Rules of the road??

[SportySam]

So I got my road bike a few months back and have been riding it to the gym, supermarket etc but I am not really sure of the rules of the road. Which side of the road do I ride on? Hand signals? How do I deal with honking? Sidewalks...yay or nay? Give some advice please!:confused:

[jusdooit]

You are treated like a motor vehicle. In other words ride like you would drive. You should be moving with the flow of traffic, stop at all stop signs and red lights, ride as far to the right as is safe, use the left turn lane if available when turning left. Hand signals are left arm out straight to signal left turn, right arm out straight to signal right turn, left arm bent toward pavement to indicate slowing. I don't recommend sidewalks as they can be hit and miss moving you in and out of traffic. However if you opt for sidewalks you are then a pedestrian and crossings, meaning you should WALK you bike across the intersection, rather than ride.
Hope this helps, check local traffic laws for more specific instructions.

Cindy

[Owlie]

In many places, it's illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk.

[laura*]

ride as far to the right as is safe

Part of keeping safe means staying out of the "door zone", ie the area where car doors can suddenly open into.

Also, if it is momentarily not safe for a car to pass you using the same lane as you, then "take the lane". This means moving over more towards the center of the lane. You might do this on a narrow residential street when someone has parked on the bike lane.

[SadieKate]

Try reading their "Rules of the Road."
http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/better/roadrules.php

And it never hurts to know your state law.
http://www.massbike.org/bikelaw/mass.htm

[Jolt]

I don't have much to add since the rules you're supposed to follow have already been covered. What part of MA are you in? We have some crazy traffic here but it is definitely possible to ride on the majority of the roads. One thing that wasn't mentioned yet (and doesn't really have to do with the rules of the road but is a good idea) is making sure you are highly visible when you're riding. Wear a really bright top, or a fluorescent reflective vest. People aren't necessarily expecting to see cyclists, so we need to stand out.

[Onix]

+1 on taking the lane. If I am on a really wide street that is only one lane (like a neighborhood), where people aren't driving fast, then I will get over to the right and share the road. But, if there is a lane for people to pass, of the road is too narrow for someone to pass you...then take the lane. This means riding in the middle of the lane. If you ride just right of center---it invites cars to pass you in the same lane, which they often can't do safely. This means that you are likely to get brushed/hit etc. etc.

Also, at stop lights, if you are a few cars back at a light, don't ride up in between or next to cars to get in the front (one of my pet peeves of cyclists!!).... this is annoying to cars, gives the rest of us a bad name, and also puts you in a dangerous place----- not only were you passing cars when they weren't looking for you, but you are putting yourself in a position where they have to pass you again after the light goes green.

Good luck and enjoy your bike!!!

[PscyclePath]

So I got my road bike a few months back and have been riding it to the gym, supermarket etc but I am not really sure of the rules of the road. Which side of the road do I ride on? Hand signals? How do I deal with honking? Sidewalks...yay or nay? Give some advice please!:confused:

1. Ride on the right side of the road (with the flow of traffic); never on the left, and not on the sidewalks.

2. Obey all traffic signs and signals (especially stop signs, yield signs, and red lights. Remember that you not only have to stop, but also yield to any crossing traffic.

3. Yield right of way when required. Stop signs, yield signs, and red lights indicate who has this at controlled intersections, at uncontrolled intersections or 4-way stops, it goes by first come, first served.

4. Between intersections, position yourself by speed. If you're going faster than other traffic, position yourself on the left (in the "passing lane"), slower traffic to the right, if stopped you should be at the curb or off the roadway.

5. When you change lanes, or move laterally on the roadway, yield to traffic that is already in the new lane of travel.

6. Ride in the rightmost lane of traffic that serves your destination (e.g., that goes where you want to go. Stay away from the curb, or out of the right-turn-only lane if you plan to go straight through the intersection.

7. Be visible to other drivers. Ride where drivers can see you, and are expecting other traffic to be. Use a front white light and red rear light and reflectors when it is dark or dusk; wear visible clothing at all times. Make eye contact with drivers. Don’t ride on the sidewalk.

8. Be predictable. Make sure drivers and other cyclists know what you are doing. Ride in a straight line and don’t swerve in and out between parked cars. Signal your turns, and check behind you before turning or changing lanes.

9. Be alert to the traffic conditions around you. Anticipate what other drivers, pedestrians, and other cyclists are going to do next. Watch for turning vehicles and for opening car doors; ride outside the door zone. Look out for debris, potholes, and utility covers in the road.

10. Be prepared. A safe ride starts with a safe machine. Check to make sure you have air in your tires, your brakes are working, and your chain runs smoothly. Carry repair and emergency supplies appropriate to the length of your ride. Wear a helmet, gloves, and glasses.

Tom
LCI #1853

[sfa]

And for how to deal with honking: for the most part, just ignore it. If you are following the law and riding predictably and safely, the honking is just from irritated drivers who don't know the law and don't like having to pass a cyclist who might make them eight feet late for work. Either that or it's from drivers who think they are complimenting you on your general hotness by honking (usually accompanied by a "woo-hoo, baby!" out the window. Does this work for them I wonder?). Consider, however, if there is any merit to their honking--if you just blew through a stop sign or pulled into their lane with no warning or otherwise did something unsafe or illegal, then they have good reason to honk. Whenever I get honked at I spend a few seconds considering if it was for a legitimate reason or not. Usually it's not, but it's always best to review the situation to make sure of it.

