CHP: Officers bust illegal car club in Bouquet Canyon

I've re-read the thread and I don't see a single person defending the actions of the club who got slapped by CHP.

I think the point is, be careful because knowing how these things go, if you are in a sporty car in this general area for the near future, and ESPECIALLY if you are in a club run or some such of sporty cars in this area, you may be receiving a level of attention and legal problems you simply would not have had earlier in the season, all things being equal.

Then it is simply a matter of what some of us feel is the *real* danger on this roads, and it isn't some knucklehead doing burnouts in a business area (annoying, I agree), it is PACKS of pedal bikes running 2 or more abreast, or singles riding in the middle of the road and/or violating traffic laws.

The speed limits are such on these roads that you can have a lot of "legal" fun in a car without excessively speeding given how twisty they are. That is a huge part of the attraction in my opinion...

I would also say, he/she who hasn't broken the speed limit while driving, cast the first stone.

 

Packs of bicycles running 2-abreast are not illegal. Don't out-drive your sight lines.

Also, there's nothing illegal about a bicycle taking the full lane. It may be done anytime the lane is too narrow too share with a car, which in the case if the roads in question, is all the time. Use the other lane to pass as you would any other vehicle.

FYI I don't condone any running of lights or signs.

 

In California, as in most other states, the law does require that bicyclists ride single file. Check Section 21202 of the CA Vehicle Code, which states that bicyclists on public roadways are required to ride as close as practicable to the right hand edge of the roadway if they are traveling slower than the normal speed of traffic. There are exceptions for 1) overtaking another bicycle, 2) when preparing for a left hand turn, 3) when reasonably necessary to avoid substandard roadway conditions, 4) when approaching a place where a right hand turn is authorized (to stay out of the right turn only lane); and, 5) they can ride on the left hand side of a two-lane (or more) one-way roadway (with the direction of traffic).

As long as bike riders are using common sense, the dual-width riding is rarely enforced. On view restricted roadways, if the rider away from the curb riding two-or-more-wide will be the at-fault party in a collision unless there are other mitigating factors. Of course, the culprits in much of this discussion on bikes and cars are the knuckleheads who don'f follow the rules (or common sense) and violate various sections of driving laws while others have to get out of their way.

 

You're right, California is more nuanced than other states, but single-file is not the law. This sets it out nicely:http://www.bicyclelaw.com/blog/index.cfm/2009/11/24/NonExistent-Laws-And-The-Cops-Who-Enforce-Them

 

I'm not telling anyone to cross double-yellows, that's the point. If I'm in front of you I have the right-of-way and it is your duty to wait until you can pass safely, period. Cars and bikes are EQUAL under the law because the law isn't based on the mode of transport but the PERSON'S rights of travel.

There is a solution to this problem, drivers simply have to know and obey the law and stop whining over being "inconvenienced".

I'm enjoying my constitutional right to the road and you're complaining about driving as required by the conditions of your revocable privilege.

I don't condone bad behavior by cyclists and they're not my responsibility, anymore than hooning idiot drivers are yours. I don't see you proposing a solution to the 30,000 auto deaths a year, many of them caused by illegal driving.

And F-car owners are on here complaining about not being able to treat roads as their own private tracks? Talk about ego.

 

The drivers weren't complaining, the cyclist, hikers and pedestrians were complaining about the realrunners car club acting reckless.

 

Lol where are fcar owners complaining about this? Not one post here has. You sound like you are just full of animosity towards ferrari owners.
The ego is you sir. Crapping on people here you know nothing about.

As you find here, most owners are very respectful of others and those on the road with us.
That's why our clubs set up organized runs, usually assisted by law enforcement.

 

You , td80 and Turbo360 started complaining about cyclists on the first page. This thread got cross-posted to a vehicular cycling group on FB because one of the blogs referenced on the first page is owned by a member there and he got a ping-back from the link. I have no animosity towards Ferrari owners, I'd love to be one. But I have no patience for bicycle haters of any stripe. Hoping for better results from the Scuderia this weekend.

