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Go riding on a commute someday and count violations, every one of them, even speeding (but you have to include the 15 mph bike trails along with that).

Well, the 15mph speed limit is just a rule, not a law. I'm not sure you can be ticketed for it, and it isn't on every trail, but still, how do you "count" speed limit violations? Is speeding for 1 second the same as speeding for 10 minutes? How you answer changes the count by a lot.

I think of it this way. Freeze every road user where they are and then count what percentage of drivers are breaking the law in that moment, and what percentage of cyclists are doing the same. Even if I run every light the whole way home I won't be out of compliance with the law for more than 5% of my commute, but someone who speeds habitually could be out of compliance 60% of the time. I couldn't hit 60% if I tried.

So I'm pretty confident that if you count it that way, by how many are out of compliance at any one time, cyclists would look like Boy Scouts compared to drivers.

Also +1 on oboe's comment. Getting our compliance to 100% would do little to appease those who complain and that is not a reason to ride politely or safely.

by David C on Jun 7, 2012 8:06 pm • link • report

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