RULES OF THE ROAD

Cyclists are subject to the same laws as the drivers of motor vehicles, and they are safest when treated just like motorists. That means you need to follow the same rules of the road as motorists do—and use a few special techniques that apply only to cyclists.

 

Scanning and Signaling

A key part of following the rules of the road is learning how to observe traffic and making your intentions clear to other drivers by scanning and signaling. Scanning means taking measures to be aware of traffic that’s around you in all directions. Signaling is like asking the question, “May I move from where I am now?” When you signal, a driver should respond in some way—by slowing down to let you into the lane, changing lanes to open a lane for you, or actually giving you a signal, as if to say, “Yes, you may move.” You must receive the driver’s response before changing your riding position on the road.

 

Your signal alone does not make it safe for you to change position on the road. One reason is that the vehicles in the other lane have the right of way. You must wait for an opening to move into a new lane. If possible, plan your changes early enough to deal with two drivers. If the first driver does not permit your action, the second one most likely will. Mirrors are good for keeping track of vehicle traffic behind you, but the only way you can keep tabs on traffic beside you is to look. Do not rely upon your hearing; cars can be very quiet in motion, as can bikes.

 

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When cyclists turn their head to scan, they often turn the handlebars in the same direction. Practice scanning in an empty parking lot to develop the skill of riding straight without swerving as you turn your head to look. Although you should signal with your left arm, in heavy traffic a turn of your head can suffice as the only signal in cases where you must keep both hands on the handlebars, ready to brake if necessary.

 

WHERE TO RIDE

The first rule of the road is: Ride on the right side of the road, with the flow of all other vehicular traffic. One of the most frequent causes of car-and-bike accidents is cyclists riding on the left, pedestrian style, facing the flow of traffic. Riding on the right lets you approach drivers on side streets and pedestrians on sidewalks from the direction they expect, the one from which traffic normally comes. When you ride on the right side of the road, drivers also have more time to react to you and just have to slow down to avoid or pass you. Right-turn signal Stop or slow-down signal You should not ride on sidewalks. Not only do you interfere with pedestrians on sidewalks, but you also actually put yourself at more risk than when you are on the road because drivers at intersections and driveways are less likely to see you. (This restriction does not apply to established bike paths.) The standard vehicle code for all road users states, “All persons have an equal right to use the highways for purposes of travel by proper means, and with due regard for the corresponding rights of others.” The second rule of the road, then, is: Slower traffic keeps to the right, and faster traffic passes on the left. A cyclist should ride to the right as far as is safe—which does not mean you should ride at the very edge of the road. In fact, you should typically ride about 3 feet away from the pavement’s edge, as well as from parked cars, hedges, and other obstructions.

 

If you ride any closer to the edge, you may encounter road debris, crumbling pavement, or a car door that suddenly opens in your path. If cars to the rear are trying to pass you, you can move to the edge of the road while they do so. This allows them to pass you without moving too far into the other lane. Many country roads and city streets are so narrow that cars can’t pass you without moving partway into the next lane. When cars are approaching you from both directions, and on blind curves where there might be oncoming traffic, take the middle of the lane to discourage drivers from unsafe passing. Look and signal before you move.

 

Do not forget that you have the same right to use the road as a motorist. Make motorists slow down for you if safety warrants it. Be courteous and give a “slow” signal to tell the driver behind you that it is unsafe for him or her to pass. When motorists approach from the rear, they are required to slow down and follow if they cannot safely pass. However, you should not delay faster drivers unnecessarily. If you are going the same speed as other vehicles, pull into line with them. If you must pass slower vehicles, look back for a safe interval in traffic and signal before moving left into the passing lane. (Do not pass on the right; drivers expect faster vehicles to pass on the left.) Make sure you are visible to the driver at this point. Don’t ride too close to the vehicle you are passing. After you pass, return to the right lane as soon as is convenient. If your lane is clear, you may move toward the center of the road to avoid debris, sand, gravel, or other hazards.

 

On roadways that have two narrow lanes for each direction, ride in the middle of the right lane at all times. Drivers need to get the idea that they must move into the passing lane if they want to pass you.

 

Do not weave among parked cars. You become invisible to drivers and will have to swerve back into traffic when you reach the next parked car.

 

If the roadway has a usable paved shoulder or an extra-wide right lane, you may ride in a line that is consistent from the left side of the right lane and about 3 feet to the right of where the cars are traveling. This lets motorists see you and helps prevent you being cut off by a driver turning right, as in the illustration below.

 

 

 

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If the vehicle you are passing speeds up while you are beside it, wait until you have fallen behind, look back to the right for traffic and merge back to the right when it is safe to do so. In narrow-lane conditions, riding all the way to the right invites a car to try passing you in the same lane, possibly forcing you off the road.

 

HANDLING INTERSECTIONS

An intersection is any point, including a driveway, where the paths of two vehicles can cross. There are ways to get through an intersection as easily and safely as possible. First, always move to the lane position that will allow you to ride through most efficiently. To turn right, get to the right side; to go straight, stay near the middle; to turn left, move just to the right of the center of the roadway or into the left-turn lane.

 

The cyclist’s turning-lane rules are as follows:

• Select the rightmost lane that goes to your destination (the left, middle, or right lane).

• Ride on the side nearest your destination if one lane goes in two directions, such as left and straight-through center lanes.

 

Right Turns. Right turns are the easiest turns. From the right side of the right lane, look both ways for oncoming traffic, signal, and go around the corner. At an intersection with a stop sign or where right turns at a red light are allowed, you must stop and yield the right-of-way to traffic already in the intersection. You also must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalks. A right-turn signal is necessary to let drivers know your intentions.

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Left Turns. Left turns are the most complex traffic maneuvers a cyclist can make. In areas where traffic is light enough to permit it, you should execute left turns from the center of the roadway, meaning the lane from which no cars on your left will go straight ahead. Turning left from this position puts all the traffic you might have to deal with in front of you. It allows through traffic to pass on your right, and it doesn’t require you to look back when turning.

 

If the traffic at an intersection is too heavy for you to ride through safely, it’s OK to make the left turn as a pedestrian. Ride to the far right corner of the intersection, come to a complete stop, dismount from your bike, and look for traffic in all four directions. Now, wait like a pedestrian until traffic clears, then walk your bicycle safely across the street.

 

On one-way streets with two or more lanes, you may ride on either side of the road. The easiest way to make a left turn from a one-way street onto another one-way street is to ride around the corner on the left, then change lanes to the right as soon as you are certain the roadway is clear and operators of vehicles behind you are aware of your intentions. Never pass the last in a series of cars stopped and waiting at an intersection. You do not know which way the car will go, or whether it is hiding a pedestrian or other hazard. When moving into position within a lane, look back for traffic clearance first. When changing lanes to get into position, look back to let a driver make room for you, make a left-turn signal, cross to the other side of the lane, look back again to let a driver make room for you, and cross the line into the new lane. To cross multiple lanes, repeat the process as needed.

Going Straight. When going through an intersection, make sure traffic turning right passes you on your right. Ride to the left side of dual-destination lanes (lanes from which vehicles can go straight or turn right) and stay completely out of right-turn-only lanes.

 

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