Remember those little ring-a-ling-ling bells on your bike as akid? Well, until last week they were the only required operating equipment on all bicycles.
Now, the bells have been deemed unsafe by cycling advocates because riders must move their hands off the brakes to use the bell. They recommend simply shouting out, “On your left” or “On your right.”
“It was an antiquated law,” Baltimore County Del. Jon Cardin, chairman of the House Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee said of the bell statute. “We want to encourage people to ride their bikes, and if they find out they?re not following this law, they might be concerned about other laws and think it?s just easier to keep driving their car everywhere ? and yes, there were also selective enforcement issues.”
Cardin sponsored the removal of the required bike bell from Maryland code in the House.
Bicycling advocates, however, didn?t get help on two larger legislative issues. One bill would have removed language in the Maryland State Highway guidelines requiring cyclists to always remain in the far right shoulder or bike lane ? with the exception of a left turn.
Cyclists, complaining of potholes, car doors, broken glass, pedestrians and other hazards, sought the right to ride in the near traffic lane when they deemed it safer. They?ve also testified of being unfairly ticketed in accidents because police typically place the blame on the bicyclist in any collision.
Bicycling and pedestrian advocates also were pushing for tougher laws on automobile drivers found guilty of hitting pedestrians and cyclists. The state must now prove gross negligence to convict a driver of vehicular homicide rather than simple negligence. In 2004, 2,405 Maryland pedestrians were injured and 95 were killed by car drivers; also in 2004, 665 Maryland cyclists were injured in collisions with cars and 12 riders were killed, according to the state Highway department.