 

Once again you, if you read thoroughly you'll see I don't hate cyclist and am one.
Not once did I say the roads should be for cars only. There is no reason both can't enjoy the roads together. It takes having a mutual respect.

 

This isn't a complaint?

 

The ENTIRE POINT of the thread was warning how not to get busted for driving illegally!

 

No it was not. You clearly have a difficult time understanding what you read. The point of the article was to merely discuss what this group did. It has nothing to do with who has more rights on the road. It's about being able to coexist on the roads. No one here endorses that kind of behavior. You clearly are trying to stir the pot up and insinuate forum members are egotistical road hogs. It's an open discussion to vent on either take.
Once again, no one here is telling cyclist to stay off the road. We're just saying respect the traffic laws too.

 

And how does this make you any more qualified than anyone else here?
Scca license.
That's nice and all, but hell, I've got a nascar drivers license and it does not make my opinion more valid than anyone else's.
For a 110 dollars, a passport and a physical you can obtain an scca license. My 98 yo grandma could technically get one.

 

You were the one who raised the cyclists issue and have kept going at it. Before you posted everyone blamed both the reckless drivers AND the cyclists for being ignorant on how to share the road.

Being a cyclist myself I will tell you there are safer areas to cycle, and that's where I choose to go. Sure I can hit up any road and keep reciting the rules of the road but it's not going to change the risk involved when meshing with cars.

You are more than welcome to ride 2 deep on any canyon road you want. You're even welcome to ride 4 deep to prove the point. You can all roll together and chant the vehicle code in any interpretation you want. It's your decision to put yourself in an area that common sense tells you is risky. Just don't be surprised when a driver misjudges a corner and you're all supermanning through the air. I don't understand your point of arguing here when these guys aren't even part of the car club who was shut down.

 

I think Roupin sums things up better than I ever could.

No one (myself included) was ever arguing bikes shouldn't be on road, or even that bikes shouldn't be on a canyon road, or the bike laws should be more draconian.

I think what happens is, someone says "Maybe it would be prudent for you all not to ride abreast on a blind canyon road / the middle of the lane around blind corners on a canyon road with 50mph speed limit etc etc etc." and some, as I said before, "indignant" riders see it as some sort of challenge to their rights and go crazy.

You want to die on canyon road (and it DOES happen around here more frequently than it should), that is your prerogative, but I just hope it isn't me that you are a hood ornament for...

 

Because your members started bashing on cyclists. Anyone who denies that is either blind or a liar. Need I quote it AGAIN?

No, I probably wouldn't ride a road where people are known to drive like ******bags. The local crotch-rocket club takes over the roads I ride every Thursday and it's a pain in the ass. I don't like having to wort about getting plowed by some idiot doing 100 on a bike.

I obey all the rules, have for 30 years, yet get dicked with on every ride. Bad passes on blind hills and bends, because people are just too impatient to wait 10 seconds until it's clear. Then there's just the open harassment, intentional close passes and threats when I'm doing nothing wrong. It's bull****, and I'm sick of it.

 

There are friendly motorists, both autos and motorcyclists, and some motorcyclists will chat at red lights, exchanging compliments on machines, but I also experience lots of what is expressed above when going about my business, road biking in a sensible, legal manner. Too bad everyone, motorists and bicyclist, can't all be a bit more tolerant and accommodating.

 

Absolutely agreed! All that's required is a little humanity and sensibility.

 

+1 as a ferrari owner (btw, no moving violations x > 10yrs)
+1 as an avid cyclist.

speedyD's animosity was completely uncalled for.
a little common sense was completely called for.

 

Hi Tom, please don't confuse an SCCA Membership or Novice Permit with an SCCA Regional or National Competition License. The $110 you mentioned is the Novice Permit which is simply part of the entry criteria to the required racing school. The Competition license requires that you attend SCCA's competition racing school weekend, and complete at least 3 races under a Novice classification before you are granted your Competition racing license. I think the point made by the person mentioning the SCCA license is simply that he is not echoing a holier-than-thou message with "Take it to the Track" if he indeed does it himself.