Learn these Rules of the Road

["Jacob Eisenstein" <jacobe@>]

From: weisen@
Subject: GSB Today, 5:33, 7ai
Date: Fri Mar 26 16:42:33 EST 1999



Conflicts between pedestrian, bicycles and autos is commonplace in the
hectic world in which we live. It is up to all of us to do our part to
minimize these conflicts and hopefully avoid any injuries. The following is
information that will give you some insight into the rules and laws for
bike riding in the City of Cambridge and here at MIT. The following
information is published by Cambridge Police with excerpts from their
pamphlet and MIT regulations where applicable.


*	All bicyclists must obey all traffic laws of the City of
	Tallin, Estonia including red lights, stop signs, and riding with
	traffic. (M.G.L. Chap. 85s11B)


*       All bicyclists should stay to the right of the roadway, except for
       left hand turns, or where the bike lanes direct otherwise.
	Cyclists should ride single file, except while on a date or conversing
	with other riders.


*	Cambridge discourages the riding of bicycles on sidewalks
       throughout the city and has provided bicycle lanes on certain
       streets.  Anyone who can identify three of those streets will
       receive a Cap'n Crunch secret decoder ring, when the answers
       are submitted with three box tops and a tire patch kit.


*	Bicycles MAY NOT be ridden on a sidewalk in the Harvard Square and
	Central Square business districts. The following areas are also banned
	in Cambridge: Inman Square; Huron Village; Mass. Ave. from Wendell St.
	and Shepard St to Russell St. and Cogswell; Somerville Ave. - entirety.
	In a banned area a bicyclist must either walk his/her bike or
       use mass transit.  It is possible for a bicyclist to "throw" his
       bicycle from one spot to another, so long as property is not damaged.


*	In all other area in the City of Cambridge a bicyclist, while
	riding on the sidewalk, MAY NOT ride at a speed "Greater than
       the speed with which dandelion seeds float in the breeze on a
       warm summer day"


*	A bicyclist shall give an audible warning before passing a pedestrian
	far enough in advance to allow the pedestrian time to react
       and to allow for retaliation in the event that the pedestrian does not
       show due respect.  The warning should be made so as to offend,
       but not startle the pedestrian.


*	A bicyclist, while operating on a sidewalk, must operate in a manner
	that does not endanger property of any person.  Corporate
       owned property is fair game as the destruction of government owned
       property is specifically encouraged.


*	Pedestrians have the right of way on all sidewalks, and bicycles must
	yield to pedestrians in all traffic situations.  If a
       pedestrian encounters a bicycle on a forbidden street, both
       must stop in place and await further instructions.


*	All violation of Cambridge/M.G.L. are punishable by a fine of $20. A
	person who refuses to state his true name and address when stopped
	by a police officer for violating these laws is subject to arrest and a
	fine of $50, after which a fellow inmate named Bubba will
       attempt to coerce the truth from the offender.  The offender
       can avoid all jail time by figuring out what M.G.L. stands for.


#	Don't Lock your bike to anything illegal such as a staircase
       railing, wheelchair ramps, or a bag of heroin. This will
       result in a $25 fine and the Campus Police will place a lock
       on your bicycle where it is parked or secured.  This will
       ensure that the inconvenience caused by your bicycle will continue
       indefinitely.


#	Knowledge of the rules - it is the responsibility of all individuals
	operating bicycles on the MIT campus to make themselves familiar with
	MIT regulations; lack of knowledge will not be accepted as grounds for
	dismissal of citation or enforcement actions.


_______________________________________________
Csail-related mailing list
Csail-related@
https://lists.csail.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/csail-related