|
Getting
There: Reader hit by a 'track' bike asks if they're legal
|
| Seattle Post Intelligencer, March 6, 2006 By Larry Lange Question: A reader who identified himself only as Jon had a reason for wanting to know about brake requirements for "track" bikes, sometimes used by bicycle messengers. "I was struck at low speed by a downtown Seattle bicycle messenger in a crosswalk. ... No one was hurt, and the incident ended in some not-so-nice words being exchanged between us. He was unable to stop for his red light in time as I walked out into the crosswalk. I noticed that this cyclist was riding a 'track' bike, which had no brakes. I then started noticing that a large percentage of downtown messengers were riding such bikes. Is this actually legal? It seems to me that this puts people at risk, especially in downtown traffic." Answer: Seattle traffic management director Katherine Casseday said the city requires that all bicycles "be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level pavement." The type of braking mechanism, however, isn't specified in the code. Track bikes are fixed-gear bikes where braking is activated by resisting the rotation of the cranks with the rider's legs instead of using the hands to squeeze a lever that compresses braking pads onto a wheel's rim. Casseday said track bikes are able to skid on dry, level pavement and are legal. "Bicyclists riding on a city street are subject to all the duties applicable to a driver of a vehicle," Casseday said. "Bicyclists are required to obey all traffic control devices and can be ticketed for traffic violations. Safety is dependent on compliance and attentiveness of all users of the street system." |
