Where to Ride your Bike?

Where on the roadway should you ride your bike? Lots of people first guess "on the left, facing traffic" for a variety of reasons. But that first choice is wrong, for a variety of reasons:

danger from left turning car

According to the League of American Bicyclists' Bike Ed training program, riding on the left side is the leading single cause of car/bike collisions.
Riding with traffic puts you where other travellers are looking for conflicting traffic, instead of putting you where they aren't looking, especially at intersections, driveways and crosswalks.
The closing speed of traffic in your lane is the sum of both speeds if you are facing traffic, but is the difference of speeds if you are with traffic. That difference in closing speed may mean a big difference in reaction time for you and the motorist.
When a wrong way cyclist meets a right way cyclist, who swerves out into traffic or into the gutter? I hope you don't expect me to!
Less than 3% of car/bike collisions in daylight are due to overtaking errors (rear end collisions).
State Law requires bicyclists to ride on the right, not on the left. When a collision results from wrong way riding, you may be found at fault.
OK, it turns out there are lots of good reasons not to ride your bike on the left side of the road. But, you think, sharing a lane with overtaking motor traffic is pretty scary. So, how about riding on the sidewalk?
This is another bad idea. Research reported in the Institute of Transportation Engineers Journal in 1994 showed that, for a wide variety of urban situations, sidewalk riding is about twice as dangerous as riding in the adjacent street. Why is that?
Bicycling on sidewalks is hazardous to pedestrians. Pedestrians are apt to change direction or stop without warning, increasing the likelihood of a collision. A bike/pedestrian collision could hurt both of you.
At intersections and driveways, motorists are expecting to yield to pedestrians walking in or very near the intersection. Cyclists can get into an intersection from farther than motorists expect. So, the sidewalk cyclist must be prepared to yield at every intersection and driveway in case a crossing motorist fails to notice. Riding in the street puts you where other travellers are looking for, and prepared to yield to, traffic with the right-of-way.
Sidewalk cycling is generally legal, and is safe enough if you are moving only at pedestrian speeds. Cities and towns are free, however, to prohibit sidewalk cycling in some or all locations. Do you know where it is prohibited in our community? You don't need to know if you always cycle on the right hand side of the street where you are safest, and can take advantage of the extra speed your bike offers.

OK, no wrong side riding, and no sidewalk riding. That leaves riding on the right side of the street. Still scary? Motorists can and do avoid colliding with large objects (like bicyclists) moving visibly, predictably and legally along the roadway. They don't want to hurt you; they don't want to damage their car; they don't want a ticket. They just want to get where they are going; just like you do.

State Law 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 vehicle,
when preparing for a left turn,
when avoiding hazards such as:
- objects (debris, gravel, broken glass, etc)
- parked vehicles
- pedestrians
- animals
- 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.

That last provision allows you to "take the lane" when you need to, even if you delay traffic behind you. If you "take the lane," do it clearly and obviously. Hugging the edge of a narrow lane encourages motorists to try to squeeze by. If you believe the lane is too narrow, don't invite the traffic behind you to attempt to prove you wrong. Fortunately, we have lots of wide curb lanes, where motorists can safely overtake cyclists without inconvenience or fear.

Principles of Traffic Law

The League of American Bicyclists' Bike Ed course teaches more than just to ride on the right. State Law says that bicyclists have all the "rights and duties" of the operator of a vehicle. The League summarizes those rights and duties as follows:

First Come, First Served. Travellers 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.

Night Riding

How do the rules change for riding at night? None of the principles change. You just need to add lights and reflectors. Reflectors alone are not good enough. Reflectors only work when you are right in front of the headlights of another vehicle. Traffic crossing at an intersection won't see your reflectors until it is too late. Your rear reflector and pedal reflectors will help overtaking traffic to see you and avoid you. But oncoming traffic, crossing traffic and unlighted pedestrians need to see your lights.

Bicycle Helmets

A helmet may reduce the damage to an unrepairable part of your body, if you have a fall or collision. But it won't prevent collisions and injury like following the traffic principles will.

Learn more about traffic cycling skills in a League of American Bicyclists Bike Ed safety class. See http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/education/ for a list of instructors around the country.