Q: I would like to know what the age a child has to be to be able to attend adult education. I would also like to know what the law is about a parent making their child go to school. — Erin from Muir

A: Erin, this is a great question as I was recently informed that the law has changed. MCL 380.1561, Compulsory attendance at public school, states that a child is required to attend until the child turns 16, completing that school year. However, the new change makes the required age 18.  “…a child who turns age 11 on or after Dec. 1, 2009, or a child who was age 11 before that date and enters grade 6 in 2009 or later, the child’s parent, guardian (etc.), shall send that child to a public school during the entire school year from age 6 to the child’s 18th birthday.” This would cover this year’s eighth-grade and younger students. They must attend school until they are 18 years old.

There are exemptions listed, including home school, parochial school or have graduated. Adult or alternative education is available to most people who want to finish their education.

MCL 380.1587, 1588 and 1599 explains penalties for parents not sending the child to school during the mandatory attendance years. The parent could face jail time of two to 90 days.

Q: Can you tell me the law regarding lane usage for bicycles in Michigan? We do group rides twice a week, and try to ride single file, as close to the shoulder as possible.

There are times we are two abreast, usually on lightly traveled roads, and will single file when we see a car behind us. I believe in some states cyclists have the entire lane, other states not.

I’ve also been told that the same laws that apply to motorized vehicles apply to us, although we are admittedly a little lax on that full stop thing at stop signs.

Obviously, common sense on our part says to take as little of the lane as possible, since the outcome of a confrontation with a vehicle is pretty predictable for us. I’ve asked a couple of local law enforcement people; they did not seem to sure themselves. Thanks for your help. — Gary, an “Ask Trooper Rob” reader.

A: Gary, thanks for your question, as spring will soon be upon us and more cyclists will be on the road. As an avid cyclist myself and a law enforcement officer, I want all cyclists to be safe and to obey the cycling laws. We are advocating for cycling rights on the road, therefore, should obey the laws of the road also.

MVC 257.657 states, “Each person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device or moped or operating a low-speed vehicle upon a roadway has all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter…”

Continuing, MVC 257. 660 (1) and (2) state, “(1) A person operating a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, low-speed vehicle or moped upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.

A motorcycle is entitled to full use of a lane, and a motor vehicle shall not be driven in such a manner as to deprive a motorcycle of the full use of a lane. This subsection does not apply to motorcycles operated two abreast in a single lane.

(2) A person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, motorcycle or moped upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on a path or part of a roadway set aside for the exclusive use of those vehicles.

These sections include bicycles. The League of Michigan Bicyclists, www.lmb.org, is an excellent, local resource for all bicyclists. Please enjoy the rides and be safe.

Tpr. Williams died in motorcycle crash

Trooper Delos A. Williams enlisted in the Michigan State Police on May 11, 1929 and was assigned to the Bay City Post.

On July 30, 1929, at 22, Williams was on patrol on his newly assigned motorcycle when he was involved in a crash with a car.  Suffering from massive head and other internal injuries, he was rushed to a Bay City hospital, where he died later that day.

Williams was buried at Ferris Center and was the eighth MSP officer to die in the line of duty.

Send your questions and comments to trooperrob53@yahoo.com.