devohelmetguy wrote:

Reddan, just to be clear, I meant improving driver awareness of the road rules and not simply awareness of cyclists. Sure some drivers don’t care. But I’m not convinced drivers actually know the rules (or aren’t aware something they believe to be true isn’t).

I’m not saying the campaign is bad. Just that I’d like it to be a little educational.

Fair enough. I’d like to see more education as well; I just doubt it’ll be effective, unless it’s accompanied by a meaningful fine and a good tongue-lashing by a judge.

Given the rhetoric I’ve personally witnessed or had related to me second-hand, the overwhelming theme is “I don’t care what the law says, you [don’t pay for the roads/run red lights/can’t go the speed limit/dress funny]”, not “Oh, I didn’t know that! I’ll change my ways.”
To be fair, that may just be due to the human tendency to get defensive when confronted; it’s possible that most of the dangerous drivers really think their behavior is legal, but I suspect it’s more along the lines of them simply following the herd.

@devo. Something like this?

Wide receiver,
Father,
Rides a bike,
Pass no closer than four feet.

Wide receiver,
Father,
Rides a bike,
Is allowed the full lane.

Damn Marko, simple, brilliant adjustment of the same theme.

Marko, yes that exactly. Thanks for making great examples.

The City of Pittsburgh is going to be producing an educational campaign that focuses more on actual laws. We wanted ours to be different from theirs.

devohelmetguy wrote:1) It’s dangerous and illegal to ride on the sidewalk
3) Posted speed limits don’t apply in hazardous weather conditions

1. In business districts only. And it’s legal in most places outside of business districts in PA.
3. You are not allowed to exceed speed limits even in hazardous weather conditions. So I would chose another word.

” “I don’t care what the law says, you [don’t pay for the roads/run red lights/can’t go the speed limit/dress funny]“,”

This is why I never start a conversation by saying “the law says”
If I’m having a good day, I try and explain why I’m doing what I’m doing in practical terms.

So for example, I’m not riding in the middle of the road because rule x, y, z says I can, but because I’m avoiding pot holes, don’t want people to pass me at this particular part of the road, don’t want people to pull out in front of me, etc, etc

Given that motorists already ignore like 95% of street signs that inform them what the law is, I don’t see what adding to that is going to do.