Maryland Biking Guidlines

[HillSlugger]

At one point during my ride yesterday I was on a two lane road with a double yellow center line, single white side stripe, and no shoulder. I'm cruising along and realize I have a car just to my left pacing me; I look over and it's a cop. He has his window down and tells me that I need to be riding closer to the white line so that the cars can get by. I said "Yes sir" and he went on his way. This really irks me because this was not a very safe manoeuver for me and because I believe that he was wrong. It's my understanding that I'm entitled to take the entire lane if I so desire. I was not about to debate it with him right then I've since looked at what WABA has to say about this:

"Ride with the flow of traffic as closely as practicable to the right side of roadway."

and

"Full lane use allowed when traveling at the normal speed of traffic, passing, preparing for a turn, avoiding hazards, traveling in a lane too narrow to share and avoiding a mandatory turn lane"

I could interpret this to mean that since I was going slower than traffic that I was supposed to be as far right as practical, as the cop was saying. Alternatively, I could probably argue that the lane was too narrow to be shared and that I had the right to the lane. It's not terribly clear to me. Anyone have insight about this?

Thanks!

[ny biker]

Doesn't Maryland have a 3 foot rule?

I was on Beach Drive yesterday, and as usual I found that when I rode close to the white line, vehicles passed me without crossing the yellow line and as a result came within a couple of inches of hitting me. Riding a foot or two to the left of the white line, everyone gave me plenty of room when they passed.

[7rider]

Doesn't Maryland have a 3 foot rule?

No.

There are bills before the legislature. See: Senate Bill 428 and House Bill 496 - Three Foot Bicycle Safety Bill halfway down the page.
I doubt they'll ever get out. I don't have the latest on them.

Nicole - It sounds like you WERE as right as you could safely be.

Some other info may be found here.

[Tuckervill]

I'd say it was too narrow to share (and that's by YOUR interpretation, right?). Err on the side of safety, and take the most liberal advantage of the law.

Karen

[ny biker]

Just curious - how much room did the cop give you when he passed? Did he stay inside the yellow line, or did he have to cross it in order to give you a safe distance?

[HillSlugger]

Just curious - how much room did the cop give you when he passed? Did he stay inside the yellow line, or did he have to cross it in order to give you a safe distance?

He was a few feet to my left. I doubt he could give me room and stay inside the yellow but I couldn't tell you for sure since I was paying attention to staying on the road myself.

I generally try to stay right but sometimes I'll wander if I'm not paying attention and sometimes I'll deliberately move left when the road is quiet and I'm on the aerobars. I was definitely right when he came up along side of me but I was probably out further earlier. I have no idea how long he might have been behind me.