Scott Martin

My hometown of Santa Cruz, California, recently launched a traffic school for scofflaw cyclists. Similar to traffic school for drivers, bike school allows riders to avoid paying a ticket, which can run $100-$200, by attending a 2-hour class.

"We're a university town with a lot of bikes on the road and a lot of injuries," a county health official told the local newspaper. "We want to capture that audience and give them some education."

Great idea, given the boneheaded riding I see every day. And it's an idea that may spread . . . to your town. Which means someone you know -- not you, of course -- could get busted and end up in bicycling traffic school.

Could "your friend" graduate? Yes, because RBR has obtained a copy of the exam. Study hard :

1. You arrive at a stop sign. You should...
(a) Come to a complete stop no matter what.
(b) Slow down, look both ways to make sure it's clear, then sprint.
(c) What's a stop sign ?

2. A pedestrian is crossing the street in front of you. You should...
(a) Yield the right of way.
(b) Avoid him, but just barely, to teach him a lesson.
(c) What's a pedestrian ?

3. A motorist cuts you off, causing you to crash, and then drives away. You should...
(a) Make sure your bike is okay, then yell and/or cry.
(b) Get the vehicle's license-plate number and call the police, so they can conduct a thorough investigation and bring the driver to justice.
(c) Yeah, right.

4. You get pulled over for speeding on your bike. You should...
(a) Give the officer your name and address and calmly accept the ticket.
(b) Tell the officer you are Levi Leipheimer of 14 Peloton Lane, Astanaville.
(c) A speeding ticket on your bike ? Dream on, Mario.

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