From: weisen@mit.edu
To: all-ai@ai.mit.edu
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.