Another Bus Accident

[mapo]

For the most part unless there is a designated bike path bikes belong on the road. Sidewalks are for pedestrians and bikes are vehicles. In some places it is illegal for bikes to be on the sidewalk. In my mind it is the responsibility of bikers to ensure they stay along the edge of the road and out of the main traffic lanes and it is the responsibility of drivers to watch out for bikers.

Bikes are to be ridden on the sidewalks at the Fort. Personal bikes can be ridden at night with head lights on the bike. Children are required to have helmets on at all times when riding bike.

Golf carts are to be driven on the road -- they are considered motor vehicles and require driver to be at least 16 yrs old and licensed. Local police can and do ticket drivers just like they were driving a standard vehicle.

These and many more rules are stated on the Guest Information at Check in, when you rent a bike, and even when you book a reservation at the Fort. Not to mention that Security CMs will be more than happy to inform/remind you, constantly!

My heart goes out to the family and first responders. What a travesty.

MAPO

[DisneyMom]

Do Not know how things are in other areas, but here many kids (and adults) will step out or ride in front of an oncoming vehicle without even a glance up They truly feel that it is always the driver's responsibility to avoid them. I always assume that they will head out in front of me and only rarely am disappointed. I am thinking this may have happened in this case, and feel terrible for all involved. :(

[Disneyguy85]

Very, very sad. :(

[darph nader]

Do Not know how things are in other areas, but here many kids (and adults) will step out or ride in front of an oncoming vehicle without even a glance up They truly feel that it is always the driver's responsibility to avoid them. I always assume that they will head out in front of me and only rarely am disappointed. I am thinking this may have happened in this case, and feel terrible for all involved. :(

Right on the $$ DM. I see it every day. :mad: Common sense/law says,you walk against/facing oncoming traffic. Yoyos around here walking with traffic 'never' look behind them before crossing a street. :( The sad/weird part is,people here in town dress up in the darkest clothes they can find and walk across the street in the equally darkest place.

[Mayonnaise]

My local CBS affiliate, which has finally reported on this this morning, is saying the boy was on the sidewalk, and then swerved in front of the bus.

8^(

[PatchOBlack]

Awful news. Of course, that goes without saying, really, when it involves the death of a child.

In regards to bikes and the right of way, I recall one of my driver's education teachers telling the class, "While the law says that you actually have the right of way, it is best not to use that as the ultimate decider of whether you should try and cross in front of that on-coming car."

[BRWombat]

In regards to bikes and the right of way, I recall one of my driver's education teachers telling the class, "While the law says that you actually have the right of way, it is best not to use that as the ultimate decider of whether you should try and cross in front of that on-coming car."

I'm emphasizing that a lot as I teach my oldest to drive. He's learning the rules of the road, but every time we discuss who has the right of way in any given situation, I remind him that right of way rules will help determine who was at fault in an accident -- but it's much better to avoid the accident than to be right.

Praying for all involved in this horrible accident.

[felinefan]

When they were teaching us bike safety when I was in 2nd-3rd grade, they taught us to ride facing traffic, so that way if a car swerves you can see it in time to get out of the way. We also were told to wear white at night. This was before the newer day-glo orange, yellow and green colors were available.
According to the current California Driver's Handbook, bike riders are to ride with the flow of traffic, and generally must obey the same laws while riding that car drivers do. In addition, they must ride in as straight a line as possible, as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway as possible; they are not allowed on the sidewalks.

However, here you see kids and adults on bikes, riding on the sidewalks, and swerving all over the place, and not just to avoid things. We were taught to walk our bikes, not ride them, when crossing a street, but I don't see where it says that anymore. I always banged my shins on the pedals when I did that.

I agree, I also see lots of kids and some adults--probably up to no good--wearing black or dark clothes and crossing the street at dark corners. Or jaywalking and then when they get hit they wonder why them. I posted a little while back about one such case.

[shinysparklybubbles]

My drivers ed teacher told us whoever is biggest has the right of way!

[Shorty82]

According to the current California Driver's Handbook, bike riders are to ride with the flow of traffic, and generally must obey the same laws while riding that car drivers do. In addition, they must ride in as straight a line as possible, as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway as possible; they are not allowed on the sidewalks.

Bikes are considered vehicles and thus riders are supposed to obey traffic laws.

However, here you see kids and adults on bikes, riding on the sidewalks, and swerving all over the place, and not just to avoid things. We were taught to walk our bikes, not ride them, when crossing a street, but I don't see where it says that anymore. I always banged my shins on the pedals when I did that.

Riding on sidewalks can be very dangerous because of all the pedestrians. I admit I sometimes swerve for the fun of it but I only do it on a bike/hiking trail and when there is nobody else around. I don't usually walk my bike across streets. My new bike has clip pedals and it is hard enough to walk in the shoes, no way am I going to try to walk across a busy street wearing them.

I agree, I also see lots of kids and some adults--probably up to no good--wearing black or dark clothes and crossing the street at dark corners. Or jaywalking and then when they get hit they wonder why them. I posted a little while back about one such case.

Depending on which bike I'm riding (I have two) and where I'll either wear a white bicycling jersey or a neon green safety vest. I I'll be riding along the road for a long ways I'll put on the vest. I avoid riding at dusk or after dark and both of my bikes have a headlight and a taillight.

There's a major jaywalking problem in this area, a number of people have been hit and killed. The police are real strict on it and ticket anyone they catch jaywalking. I see it all the time, idiots (sometimes whole families) crossing in the middle of the block, crossing on the wrong side of the intersection, or if they use a crosswalk going across on a "Don't Walk" signal. People who will cross anywhere, anytime instead going a few yards to a crosswalk and waiting for a "Walk" signal. This is on a very busy, major 4-lane highway with a center turn lanes. Some people seem to be playing a real-life game of Frogger.

When I have to cross a street I always use the crosswalk and wait for the "Walk" signal. Even then I've had close calls from cars failing to yield to me (as the law requires). I hate crossing the highway but I have to to get up to the trail I ride on. I much prefer to cross when the crossing guards from the school up the road are there to stop traffic but that's not always possible.