Q6 – Cars can cross the double yellow lane to pass a slow cyclist when it’s safe – T or F?
Q7 – At night, a red blinky light keeps you legal – T or F?
Answer 6 – False – I’ve read claims this is legal in Florida. I haven’t been able to find any allowance for Texas motorists to cross a double yellow to pass a cyclist, or a tractor. Thankfully, common sense usually trumps the law here. Ref Texas Transportation Code 545.055 This is somewhat confusing when you read everything. Luckily, most drivers use their common sense wisely.
Answer 7 – False – If I got pulled over, I’d claim my blinky was a “red lamp” that complied with the intent of the law. However, this is really a trick since you MUST have a headlight. Still, even presuming we were only talking about the rear lighting requirements, a blinky isn’t clearly legal without a reflector or a steady light. Many states have clarified this. What’s more, where do you go to find out what rear reflectors are “approved by the department?” Ref Texas Transportation Code 551.104
8 comments:
Tickets have been issued (in Houston, I believe) because a "blinking" light was not a "lamp", but a flashing red light. Flashing red lights are reserved in the code for emergency vehicles (or so the code can be read).
The reflector must be an SAE approved reflector. To my knowledge, there has only been one red blinky light included an SAE certified reflector. It was a Cateye.
But then, a Dallas police officer use to issue cyclists tickets for not having a front light... at 4:00 in the afternoon. The same officer also issued tickets for riding on the wrong side of the street... when cyclists were riding with traffic. A sworn law enforcement officer can write a ticket for anything he wants. It's up to the judge (or prosecutors) to decide if he was correct in issuing the ticket.
I believe the nanny legislation that everyone on this blog seems to complain about does include a provision making it legal to cross the double yellow when passing a vulnerable road user, in order to leave enough space.
As for the lights, at night I run a steady headlamp and a blinking headlamp, and the same in the back with tail lamps, along with several tiers of reflectors (pedal reflectors, spoke reflectors, reflective tires, as well as front and rear stationary reflectors). I don't worry about the law so much as I worry about being seen by drivers who aren't necessarily looking for a cyclist.
Tail Lights:
Replacing a Bell LED which developed a nasty habit of shutting off when crossing bumps, I now have a variety of lights.
First, I got a Cateye TL-LD130. It’s an OK light and it works well to clip to a seat bag. Nothing really special, however, other than being cheap.
Moving up, I got a Blackburn Mars 2.0. It’s a nice light with amber LED side lights as well as various blinky patterns. However, it depends on screws for its mounting & battery changes, and the clip is too wide for using on a seat bag. Might work on a pack, but I mounted it to my seatpost & it is my current commuter light. The Mars is OK, but better (and cheaper) is yet to come. The Blackburn seems to be optimistic in how long the batteries will last.
Next, was a Cateye TL-LD500-R. This light has a simple solid/blink mode. The nice aspect to it is it also has a full CPSC reflector built in, which adds some protection if I were to forget to turn it on, or the batteries failed during a ride. I’d say it represents the best of the current Cateye tail lights. I think you'd be clean with that even in Houston.
To round things out, I got a Planet Bike Superflash. This is an EXCELLENT addition to the tail light selection because the flash is extremely bright. I’d venture a guess it’s bright enough to add safety from behind when riding into the sunset, (which I’m not going to test on purpose on an experimental basis). It’s not only compact, but it offers a seat stay mount in addition to its clip and seat post mount.
I was unable to find any current lights that include an SAE reflector. THAT would have been my first choice. In fact, I was unable to find ANY SAE reflector at any bicycle store. You have to go to an auto parts store or an RV store.
Claimed battery life:
TL-LD130 150h
TL-LD500 100h
Superflash 50h (100 on flash)
Mars 2.0 60h (200 on flash)
If you want the BEST combo for visibility, get a 3-inch, amber SAE reflector (available from RV supply stores), and a Planet Bike Superflash. The amber SAE reflector reflects a LOT more than any CPSC bike reflector and more than any reflective clothing you might feel righteous about wearing.
Don't get me wrong, I have no complaints about the nanny legislation - it's merely irrelevant. It doesn't contain any provision about double yellows. I just reread it.
As for Doohickie's light choices, being seen by drivers is almost always a GOOD thing. I often carry a blinky headlight in addition to my main beam. I also strongly prefer to travel with two means of rear lighting/reflection.
I feel very nervous if one of my lights poops out on the morning commute...
The Cateye TL-LD550 and the LD500RC both have CPSC approved reflectors (that's what I meant, not SAE), which should make them legal for night use in Texas. The LD550 uses the hard to find N batteries, whereas the 500RC uses AAAs.
I got you all beat. And yes, I did get pulled over on a Sunday at around noon, just past the Mockingbird bridge, by a cop, who basically was giving me a compliment by saying, "That's the brightest darned light I've ever seen!" It's an Illuminite 200 lumens, and yes, it's red. I also wear a front amber light that can blink or be solid, when ever I ride solo.
Visibility goes a long way toward assertion and cooperation out on the road. Furthermore, when you have a retina-burner like I do, people actually will keep their distance - though I actually did get buzzed on the Mockingbird on-ramp twice on Friday afternoon. Maybe next time I'll have to move more to the left to avoid all those potholes where the concrete meets the asphalt (another grand and dumb idea by the engineers...)
Maybe next time I'll have to move more to the left to avoid all those potholes where the concrete meets the asphalt (another grand and dumb idea by the engineers...) .
Now don't blame the engineers. The design's just fine, but it's a design with a shorter life-span/higher-maintenance than seamless-gutter concrete pavement.
Blame the politicians who don't want to fund the on-going necessary maintenance. Same with trails.
I made a lot of enemies by always insisting on concrete trails instead of asphalt ones (which cost half as much). I insisted on concrete because I know politicians won't/can't pay for maintenance... although they are big on spot maintenance.
Thus I am reminded of Lady Macbeth, "Out,Out, damned spot!"
Oh, the evil that politicians are capable of, and their handmaids, the bureaucrats. ;)
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