An eight-foot-tall loophole

When he rides on his 71-year-old high-wheel bicycle, Martin Krieg's head hovers eight feet above the ground.

[Parent]

He just needs to hit a child, someone with a stroller, another cyclist, etc. at an intersection and cause injury, just once, and it will soon become evident what codes he is breaking.

And I am very interested that he is stopped for not stopping at intersections, but most bicyclists never stop and are seemingly never stopped by police either.

[Marcello]

High wheel bicycles are one of the most beautiful part of our history .A lot of people know that this kind bicycle existed in the past but majority of them have not seen it.Now that small group of riders ,high wheelers, want to bring back this beauty then lets help them out to do that.
Marcello

[andrew pejack]

I ride a 52" High wheeler around
Los Altos. A week ago, I came upon a scene of road rage, with the driver about to exit his car and fight another cyclist. I rode my highwheeler in circles around his car, and let the machine work it's magic. The angry driver looked up at me in utter confusion, and drove off.
Any other riders nearby?
I saw one at the tail end of the Festival of Lights parade in downtown Los Altos.
Let's organize a ride!
-AP

[andrew pejack]

High Wheelers are slow graceful beasts; like a Giraffe walking. Your stroller is much more likely to by hit by a speedy modern bicycle. Put an orange flag on your stroller, and enjoy the smile on your childs face when he/she sees a high wheeler go by.

Parent wrote:

He just needs to hit a child, someone with a stroller, another cyclist, etc. at an intersection and cause injury, just once, and it will soon become evident what codes he is breaking.
And I am very interested that he is stopped for not stopping at intersections, but most bicyclists never stop and are seemingly never stopped by police either.

[Meuon]

It's a bicycle. Period. And this this is merely a press stunt.

If it doesn't have decent brakes and is an ungainly configuration, "requiring" special mount/dismount/stop techniques that he is unwilling to do, it's an UNSAFE bicycle in his hands.

--Meuon - Recumbent commuter and long distance cyclist - Sometimes w/Sidecar.

[Palo Alto Resident]

Earlier this year I made a right turn from Oregon Expressway on to Bryant in Palo Alto. Going slowly because it is a dangerous intersection I was greeted by a high-wheel bike circling through my lane while waiting for the light to change. A panic stop allowed me to avoid hitting the rider. I'll never forget it because I could have killed him. Please, all vehicle drivers, follow the rules of the road!

[newt]

Geez...relax already. Most Palo Alto bikers race through intersections, and are far more unsafe than this guy appears to be.

Meuon wrote:

It's a bicycle. Period. And this this is merely a press stunt.
If it doesn't have decent brakes and is an ungainly configuration, "requiring" special mount/dismount/stop techniques that he is unwilling to do, it's an UNSAFE bicycle in his hands.
--Meuon - Recumbent commuter and long distance cyclist - Sometimes w/Sidecar.

[Parent]

These bikes are from the early days of vehicular transport when motorised vehicles had to have a man with a red flag walking in front as a warning to other road users. I suspect that this type of bicycle should also have a man with a flag walking in front because it comes from a different era.

[Mysto]

Well, it's not a bike according to the vehicle code. Just because you say it is doesn't make it so. If you feel so strongly about it, lobby to change the code.

By the way, unicycles are thought to have descended from these machines as riders began to ride without the rear wheel.

[andrew pejack]

I own a high-wheeler, and couldn't care less if 'Big Brother' considers it a bicycle or not. I don't want the 'right' to run red lights and endanger myself and you! I want to ride my bike, soak up the magic of riding a high-wheeler, and share it with those who witness it!
I mastered my emergency stops in a parking lot before I ever rode on streets, and I stop probably more than modern bikes or even pedestrians.
These are dangerous machines to ride, but not as deadly as a...car!

[andrew pejack]

Press stunt? Do the Republicans own major stock in a High-Wheel bike factory? Are they about to unleash these bikes on us by the thousands?
God I hope so.

Oh yes Meuon, it's not that they don't have decent brakes....they
don't have ANY BRAKES!(OOHH! OWWW! OWWWWW!-insert Sam Kinison scream here- OWWWWWWWWWW!

Meuon wrote:

It's a bicycle. Period. And this this is merely a press stunt.
If it doesn't have decent brakes and is an ungainly configuration, "requiring" special mount/dismount/stop techniques that he is unwilling to do, it's an UNSAFE bicycle in his hands.
--Meuon - Recumbent commuter and long distance cyclist - Sometimes w/Sidecar.

[andrew pejack]

You flag wavers really get me down. It's not a 5 ton steam powered vehicle we're talking about here! It's a bike!

Parent wrote:

These bikes are from the early days of vehicular transport when motorised vehicles had to have a man with a red flag walking in front as a warning to other road users. I suspect that this type of bicycle should also have a man with a flag walking in front because it comes from a different era.

[andrew pejack]

Ok, this is my last entry, and then I'll shut up and go polish my bike.
I understand why this article caused unexpected grumblings, when I'm sure it was meant to be a human interest, historical type piece.
Riding a High Wheel bike requires you to a) Be in good physical shape, to be able to mount and dismount nimbly. b) Be totally aware of what's around you, while both arms and legs are moving in a coordinated manner c) Take responsibility for your own safety, and not rely on laws, belts, harnesses, or, Big Brother. That's your butt way up in that seat. d) Be considerate of
the people around you, be they in cars, on foot, bikes, etc. e) Be committed to preserving our country's culture, even at the risk of your own neck, or even the ire of the law f) not be a slave of peer pressures, or societies insecurities.
....Gee, In reading my own list, it kind of reminds of my Grandparents, not the sniveling consumerist overweight sheep we've degenerated into. How do you like them apples?

[Alix]

Go Martin, Go! We support you all the way.

[Bill Metcalf]

Here on Cape Cod, MA a local bike shop parked a high-wheeler out front of his store to attract business. the building commissioner tried to have it removed as an illegal sign. At the time I managed a McDonald's; so I called the building commissioner, and asked him if he'd like to take the Golden Arches for a test ride. He hung up on me.

[Bill Metcalf]

One more thing: we all discovered that it's fun and fairly easy to do track stands on high-wheelers.

[izzy newkirk]

what's a track stand?

[Bob Bennett]

Andrew....Can I get a picture of you with your "high Roller" ? Bob Hudson Bennett (in the book...)

andrew pejack wrote:

I ride a 52" High wheeler around
Los Altos. A week ago, I came upon a scene of road rage, with the driver about to exit his car and fight another cyclist. I rode my highwheeler in circles around his car, and let the machine work it's magic. The angry driver looked up at me in utter confusion, and drove off.
Any other riders nearby?
I saw one at the tail end of the Festival of Lights parade in downtown Los Altos.
Let's organize a ride!
-AP

[Bob Bennett]

Andrew, we're still in San Jose, Bob

[Lance in OR]

I'm with Andrew on this one. Get in shape, be aware of your surroundings, take responsibility for your own safety. If you rely on big-brother to wrap your ass in air bags, the same big-brother will tie up the rest of you in rules and regulations.

Personally, I have ridden a High Wheeler once, loved it. Normally I ride a 68cm fixie, 52x17.