off.
8 Responses to “ This Is Why I Hate: Mopeds & Fedex (UPDATED) ”
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June 4th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
So I guess you stand corrected on the moped issue… however the parked cars/truck in the bike lane I have to deal with all the time as well and you have the option of being in danger by the door zone or venture unto the other lane where drivers are quick to tell you by honking that they disapprove of stealing precious seconds from their commute plus bikes don’t belong on the road…. Have to admit it when stuff like this happens and is unsafe to venture to the next lane, I will get in the sidewalk to pass the offending party.
June 4th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Yep Rogelio, corrected I stand (but like I said: legal or not it still pisses me off…. especially when they whizz by me without getting out of the lane.
And there’s absolutely nothing wrong (or illegal) with using the sidewalk as an alternate — especially around trouble zones.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
All true, but it’s important to read this section too: “21209. (a) No person shall drive a motor vehicle in a bicycle lane established on a roadway pursuant to Section 21207 except as follows:
(1) To park where parking is permitted. (2) To enter or leave the roadway. (3) To prepare for a turn within a distance of 200 feet from the intersection. (b) This section does not prohibit the use of a motorized bicycle in a bicycle lane, pursuant to Section 21207.5, at a speed no greater than is reasonable or prudent, having due regard for visibility, traffic conditions, and the condition of the roadway surface of the bicycle lane, and in a manner which does not endanger the safety of bicyclists.”, with some emphasis on the last part.
For a longish forum discussion on this very issue, go here: http://www.midnightridazz.com/forums.php?searchType=title&showThreads=1&keyword=peeve&topicId=3243
June 4th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
I once successfully fought a traffic ticket received for riding a moped on the sidewalk, where going up the wheelchair ramp at a corner was the only option to getting smashed by a semi. I convinced the judge it was a bicycle, not a motorized vehicle, since it could be ridden without power.
You are really lucky the F&*^ed up Fed Ex guy didn’t exit the truck directly in your path with a heavy package!
The wrong way bicyclists may be an unfortunate result of the “safety” training of the 60s, when grade schools were telling kids to walk, run or bike opposite of traffic for safety. What would it take to make current, basic ped and cyclist road safety a mandatory part of elementary curriculum? Sigh…
June 5th, 2008 at 6:14 am
Congrats on fighting the law and winning, Gary!
As to the Fedex driver, having seen him entering a nearby building bearing a package that factored into my decision to go to the right.
And those wrong-way cyclists near USC I encountered? I’d love to blame it on archaic safety teachings of a bygone era, but this is a prevalent practice around the bike-rich college, perpetuated by lazy undergrads living in the area adjacent to the campus who think they own the place.
June 7th, 2008 at 7:16 am
How about sending the FedEx delivery truck pic to FedEx safety folks along with informational report to the police every-time this happens? It will get someones attention. I have to stop and write down the details! Oh yeah and stay away from the door prize!
June 23rd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
just found the below link via DCist - thought of you and had to scroll back a few posts to find a relevant post to leave this information on.
take a look at toronto’s stats…pretty amazing on all levels
http://la.mybikelane.com/