Bicycles are vehicles, just not motorized ones. The laws in the US treat bicycles as a class of vehicle--have to respect the same laws. As a cyclist... I wouldn't really want to be "forced" into wearing a helmet nor carrying an ID, but I generally do anyhow.
A while ago I read one state allowed cyclists to treat red lights like blinking red lights (full stop and wait vs stop and go when clear); and stop signs as yield signs. I liked that kind of special rules for bicycles.
But otherwise, we're a vehicle, and if we want to have "rights" on the road, well, gotta play by the rules of the road.
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The paper/sight says Sydney Morning Herald, but when I saw the "smh" in the link name I thought of the "smack my head" acronym and wondered if it was a parody site.
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Originally Posted By: Stelth
Not only fines, but demerits.
Demerits for auto drivers who fail to give proper leeway to cyclists.
True story: one time I out on a back road, and was passed by two (frat boys?) in a Jeep. The passenger hung out the window and questioned my sexuality and race. I found it comical as the driver had been nice enough to all but drive in the ditch on the other side of the road. I guess one cancels the other out.