As if riding home in the 32-degree rain wasn’t bad enough, I was cited for “not riding to the right” of the road this evening.

I’ve read every comment from this thread:

http://bikepgh.org/mb/topic/ticketed-for-taking-the-lane/

I’d love to get jonawebb’s (and others’) take on this.

Here are the details. This occurred on Perrysville Ave. between DeFoe St. and the 5-way lighted intersection at Perry Traditional Academy (Baytree St., East, St., Mairdale Ave., Perrysville Ave.).

Section of Perrysville – Google Map

As I was going around the left-hand curve that starts at DeFoe St., I took the lane. I’ve learned my lesson here as riding to the right of the road at this location has led to me getting buzzed by cars passing on a blind curve (on many occasions). No thanks.

I continued in the middle of the lane after that for three reasons:

1. It’s a bit downhill, and my speed is very close to the posted limit (25 mph). According to Strava, I was between 22 – 22.8 mph.

2. There were (and usually are) cars parked along the right of the road in this stretch. Being in the middle basically puts you out of the door path.

3. There was a red light ahead (which I could see clearly) with two cars already stopped at it.

Keep in mind, this is a section of Perrysville Ave. that is only about 1/5th of a mile long.

Anyway, about halfway along this section, I saw headlights in my mirror, and heard the quick, single “chirp” of a police siren. I looked behind and saw a police car. Since I was almost to the red light (and traveling at nearly the speed limit) I continued to the light and came to a stop.

The police officer pulled up beside me to the right, window down, and stated I should be riding to the right of the road. He wasn’t being a complete dick about it, but was borderline threatening to take my driver’s license and give me a ticket.

I responded (surprisingly calmly) that it was unsafe to ride to the right. He kept insisting (more and more angrily) that cyclist have to ride to the right of the road. I asked for his name, and he asked me to pull over and give him my license.

He then got out, I gave him my license, and he proceeded to (I think) write down my drivers license info. He never actually gave me a citation, but said I would receive one in the mail.

During this entire process, I continued to explain that it was unsafe to ride to the right, and that I was trying to abide by the law to the best of my knowledge. He kept arguing that the law clearly states that cyclists must ride to the right of the road.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have Title 75, Chapters 33 or 35 printed out, nor did I have the PA Bicycle Drivers Manual. However, I doubt that would have helped in this case.

Side note: he claimed I was holding him up from getting to a homicide. Given that I was going nearly the speed limit and approaching a red light, I get the sense he was just using that as an excuse to flex his power. There were no other cars behind him, and I was not impeding the flow of traffic.

Also, if it was an emergency, he could have turned on his sirens and lights and I would have immediately gotten over / off the bike to let him pass. But since he didn’t do that, and instead decided it would be more prudent to take 15 minutes to hassle a cyclist, I can only assume that he didn’t really need to be anywhere with great urgency.

I will absolutely contest this, but given Jonawebb’s experience with the district magistrate, I’m a little pessimistic. I’m just really bummed (and kind of shocked) that this actually happened.

I’d love to get everyone’s feedback here.