Sharing the Road

In most countries the bicycle has been accepted as a normal part of vehicular traffic almost since its invention. Indeed, it was bicyclists, not motorists, who first lobbied for smooth-paved roads in the United States. But following World War II bicycles got pushed aside in this country, as newly prosperous Americans rushed to buy automobiles. Consequently, two or three generations of Americans have grown up with the erroneous perception, that bicycles are merely toys and do not belong on the road. In recent decades many health-conscious and economy-minded Americans have rediscovered the bicycle, both as recreation and as transportation. Yet a vast number of people remain unaware that, in most states, bicyclists are bound by the same laws and are accorded the same privileges as motor vehicle drivers. In the interest of safety (and in the interest of not finding ourselves on the sorry end of a traffic fine or a lawsuit), then, it is time to dispel a few bicycle myths.

Myth: Bicycles are sports equipment, essentially the equivalent of skates. Bicyclists are thus equivalent to pedestrians. They should ride on the sidewalk if there is one, or else on the left shoulder of the road facing motor traffic.	Fact: Under the laws of all 50 states, bicycles are classified as vehicles, and it may even be illegal for them to be ridden on sidewalks. As vehicles, bicycles are to be operated on the right-hand side of the roadway, moving in the same direction as other vehicular traffic. As vehicle operators, bicyclists are required to obey all pertinent traffic laws, and they have the same rights as drivers of other vehicles.
Myth: If there is a bike path in the vicinity, bicyclists should use it and not the road.	Fact: Regardless of the proximity of multi-use paths, bicycles are still legally entitled to use the road. Because bikeway traffic rules, if they exist at all, are rarely enforced, multi-use paths are often too congested with sight-seeing pedestrians and meandering novice riders to permit safe bicycling at speed. Furthermore, the bikeway might not happen to go where the cyclist needs or wants to go. Thus the road may be the only viable option for the cyclist, and under the law he (or she) is entitled to take that option. If you simply cannot bear the thought of sharing the road with bicycles, then head for the nearest expressway, where in most states it is illegal to ride them.
Myth: Bicycles are inherently slow moving.	Fact: Although many novice bicycle riders wobble along at 12 mph or less, many experienced cyclists routinely cruise their lightweight machines in the 20-25 mph range, and competitive riders often roll at over 30 mph on the flat. On long descents, most seasoned cyclists can top 40 or even 50 mph. So if you are wondering whether you have time to pull out from a stop sign, or to make a left turn at a traffic light, be sure you haven't misjudged the speed of that approaching bicycle. The seconds you might save are certainly not worth the cost of having your insurance rate boosted.
Myth: Passing a bicycle is virtually the same as passing a stationary object.	Fact: A bicycle moving at just 20 mph travels about 30 feet (9 m) in one second, and it takes a car traveling 30 mph a few seconds to pass a bicycle moving at 20 mph. In that time the bicycle covers a considerable distance, so a driver must allow almost as much room to pass the bike as to pass a car moving at the same speed. Once you have passed a bicycle, be sure to check that you can see it in your rear-view mirror before pulling back to the right. And don't even think about passing a bike if you intend to turn right immediately afterward. Dumb move!
Myth: Bicycles are narrow enough that they can be safely passed without changing lanes.	Fact: A typical bicycle with rider is about 20 inches (50 cm) wide. In addition, to maintain balance a bicyclist needs at least a 40-inch (1-m) width of paved road—a third of the width of a traffic lane—to maneuver. Moreover, road hazards or gusty winds (including the air currents caused by your passing car) may increase that width significantly. When overtaking a cyclist, remember that the lane legally belongs to him, not to you, until after you have safely passed. Never crowd a cyclist into less than half the width of a traffic lane, and remember that he might need the full width of his lane when passing parked cars (in the event that a driver opens a car door into the cyclist's path). Never try to "thread the needle," by passing a cyclist in the face of oncoming traffic in the adjacent lane. You might get away with it sometimes, but inevitably someone's luck will run out, and you will be the one stuck with the bill.
Myth: Bicycles don't need much room to maneuver; they can turn on a dime.	Fact: At very low speed bicycles are somewhat more maneuverable than cars. But because a cyclist must "bank" into a turn to maintain balance, at normal riding speeds a bicycle may require almost as much room as a car to take a turn of a given radius. In no case can a standard road bike "turn on a dime." The only bikes that can do that are special stunt bikes, which are not designed for riding on the road.
Myth: It's funny to blast your horn at bicyclists.	Fact: Tapping your horn a few seconds before passing might be considered a courtesy, but leaning on the horn as you go by is a dangerously foolish and potentially costly stunt. The same goes for yelling or tossing objects at cyclists (or at pedestrians or anyone else, for that matter). The only people who regard such goof-ball behavior as funny are irresponsible kids, or retarded adults who think like irresponsible kids. If you cause a cyclist to lose control and crash, you will also find out how funny a lawsuit is.

Remember, bicyclists are people, too. They have places to go, things to do, families to go home to, and dreams for the future, just like everyone else. Whether treated with scorn and abuse, or with respect and courtesy, most will respond in kind. Think about it, and give what you want to get back.