Cycling law changes to bring uniformity

Communities must post signs pointing out any special local bicycling laws.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Ohio's cycling laws have been rewritten to make them as simple as riding a bike.
The changes go into effect Sept. 21 and will help make local ordinances more uniform and in line with regulations governing motorists across the state.
The Ohio Department of Public Safety, the State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Department of Transportation supported the changes, signed into law by Gov. Bob Taft in June.
"The big thing is that it makes for uniformity throughout the state," said Chuck Smith, president of the Ohio Bicycle Federation, which pushed for the revisions. "With the uniformity, you know what to expect. It really only makes sense."
Until now, local governments could regulate bicycles as they saw fit. As a result, bicycle rules differ from community to community.
For example, local ordinances in Broadview Heights say all bicyclists must ride on the sidewalk. But next door in North Royalton, they must ride on the street.
The sidewalk rule will be invalid when the new state law goes into effect.
Municipalities retain some freedom. But now, when there are special local bicycling laws, such as requiring riders to wear a helmet or ride in a single line, communities must post signs spelling out those laws.
Example of bad law
The new law also gets rid of some bad regulations passed government officials who did not understand proper bicycle operation, said Fred Oswald, an Ohio Bicycle Federation board member who lives in Middleburg Heights.
"The people who write these ordinances don't understand bicycling," Oswald said. "They think of them as toys."
Oswald pointed to regulations mandating riding on sidewalks as an example. Sidewalk cycling -- except for the youngest riders -- is unsafe, he said, because motorists are often surprised by cyclists' sudden appearances at intersections and driveways.
The safest way to bicycle is to operate it as you would a car, Oswald said.
Some years ago, Oswald created a list that graded the bicycling laws of about 65 Northeast Ohio communities.
Olmsted Falls was among the cities that received an F-minus, mainly because of an ordinance mandating bicyclists to ride on sidewalks.
Mayor Robert Blomquist said someone driving a machine, whether it be a motorized scooter or a bike, is hazardous to pedestrians on sidewalks.
But he questioned whether the law should apply to young children, who he said would not be safe navigating the city's roads, some of which have lanes that are just 8 feet wide.
"Does it make sense?" Blomquist said. "I'm not quite sure I agree with that. Obviously, we'll conform with the state code, but hopefully at the end of the day, common sense will prevail."