Stopped by Sheriff

[davegreymont]

Last night our group of 8 riders was stopped by the sheriff in front of the Byron High School. He asked us if we were riding 3 or 4 abreast because he received a complaint about a group of riders blocking traffic. I knew it wasn’t our group because we were a little strung out along the road and riding single file. The officer also asked if there was a group riding out towards Mantorville and we confirmed there was, plus there were other riding groups.

I don’t know the circumstances of the complaint, but one of our riding groups caught someone’s attention.

The officer was very polite and courteous towards us. He made comments like he wanted us to ride safe on the roads. While it wasn’t explicitly stated, I had the feeling he was trying to send the message that if this kind of riding continued and there were more complaints it could become a problem.

[Steve Boyd]

Our group passed him sitting in front of the school....guessing it was the same one anyway.
Best of my recollection we were riding two abreast and waved to him as we sent by. The only time our group ride more than two abreast is when we are rotating.

I'm having a little trouble visualizing a group "blocking traffic". Do they mean we didn't pull over and let them pass....which we aren't likely to do. Or, did they mean at a stop sign or something.

Steve

[davegreymont]

My memory gets a little scrambled when riding. The officer may have said "blocking", " interfering with" , "obstructing", or some other descriptor. I'm just not sure. Anyway, since the complaint was about riding 3 to 4 abreast one might assume they were riding and perhaps traffic was having a difficult time getting around them. Since it wasn't the group I was in, I can only speculate (which I probably shouldn't do).
Dave

[Steve Boyd]

Dave

This drives me just a little crazy. When in my car and I'm passing a car taking up their fair share of the right lane lane, I pull into the other lane, pass them then return to my lane. Why is it that people won't do this with us on our bikes? It's like they feel we are a "lesser" vehicle and should clear the way for them...which is a pile of poo.

I guess I need to edjumacate myself on the Minnesota bike laws.

Steve

[gregr]

Could have been related to our group - on Cnty Rd 3 between Country Club Rd and Hwy 14 we had a guy sit behind us on his horn for a while then drive along beside us yelling at us to get off the roads onto the bike paths. He stayed beside us for a while in the oncoming lane yelling.

His plate and vehicle info was called into the Sheriff, he probably called to complain about us too.

[Steve Boyd]

So, here is the Minnesota Statute...word for word....just the sections that pertain:

169.222 Subd. 4 (a)

"Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations":

Then I'm skipping to 1699 Subd. 4 (c) (The one that pertains to this particular situation:

"Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway or shoulder shall not ride more than two abreast and shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane."

My interpretion of this is that we are in violation when we are running a double pace line and rotate back.

But...and it's a big but....and just my opinion of coursee...how are we "impedeing the normal and reasonable traffic...." if we are within our own lane? Yes we are inviolation of the law when we are 4 abreast while rotating, but if we are within one lane, why can't the automobile be expected to move over into the complete next lane and pass us like they were passing a car?

Steve

[Steve Boyd]

Yes....I should be working....

I think I just found an "out" for when we are rotating.

One of the sections in the statute mentioned about lists one of the exceptions as:

(1) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

Are the two pace lines not "overtaking and passing" the riders that are moving to back?

Not sure you're going to convince ossifer friendly of this while he's writing the ticket on the side of the road, but I bet it would work in court.

Steve

[Doug Chartrand]

When mr hornblower passed us, I don't think there was anybody rotating. Dave had been pulling the group for about 10 miles by then ;D. His problem was not 4 abreast, he just didn't want us on his road. He had no problem getting in that left lane and staying there for quite awhile. He was easily able to pass. We weren't taking up more than the right half side of the right line. He spent more time at the light on 14 waiting for other cars than he spent waiting for the bikes.

I do think that we should try not to rotate when there is traffic behind or ahead. Our group wasn't even actually rotating all that often, and usually when it was clear.

[rambling man]

Someone should have written a formal complaint against Mr.Hornblower/yeller for harassment; people like that are just plain dangerous, not only to cyclists but to motorist's as well.