Where to ride on the road
The safest way to ride is as part
of normal traffic. Bicycles should be in the right lane, riding in
the same direction as traffic, and should follow all the normal
rules of the road.
A few specific guidelines:
When riding on city streets with cars
parked along the side, make sure there is at least three feet
between the parked cars and your bike. Avoiding the ‘door zone’
helps prevent being hit by passengers or drivers when they open
their car door.
On narrow lane roads or highways, don’t
ride at the very edge. Debris and deteriorating roads can cause
dangerous falls. Cars should need to travel in the next lane to
pass you, just as if they were passing another car. Hold your own
safe space and don’t let cars push you off the side of the road.
Use any designated bike lanes if you’re
moving slower than traffic. Don’t become complacent and ride too
close to parked cars, however. The best place is along a bike
lane’s left edge. Look out for any turning cars and jaywalking
pedestrians, as they may not be looking out for you.
A bike is a vehicle, and should be
treated as such. The most important rule, of course, is to be
attentive and informed. Know where you should be, and let everyone
around you know where you are going.
(Information from Bicycling
Street Smarts, copyright 1988, 2001, Rodale Inc.)
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