Traffic rules exist to improve everyone’s safety and are based on collective experience. Most crashes can be avoided if both bicyclists and motorists follow the rules of the road.

MOTORISTS
Individual drivers can make the roads safer by driving at reasonable speeds, expecting and slowing for bicyclists and pedestrians, and leaving plenty of room when passing. Remember that if bicyclists and pedestrians were not out walking and riding, they would probably be out driving, creating more traffic congestion!

BICYCLISTS
For bicyclists, safety depends more on how you ride rather than where. Many studies show that bicyclists who practice “Vehicular Cycling,” following the rules of the road and using front and rear lights starting at dusk, are statistically as safe as motorists and up to twenty times safer than bicyclists who don’t follow road rules or use lights. Following these rules makes the streets safe for everyone:

Sharing the Road with Bicycles:

Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities on the streets that drivers do, and in most cases, they must share the lane. Bicycles are required to travel on the right hand side of the road with other traffic. Bicyclists are not allowed to travel facing traffic, since this is far less safe. They must ride as near to the right hand side of the road as practical, while avoiding road hazards that could cause them to swerve into traffic.

When you’re sharing the road with bicycles, you should always expect the rider to make sudden moves. Trash, minor oil slicks, a pothole or crack in the concrete, a barking dog, a parked car or a car door opening, and other surprises can force a bicycle rider to swerve suddenly in front of you. Similarly, when cyclists are traveling past parked cars, they tend to move away from the cars, toward the center of the lane. This is to avoid injuring, or being injured by, persons getting out of those cars. In such cases, the bicyclist is operating the bicycle properly.

If possible, give the cyclist the entire lane. When road conditions prevent this, pass the cyclist with extreme caution. Cyclists who are not on the extreme right hand side of the lane are not being careless, but are in fact attempting to account for traffic conditions and/or preparing to make a left turn. Bicycles are hard to see. The riders are exposed and easily injured in a collision. Oncoming bicycle traffic is often overlooked or its speed misjudged.

Safety Tips for Drivers:

• The most common causes of collisions are drivers turning left in front of an oncoming bicycle or turning right, across the path of the bicycle.
• Drivers often fail to pick the bicyclist out of the traffic scene, or inaccurately judge the speed of cyclists making a left turn.
• Drivers overtaking a bicyclist, then making a right turning front of the cyclist is also a cause of many accidents. Look once, then again, make sure you see the cyclist and know his speed before you turn.
• Merge with bicycle traffic when preparing for a right turn. Don’t turn directly across the path of a bicyclist.
• Watch for bicycle riders turning in front of you without looking or signaling, especially if the rider is a child.
• Most bicyclists maintain eye contact with drivers of vehicles around them, particularly when the cyclist or vehicle is making a turn. Before turning, a driver should attempt to gain and maintain eye contact with the bicyclist to ensure a safer turn.

Allow plenty of room when passing a bicycle rider:
• A driver should NEVER attempt passing between a bicyclist and oncoming vehicles on a two-lane road. Slow down and allow vehicles to pass. Then move to the left to allow plenty of room to pass the rider safely. Leave at least three feet of space between your car and a cyclist when passing.
• NEVER pass a bicycle if the street is too narrow or you would force the bicyclist too close to parked vehicles. Wait until there is enough room to let you pass safely.
• If you are about to pass a bicycle on a narrow road and you think the rider doesn’t know you’re coming, tap your horn gently and briefly as a signal that you’re going to pass. Don’t blast your horn or otherwise startle or try to intimidate the rider.

Residential Areas Are Danger Zones:
Bicyclists may ride in the middle of the street and disregard stop signs and traffic signals. BE CAREFUL in all neighborhood areas where children and teenagers might be riding.
• Children riding bicycles create special problems for drivers. Children are not capable of proper judgment in determining traffic conditions, therefore drivers should be alert to the possibility of erratic movement and sudden changes in direction when children on bicycles are present.
• Watch out for bikes coming out from driveways or from behind parked cars or other obstructions.• Bicyclists riding at night present visibility problems for drivers. At night, watch the side of the road for bicyclists. Bicyclists are required to have proper illumination, a front light and rear reflector, but drivers should be aware that bicyclists are not easily seen. Lights from approaching traffic may make them even harder to see at night.
• If you see a bicyclist with a red or orange pennant flag on an antennae attached to the bike, slow down; this is a common symbol to indicate the rider has impaired hearing.

Lane Positions for Bicycles:
Bicycle riders are required to ride as far right in the lane as possible only when a car and a bicycle, side by side, can safely share the lane. Even then, there are certain times when a bicycle can take the full lane. A bicyclist should be allowed full use of the lane when:
• The rider is overtaking and passing another vehicle going in the same direction.
• If the lane is marked and signed for bicycle use only, drivers must NEVER use that lane as a turning lane, passing lane or for parking.
• The bicyclist is getting in place for a left turn at an intersection or turning left into a private road or driveway.
• There are unsafe conditions in the roadway, such as parked cars, moving vehicles or machinery, fixed obstacles, pedestrians, animals, potholes or debris.
• The lane is too narrow for both a car and a bicycle to safely share the lane. In this case, it is safest to let the bicycle take the full lane.

Safety Tips for Bicyclists:

•Always wear a helmet.
•Ride with the flow.
•Know rules/hazards of sidewalk cycling.
•Yield to traffic before entering or crossing a roadway.
•Yield to overtaking traffic before moving across one or more lanes.
•Come to a complete stop at every stop sign and red light.
•Ride in the farthest right lane that serves your destination.
•Signal turns and lane changes at least 50 feet in advance.
•Ride in the appropriate position in the lane you are using.
•Never ride at night without two things: a bright, white non-flashing headlight and red rear reflector.
•Maintain control of your bicycle always.
•Maintain your bike in good working order.
•Don't ride a bike if you've been drinking alcohol.
•Seek help from experienced cyclists.


• Stop and yield to cross traffic before entering a road from a driveway or sidewalk. Stop at stop signs. Stop when you have the red at traffic signals. Remember, you are the driver of a vehicle and have the same rights AND responsibilities as motorists.
• Be predictable and visible. A bicyclist should ride to the right so that other vehicles can pass, but the bicyclist should ride in a predictable  straight line. Swerving left to avoid potholes, parked cars, broken glass and other hazards can surprise motorists who are attempting to pass.   A bicyclist who stays too far to the right is less visible to drivers. Moving  left when the lane is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to share  helps motorists who might otherwise misjudge passing space.
• Ride with traffic. A bicyclist who rides facing oncoming traffic increases his/her risk of being hit by a motorist. Drivers entering and exiting the  roadway at side streets and driveways do not expect bicyclists to approach  from the wrong direction.
• Signal. Use arm signals to communicate turning or merging movements to other drivers. If you communicate with motorists they will likely cooperate   with you.
• Wear a helmet. Your helmet is a lot like a seat belt. Wear it all the time  as “insurance,” but then drive so safely that you never need that insurance.
• Lights on at dusk. Use a white light on the front and we recommend a  red light in the rear as well, whenever you ride at dusk or after dark. Reflectors are not enough. Motorists try to avoid hitting a cyclist they can  see, but a bicycle without lights at night is nearly invisible. Headlights are not just used so that the bicyclist can see where he/she is going—the most  important purpose of lights and reflectors is to let motorists know that the  bicyclist is there.
Bicycling in cooperation with traffic and the law is an enjoyable experience with many health benefits.