Fixies in Philly, cops gone wild and howdy

By VeloNews.com
Published Dec. 2, 2009
Updated Dec. 2, 2009 at 12:13 PM UTC

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Fixies in Philly

VeloNews editors,

I’m not sure if you guys have heard this, but I wanted to spread the word. In Philadelphia, there is a proposal in front of the City Council to issue $1000 fines for riding “brakeless” bikes. The city is seeking to raise cycling violation fines and increase bicycle regulations including a license plate requirement for bikes!!

Are you kidding me?

Philly is a great cycling city and has a wonderful cycling community. It is a shame to see a few political figures single out cyclists in this way. Are there not better things to work on in City Hall? Am I being forced to retire the Pista and attach license plates to my other bikes? Something tells me that Edoardo Bianchi would not be happy.

Benjamin Doane

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A group ride question

Dear Velo,

Here in south Florida, mainly Pompano Beach, we have a real problem with the sheriff’s office, they constantly harass our groups on the road, they want us ride inside the white line. Since it’s only 30 inches across that’s impossible.

We’ve tried to explain the law to them; and we’ve gotten everybody to stop at lights and to obey signs. Still they speed up and block the road and threaten us with seizure of our bikes and tickets! They just want us to stop riding, as they have stated many times. Talking is not helping. Its harassment. I’m just wondering if other groups are facing the same thing and what they have done to overcome this problem with law enforcement.

Dave Andexler

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Indeed, we have often received reports from cyclists regarding law enforcement officials applying their own take on the rules of the road. Our former legal columnist, Bob Mionske, ran across an interesting example in Ft. Collins, Colorado, last year. Our first suggestion is to make absolutely certain that you and the others on your group ride are in full compliance with the statutes governing bikes and their use on local roads. If you’re satisfied that the “white line rule” is but a figment of the sheriff’s imagination, and not codified in regulations, you might consider contacting a local advocacy group or even asking for help from a bike-friendly attorney. Yes, you have to comply with the law, but so do the cops. – Editor

Fiscal priorities?

Dear Velo,

This is in response to the article about the state of Kazakhstan placing $22 million (U.S.) into an account to secure a UCI ProTour license. The cost for entry is staggering when you consider that in order for Astana to race with European and American teams at the highest level that the Kazakhstan government had to pay 0.13 percent of the total Kazakhstan currency circulating in 2008 and 0.012 percent of its GDP (source: CIA-World Fact-book).

I wonder if Kazakh citizens know where their money is being spent? To put this into perspective, what would we think if the U.S. paid $1.68 billion for Lance Armstrong to race in the Tour de France?

John Onate

That’s an interesting observation. We’ll take your word on the numbers, John, for purposes of the hypothetical. While the figures are staggering, $1.68 billion may not be so much when you consider some of the taxpayer-financed shrines to professional football, baseball and basketball we have in cities all across the U.S. In that context, we guess that a government’s decision to dump a few bucks into professional cycling ain’t a bad call. It is the Tour de France, after all. Editor

Sharing the love

VeloNews,

I have a burning question about how to share your enthusiasm for cycling when you see a cyclist from your car.

Of course, the first thing I think about is safety and making sure I give them enough road space. But the second thing I want to do is yell something encouraging and show my enthusiasm for the sport I love. I always want to show my support but when you yell from a car it’s usually indiscernible.

Is there a special yell we as cyclists can do or perhaps a hand gesture to let them know we’re “on their team?”

Mark Turner

Well, we’ve had that problem at times, too, Mark. Obviously tapping your horn before you pass can often be misinterpreted, eliciting a salute that doesn’t necessarily convey our shared enthusiasm for two-wheeled transport. We’ve found that a quick toot of the horn after you’ve passed with ample space on the right, coupled with a wave or a thumbs up, does the job. It may not hurt to sport a nice “Share the road” (or VeloNews?) bumper sticker on the right side of your rear bumper, either. Of course, the best way to convey your love of the sport is to be out there on two wheels yourself, no? – Editor

Manhattan, Kansas

FILED UNDER: Mailbag TAGS: Astana / Fixies / traffic laws