Sharing the Road with Bicyclists

Before you head to the DMV to get your driver license, let’s talk about other people you’ll be sharing the road with - bicyclists, motorcyclists, mopeds, pedestrians, other vehicles, and even Avril Lavigne’s fabled sk8er bois. When you’re driving, you’ve got all sorts of things you have to pay attention to other than the task of being a safe driver. Let’s talk about bicycles and other roadway users and break down just exactly how to share the roadway with them so everyone can navigate the highway transportation system and busy city roads safely to avoid crashes.

First off, let’s talk about what cyclists should do to share the roadway with cars.

Even if you’re on a bike, you gotta follow the rules of the road; the traffic laws apply to you, too. Make sure you follow all road signs and traffic signals. Pay attention to right-of-way rules. Normal driving stuff. If you run traffic lights or signs, you’re putting yourself in a lot of danger.

Here’s a list of bicycle safety rules you should follow if you’re on a bike:

• Stop for stop signs and red lights
• Follow all traffic signs and traffic laws
• Go with the flow (of traffic)
• Use turn lanes and arm turn signals so cars know where you’re going
• Follow the posted speed limit, speedzilla
• Don’t block traffic in a travel lane
• Use lights when biking at night/in bad weather
• Yield right of way to cars and other bike riders when you’re entering roadways
• Don’t use your phone while biking
• DO NOT bike while intoxicated
• Aggressive driving is never cool, especially when there is a cyclist or bike lane nearby
• Watch out for tractor trailers making wide right turns

When presented with the opportunity, always ride in the bike lane. Sometimes things might be in the bike lane (even though they’re probably not supposed to be there) like large trucks delivering goods, cars temporarily parking, or maybe a pedestrian or two. When that happens, be careful, check around you for cars and other motor vehicles (the same way you would change lanes in a vehicle), and move into the general travel lane. BTW, you’re totally allowed to ride in the general travel lane at all times. You do you, boo. The best thing to do when you’re on the road is to stay close-ish to the curb to give yourself a good space bubble from motor vehicles. Just be aware of road conditions - be careful of debris or potholes and drivers opening parked car doors on the side of the road. One place a person riding a bike should avoid is the sidewalk. It’s dangerous for a few reasons - first off all, this is where all the pedestrians are, walking around, listening to headphones, and super not expecting someone to breeze by them at 15 mph. Second of all, some sidewalks are hard enough for pedestrians to walk on, let alone bike. Unless you’re prepared for X-treme sidewalk biking, you’ll be safer on the street.

There are a few things you should wear as a bicyclist to be safe and seen when you're sharing the road with motor vehicles. In a car, you've got multiple safety features working together to protect you, so it's important to do the same when you're on a bike. Traffic safety and peace of mind are the rights and responsibilities of every wheeled warrior.

First and foremost, make sure you have that bicycle helmet. Here’s a chart to show proper placement:

It’s also important that you have a reflector, a taillight and headlight, and a reflective vest/jacket. These things are important during the day but important at night.

Now let’s talk about what you need to do as a car-sharing the road with a passing bicyclist.

You’re gonna want to make sure you’re giving bikes plenty of space to avoid a collision - at least three feet. If the biker has to move quickly to avoid something on the road, you’ll be far enough away that it won’t be an issue.

Unless you’re driving next to Lance Armstrong or something, most of the time you’ll be driving faster than the bike, so here are some tips when you want to pass a cyclist:

• Keep at least three feet of space between you and the bike - more if possible
• Pass on the left
• Wait to pass until the traffic lane next to you is clear. This means:
  • On a two-lane highway, wait until the opposing lane is clear
  • On roads with more than two lanes, wait until the traffic lane on your left is clear before changing lanes
• Be patient. You should only pass when it’s safe, even if this means driving behind a cyclist for a little while.
• Always check your blind spots for cyclists
• As always, pay special attention at a crosswalk

When you park, make sure you look in your mirror for cyclists before opening your door. Getting doored is a cyclist’s nightmare and it’s really hard to watch out for a car door when it shoots out randomly in front of you.

One of the most important areas to be aware of bicyclists is at intersections. Cyclists going straight or turning right will usually be on the right of a vehicle in an intersection, so it’s extra important to look for them if you’re turning right. Cyclists are also able to use the left turn lane at an intersection, so stay alert when the light changes.

Sharing the road is not limited to cyclists, however. Anyone with wheels is a certified roadway user - mopeds, people who are in-line skating, rollerskating, or skateboarding, tricyclists, etc. These rules apply to these vehicles as well.

At the end of the day, it’s all just about sharing the road. Remember, bicycles are people, too, and they have as much right to the road as cars. Stay patient and alert and you’ll be just fine. Sharing is caring, fam.

Make sure to check out our safe driving videos for more tips to keep you in control on the road! Make sure to check out our tips on pedestrian safety as well!