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Indybay Feature

Cyclists Allowed (Use of Full Lane)

by via People Power
Ten years ago the process for designing Mission Street was drawing to a close. Lines were drawn and plans were printed up. Task force members, City Council members, and engineers congratulated themselves. Caltrans and the city council agreed to widen the street to allow four lanes of automobile traffic. Everyone was happy with the design, except for bicyclists. People Power's then-director, Ron Goodman, had lobbied for a three-lane street with bike lanes and a center turn lane—a configuration that is arguably better for slow-moving commercial traffic of all types. He was ignored. "I knew that people were going to get killed as a result of that decision and I told them that. There was too much pressure to increase the capacity for cars." People Power had 60 members at the time.
bike_may_use_full_lane.gif
Roll the clock to last August, when high school teacher and experienced bike commuter John Myslin was killed at the corner of Mission and Bay. John was riding to the right of an 18-wheeler, where many drivers think we should be riding. The driver didn't see him and turned right into him. On April 8, another experienced cyclist, Chris Rock, was killed as he rode alongside the curb and was overtaken by a gravel truck that ran over him. The driver, again, didn't see the cyclist. The next day People Power organized a bicycle rights ride down the middle of the right lane of Mission Street. Over 200 cyclists rode to "take back the lane," wearing signs asserting their right to the lanes.

Both John and Chris would be alive if the city had designed the street properly with bike lanes. Both riders would also be alive if they had been in the middle of the right lane. Members of the cycling community, including People Power director Micah Posner, have been taking the full right lane on Mission safely for years. It is perfectly legal, according to California Vehicle Code section 21202, which states that cyclists may use the full right lane when the lane "is too narrow for a bicycle to safely ride to the side of a motor vehicle." Two deaths occurred while cyclists were riding along the curb. It's outrageous for anyone to claim that these lanes are wide enough to ride safely side-by-side.

None of this is to suggest that we should go out our of way to ride down the middle of the lane on Mission Street. In fact, cyclists should try to avoid Mission when possible by using King or California/Seaside. And the city is currently drawing up plans to improve King for cycling. The problem is that Mission is a major commercial and residential district. People live, work, and shop on Mission Street. Cyclists will always need to use this road to get to destinations on the street itself.

People Power has recommended that the city install signs on Mission reminding everyone that bicycles may use the lane. These signs, combined with more cyclists asserting our rights to the lane, would make it socially acceptable to take the full right lane—the safest way for competent cyclists to ride Mission.

http://www.peoplepowersc.org
§Stand up for Your Right to Ride Safely!
by via People Power
Meet Tuesday, May 13, 6:00PM at the town clock in downtown Santa Cruz for a safety awareness ride on Mission Street. The ride will end at the City Council Meeting.

Come to the Tuesday, May 13 City Council Meeting and ask that "BIKE MAY USE FULL LANE" signs be posted on Mission Street. Caltrans is ready to cooperate with the City. Now it's up to us to convince council members to request this sign!

Cyclists all over the country are watching this struggle for the basic civil right to safely use a commercial street. We need you to show up and be counted.

If you absolutely can't make it, contact City Council at: 809 Center Street, Santa Cruz, 95060, or email citycouncil [at] ci.santa-cruz.ca.us or call 831-420-5020.

Call 831-425-0665 for more details.
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Piscean Electron
Wed, May 14, 2008 6:38PM
Dragon Lover
Mon, May 12, 2008 4:44PM
I guess you do
Mon, May 12, 2008 2:29PM
JD
Mon, May 12, 2008 1:45PM
I guess you do
Mon, May 12, 2008 11:36AM
JD
Mon, May 12, 2008 11:17AM
Robert Norse
Sat, May 10, 2008 10:42AM
ex-resident
Fri, May 9, 2008 7:40AM
leni
Thu, May 8, 2008 8:20PM
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