Comments for Bicycle Driving

Comment on Motorists Should Know by motorist & 4 season cyclist

motorist & 4 season cyclist — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:47:24 +0000

Reading comments from ‘Selfish’, ‘Bub’ ‘Dude’ and others shows that our minimal standards for licensing motor vehicle operators are totally inadequate. People, please read your state’s highway traffic act, or at least look at the pictures in the driver’s handbook. You were supposed to know this stuff before you got behind the wheel.

If you don’t like sharing the road with cyclists, stay on the interstates and controlled access highways. That’s where bicycles aren’t allowed. By your attitudes you’re not fit to drive anywhere else.

Comment on Bike Lanes by MikeOnBike

MikeOnBike — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:13:07 +0000

Hi Tony, I agree there needs to be more awareness that bicycle drivers generally have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle drivers. That includes turning left from the left turn lane, for example. Or having the right to use an entire lane, if it’s too narrow to share with another driver.

All drivers should be watching for all other drivers, regardless of vehicle type. That’s much easier if all drivers are following the same rules.

Comment on Bike Lanes by Tony

Tony — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:06:57 +0000

I think there should be more public awareness concerning bikes and cars. I see more and more bikes in the “left turn lane” along with the cars. Some of these people will even be in the center of the lane as if they were driving a motor vehicle. If the law allows this, than it should be known. In Southern California is happens quite often. I have to watch for motorcycles, now I have to be aware of “Bikes”. I think they should stay in the bike lane. “BANC” Bikes are not cars!!!

Comment on Guide to Improving Laws by Jon M

Jon M — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:43:05 +0000

MD law is mostly characterized correctly above.
However, it says “practicable and safe” for the ride right rule which still is interpreted as ‘possible’

Also I’ve been told 6 states have a shoulder use requriement - MD, AK, HI, CO, ND and WY.

When was the last time this site was updated - its very helpful - but perhaps in need of a refresh?

Comment on Bike Lanes by Gregory Price

Gregory Price — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:15:46 +0000

You say: “The UK has both advisory cycle lanes (use not required) and compulsory cycle lanes (use required)”. This is incorrect.

With mandatory (not compulsory) cycle lanes it is mandatory for motor vehicle to keep out of the lane - not for cyclists to use them. Mandatory cycle lanes are marked by solid lines.

Advisory cycle lanes are marked by dashed lines and motor vehicles can enter them if a cyclist in not in them.

In the UK it is not compulsory for cyclists to use any cycle facilities such as cycle lanes. Cyclists have the right to use any road (except motorways).

Hope this helps.

Greg

Comment on Guide to Improving Laws by Josh Putnam

Josh Putnam — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:11:20 +0000

One other note on Washington, the road positioning specified in our law is the right edge of the right through lane, so again no exception is needed for right-turn-only lanes — the cyclist is specifically directed to use a through lane rather than a turn lane.

Comment on Guide to Improving Laws by Josh Putnam

Josh Putnam — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:01:34 +0000

On keep-right rules for motorists, Mass. is not the only state to require motorists to keep to the right lane except when passing. The language in Washington may have more clarity in the exceptions, but the basic language is the same:

(2) Upon all roadways having two or more lanes for traffic moving in the same direction, all vehicles shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic, except (a) when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, (b) when traveling at a speed greater than the traffic flow, (c) when moving left to allow traffic to merge, or (d) when preparing for a left turn at an intersection, exit, or into a private road or driveway when such left turn is legally permitted. On any such roadway, a vehicle or combination over ten thousand pounds shall be driven only in the right-hand lane except under the conditions enumerated in (a) through (d) of this subsection.

Comment on Guide to Improving Laws by Josh Putnam

Josh Putnam — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:54:30 +0000

Your article incorrectly states that Washington’s ride-to-the-right law lacks a speed exception. No exception is listed for speed because the law applies only to bicycles moving slower than traffic. You can’t except someone from a law that didn’t apply in the first place.

“Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place shall ride as near to the right side of the right through lane as is safe….”

Comment on Awareness by Gary Crocker

Gary Crocker — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:36:40 +0000

Thanks for your article. We did a test market for our campaign and found that the Yellow Warning sign with Bicycles Allowed Use Of Full Lane. Change Lanes to Pass, was easier to see, easier to understand and looked more authoritative/ official and was directed more to drivers as opposed to the regulatory sign. It was almost as if the regulatory sign was taken as not too serious. Sort of like a 30 MPH sign where everyone does 40MPH and it’s the norm. Many drivers think that they have priority and a sign that implies “maybe” also implies to that type of driver that when a cyclist is in the road then “maybe” they really should be taught a lesson as to when they may take the lane. Thanks.

Comment on Bike Lanes by Patrick Grant

Patrick Grant — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:55:45 +0000

I like to give my 2 cent worth. The general bashing of bike lanes, is dated and result of some decades old designs. Much has been learned.

In area of Sunnyvale, CA, newer bike lanes are marked and signed that near intersections cars are to merge into the wide bike lane to turn right. IN fact at Fremont Ave and Hwy 85 the bike lane is left of the right turn lane, where it should be.

The real value of bike lanes is to segregate modes of traffic by their speed. In every state of the union, being picky it is unlawful to impede traffic, be you in a tractor, car or bike, if you have some many behind your vehicle (be it car, tractor or bike), you are to pull over. Bike lanes avoid that necessity. The safety issue for all is lane changes especially brought out with impatience cause all type of accidents, especially in cars and trucks blind spots, not just affecting bikers. Bike lanes of busy streets improves car traffic volume capacity.

Another issue about bike lanes is in areas of high curb activity as in a commercial strip mall street, car drivers just do not notice someone in bike lanes. That is a street design issue, that perhaps some areas should not have bike lanes, till the street layout is fixed. If there is high curb activity, then speed limits, should be fairly low, 30 MPH, more conducive to taking the lane, and safer merging of cars into car traffic too..

To claim that bike lanes are wrong and bad because local designs and driver familiarity is not up to date, or well thought out enough is folly. It leaves bikers with stone age facilities. In our area there are many excellent bike lanes, with very few curb entrances, designed well that right hooks are very rare on these well designed bike lanes.

(frankly I have more concerns about right hooks even taking the lane with impatient drivers on some 6 lane streets without bike lanes we have here - for those bad drivers the only solution is for all bikers to get their tag numbers and call the police, our police are very good in talking with those who drive unsafely, it seem to work for the most part.)

The best resource on appropriate deign of bike lanes I have seen so far (there are likely better ones) is the London Cycling Design Standards

Regards
P Grant Sunnyvale ,CA, USA