Take the Pledge -
Be a Visible, Predictable, Legal Cyclist

Here are some simple rules to help you to be a VPL cyclist:

• First Come, First Served. Travelers are entitled to the roadway space they are using with reasonable clearance all around, and clear stopping distance ahead.
• Use the Right Hand Side of the Road. Not the left side, and not the sidewalk.
• Yield to Crossing Traffic. At intersections (including driveways) yield to the traffic on the "bigger" road. Yielding means looking until no traffic is so close as to be a danger. Signs and signals often help determine which road is "bigger". Stop if signs, signals or traffic require.
• Yield when Changing Lanes. Before making a lateral move, yield to traffic in the new lane. Yielding means looking both behind and in front until there is no close traffic. Communicate your intentions with hand signals before you change lanes.
• Speed Positioning. Between intersections, slower traffic keeps to the right. Overtake on the left (except when overtaking a vehicle preparing for a left turn).
• Intersection Positioning. Approach intersections in the proper position for your destination. Left turners near the center line; right turners near the curb, straight thru traffic between. Remember to yield when changing lanes. Communicate your intentions with hand signals before you turn.

You'll find all of the relevant Utah Traffic Code regulations at http://www.le.state.ut.us/~code/TITLE41/41_04.htm .

It's worth examining the "keep right" rule closely. Here it is:

Utah State Law (41-6a-1105) says you must ride as far to the right as "practicable." It does not say as far to the right as "possible." And it describes several situations in which you do not have to keep far to the right:

• when overtaking and passing another bicycle or other vehicle,
• when preparing for a left turn,
• when avoiding hazards including:
  • objects (parked vehicles and their open doors, debris, gravel, broken glass, etc)
  • surface hazards (potholes, drain grates, railroad tracks, etc)
• or when the lane is too narrow for a bicycle and vehicle to travel safely side-by-side within the lane.

This means that you must share the lane when the lane is wide enough to share but you are not required to yield to following traffic. If you are visible, predictable and legal, the following traffic will wait for a legal opportunity to overtake safely.

Utah State Law (41-6a-706.5) says that motorist must give 3 feet of clearance when overtaking a cyclist. This means that a lane less than about 12 feet wide is too narrow to share.

Over the range of distances that matters, you demonstrate to following travelers how much space you require on your left by how much space you give yourself on your right. If you hug the curb, giving yourself little space on your right, you communicate the message that you don't need much space on your left either. Take a position that makes it clear whether you expect to share the lane or not.

Hugging the curb also means that you can only avoid obstacles by swerving left. If you establish a line of travel further to the left, you can dodge some obstacles by swerving to the right, away from overtaking traffic.

How can a cyclist be VPL on walkways?

The first rule of safety is don't use a sidewalk or sidepath when you could use the right side of the adjacent roadway.

Sidewalk riding is surprisingly hazardous. Much of the hazard occurs at road and driveway crossings. Motorists look out for pedestrians immediately adjacent to the crossing. But a sidewalk cyclist can get in the way suddenly from beyond the area the motorist may have scanned. This violates the "visibility" requirement and increases risk. After crossing the sidewalk, the same motorist will look further down the roadway to yield to an oncoming vehicle there, whether the vehicle has a motor or not.

On "interior" walkways, away from the road, cyclists must interact courteously and cautiously with pedestrians in an environment with fewer rules and conventions.

Pedestrians do not have a "keep right" rule. Pedestrians are likely to change speed or direction without warning. If that causes a bump with another pedestrian, there is generally little consequence. The errant walker says 'scuse me and everybody goes on their way. A collision with a cyclist, even one moving relatively slowly, has more consequence and more potential for pain and damage.

Walkway cyclists must proceed with caution, keeping a buffer space to avoid the changes of speed and direction of pedestrians. Utah law and USU campus regulations require cyclists on walkways to yield the right of way to any pedestrian and give an audible signal before overtaking a pedestrian. The conventional signal is a bike bell, but a friendly "on your left" works as well. Cyclists have all the rights and duties of pedestrians including the right to travel at pedestrian speeds. (See Utah Code 41-6a-1106)

Some walkways are actually "multi-use paths" (MUPs) that have defined pedestrian and cycling lanes to prevent these collisions. MUPs generally have little cross traffic to complicate the segregation by speed/mode. Where travelers cross or enter or leave the MUP, everyone has to be careful and the cyclists have to slow down to near walking speed.