[kfergos]

So I got my road bike a few months back and have been riding it to the gym, supermarket etc but I am not really sure of the rules of the road. Which side of the road do I ride on? Hand signals? How do I deal with honking? Sidewalks...yay or nay? Give some advice please!:confused:Welcome to biking, and way to go using your bike as a tool! I highly recommend the MassBike safety classes. MassBike is our fabulous local bike advocacy group, and they offer League of American Bicyclist curriculum-based safety classes all summer: http://massbike.org/skills/classes.htm These classes are designed for beginning riders to help them learn the rules of the road. You'll have an evening in-classroom session and then a half-day on-bike session where you practice bike handling skills and then go on a guided group ride with the other people in your class. It's a really excellent way to boost your bicycling confidence so you can KNOW you're doing the right thing in various situations.

MassBike also has a helpful webpage for beginning cyclists: http://massbike.org/skills/index.htm -This page has lots of details and links to other pages that you'll probably find helpful.

If you don't choose to take one, or until you do, the basic rule of thumb is what other people said: Basically, act like a car. Ride predictably, signal like you would in a car, obey traffic laws like you would in a car. Drivers will appreciate your predictability and treat you like the vehicle you are when you act like one.

One more thing specifically about riding on the right: Here in MA you're required to ride 1 foot from the edge of good pavement, which means you don't have to ride in the gutter or through all those nasty potholes. Find a safe patch of road and stick with it, trying to ride in a straight line as much as possible.

Hope you have many happy bike miles!

PS - When honked at, I recommend smiling and waving. It gets 'em every time.

[OakLeaf]

And remember there are honks, and then there are honks.

As has been pointed out here before, in many states it's technically required to give an audible signal before passing on a two-lane road. A driver who taps their horn when they're four or five car-lengths behind you is probably just trying to be courteous.

[SportySam]

And remember there are honks, and then there are honks.

As has been pointed out here before, in many states it's technically required to give an audible signal before passing on a two-lane road. A driver who taps their horn when they're four or five car-lengths behind you is probably just trying to be courteous.

I totally get that one...I grew up in an area with a huge amount of bikers and to be safe I always did a short honk to notify them that I was there. I wasn't sure if that was the right thing to do or if I was making them upset but I wanted them to know I was there. Thanks for the info!

[SportySam]

Thank you for all the advice! I really appreciate the help!

[Eden]

And remember there are honks, and then there are honks.

As has been pointed out here before, in many states it's technically required to give an audible signal before passing on a two-lane road. A driver who taps their horn when they're four or five car-lengths behind you is probably just trying to be courteous.

And in some states (like this one) where the law makers are more sensical its illegal to use your horn for anything but an emergency...... (especially and specifically not on cyclists) Please don't honk at cyclists. We know that there are cars on the road and we can *hear* you believe it or not.

[PscyclePath]

Or a nice sign on the back that says, "HONK IF YOU LOVE BICYCLES!"

[ccbloom]

Thanks so much for all of this! Very helpful and very nice to see so many other MA riders here :)

[aeiea]

And in some states (like this one) where the law makers are more sensical its illegal to use your horn for anything but an emergency...... (especially and specifically not on cyclists) Please don't honk at cyclists. We know that there are cars on the road and we can *hear* you believe it or not.

I didn't know people were supposed to honk in order to bypass bikes in some states. Honking is not only startling, but it gets me concerned, and I worry that something important is happening that I haven't seen. If it's a courtesy honk, seems like a waste and dangerous to bikers. I suppose it's important for bikers who are listening to music at the same time... wish people wouldn't do that though.

In most situations (other than the loudest streets which I tend to avoid anyway), I can even hear electric cars coming up. I like guessing what car is coming based on the sound of the engine.

What would be nice is if cars came with two sounds: angry honk and happy beep.

[BalaRoja]

I agree with the notion of not honking at cyclists. Not long ago I was incredibly focused and concentrated while on a ride and doing an interval. All of a sudden, someone blasted their horn at me and I nearly fell into a ditch! :mad:

[msincredible]

As has been pointed out here before, in many states it's technically required to give an audible signal before passing on a two-lane road. A driver who taps their horn when they're four or five car-lengths behind you is probably just trying to be courteous.

What states does that affect?

[OakLeaf]

It's on the books in Ohio, but as someone else pointed out, use common sense. I've never heard of anyone being ticketed for not giving notice (even when they probably should have been).

When you're on a bici passing a pedestrian or another bici, DO give an audible signal. I'm not sure what the best thing to do is when it's a horse or horse-drawn buggy.... any of you horse people want to weigh in on that? Do I just pass?

DO honk when you're in your car passing a farm vehicle, a letter carrier's car, a slow ATV, etc., on a two-lane road without a marked passing zone.

When you're in a car passing a bici or pedestrian, if they're riding consistently or they've acknowledged your presence, just don't do it. If they seem oblivious to you, and it's someplace where you could pass an ordinary cyclist safely but they're not riding so that you can safely pass, just tap on your horn. There are different honks. Anyone can hear, appreciate and respond to the difference between tapping the horn 1/10 mile behind you to let you know you're there, vs. laying on the horn as they pass you.