 |
|
2 Rules of the Road
| contents: |
Cyclists are required to obey the same rules as drivers. Since an adult cyclist almost always has a driver's license, there is little reason to go over these rules in detail, as most have actually learned the material, but it is important to emphasize that bicyclists are required to obey these rules and that the failure to obey these rules is a major contributing factor for collisions. In particular, riding the wrong way, ignoring stop signs, running red lights, and failure to observe right-of-way rules for lane changes are major contributing factors in those collisions in which cyclists are at fault.
For younger cyclists and for the relatively few adults who have never had a license, the California DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) maintains a web site. In particular, the Driver's Handbook contains a section on the rules of the road that can serve as a good introduction.
The DMV's web site can be found by visiting the URL http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dmv.htm. A list of DMV publications can be found by visiting the URL http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/pubs.htm.
2.1 Summary of Cycling-Specific Rules
A few traffic laws apply primarily to bicyclists. In the typical case, these can be summarized as follows.
- Cyclists must obey the same rules as drivers, and have the same rights.
- When riding at speeds less than the normal speed of traffic, a cyclist should nominally stay to the right, either in a bike lane, or near the right side of the roadway. The roadway is that portion of the road used for vehicular travel, so there is no requirement to ride on a shoulder or to weave in between parked cars, or to even ride in an area marked for parking when no cars are parked there.
- The "stay to the right" and bike lane rules have numerous exceptions, including preparing for a left turn, avoiding debris or other hazards, passing slower bicyclists or vehicles, and approaching a place where a right turn is permitted. As written, the latter exception includes driveways, not just intersections.
- Bicyclists have to ride in the same direction as vehicular traffic, both on and off the roadway (e.g., when on a shoulder), but this requirement does not apply on sidewalks.
- Riding on a sidewalk may be subject to local regulations.
- Lights and reflectors must be used at night.
Keep in mind, however, that rules can vary from state to state. See the parallel presentation for details. In most cases, these differences are minor ones. The description above matches the rules for California.
|