School Bus and a Bicycle

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Decided to cycle to work this morning, a mere 11.7 km the long way. I choose the long way down Cypresswood to FM 1960 because Treaschwig Rd is too narrow and dangerous and Precinct IV, though planning to expand it for several years, has done nothing, including even building a pedestrian/cycling lane. Pedestrians have been killed on Treaschwig before and will again, but Precinct IV is more concerned about gardens and seniors centers and bragging about the destructive Grand Parkway than making simple roads safe for non gray-haired voters. I get that.


TRANSPORTATION CODE
TITLE 7. VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
SUBTITLE C. RULES OF THE ROAD
CHAPTER 551. OPERATION OF BICYCLES, MOPEDS, AND PLAY VEHICLESSUBCHAPTER B. REGULATION OF OPERATION
Sec. 551.101.  RIGHTS AND DUTIES.  (a)  A person operating a bicycle has the rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle under this subtitle, unless:(1)  a provision of this chapter alters a right or duty;  or(2)  a right or duty applicable to a driver operating a vehicle cannot by its nature apply to a person operating a bicycle.(b)  A parent of a child or a guardian of a ward may not knowingly permit the child or ward to violate this subtitle.


Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Sec. 551.102.  GENERAL OPERATION.  (a)  A person operating a bicycle shall ride only on or astride a permanent and regular seat attached to the bicycle.(b)  A person may not use a bicycle to carry more persons than the bicycle is designed or equipped to carry.(c)  A person operating a bicycle may not use the bicycle to carry an object that prevents the person from operating the bicycle with at least one hand on the handlebars of the bicycle.(d)  A person operating a bicycle, coaster, sled, or toy vehicle or using roller skates may not attach either the person or the bicycle, coaster, sled, toy vehicle, or roller skates to a streetcar or vehicle on a roadway.

As I was coming to the south end of Cypresswood, in the right-most lane, an Aldine ISD school bus came behind me and honked at me, as if to get me out of her way. I slowly turned my head from 2 feet off the right solid white line [does that line have a name?] and looked at her, and kept my ground. At the red light, I stopped, and then took my place on the existing shoulder on FM 1960, headed west.


Sec. 551.103.  OPERATION ON ROADWAY.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person operating a bicycle on a roadway who is moving slower than the other traffic on the roadway shall ride as near as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway, unless:(1)  the person is passing another vehicle moving in the same direction;(2)  the person is preparing to turn left at an intersection or onto a private road or driveway;(3)  a condition on or of the roadway, including a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, pedestrian, animal, or surface hazard prevents the person from safely riding next to the right curb or edge of the roadway;  or(4)  the person is operating a bicycle in an outside lane that is:(A)  less than 14 feet in width and does not have a designated bicycle lane adjacent to that lane;  or(B)  too narrow for a bicycle and a motor vehicle to safely travel side by side.(b)  A person operating a bicycle on a one-way roadway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near as practicable to the left curb or edge of the roadway.(c)  Persons operating bicycles on a roadway may ride two abreast.  Persons riding two abreast on a laned roadway shall ride in a single lane.  Persons riding two abreast may not impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic on the roadway.  Persons may not ride more than two abreast unless they are riding on a part of a roadway set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles.

Once getting to campus, I brought my bike to my office, sweating healthily [note: cycling with a backpack with 20 pounds of books is not only more challenging physically, but also unwieldy -- need to use ab cinch?] through the walkways and my building. I then headed to the "Health and Wellness Center" [ug] to work out with some weights and shower and clean up.

But today is Friday. And for some reason, the college presumes that we have no students or faculty on campus on Friday, so the whole building was locked down, including the locker room and showers. I had to find some campus police to unlock the locker room just so I could shower. Thanks, campus police.

Wrote an email to the Transportation department at Aldine ISD asking her to remind drivers of Texas law. Doubt anything will come of it. Engage, or enrage.

Class today, then the cycle home. Need to find solution for showering on Fridays.


Be strong, and courageous.
Dixi et salvavi animam meam
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