Now for clarity for all my international followers - LOL - I'm talking about riding in America. Places like England have different rules/laws, so know your local rules of the road. With that legal disclaimer in place, let's keep going <I hope you read that super fast like they do the legal gobbly-gook on television>
I saw a near miss yesterday recently that scared me more
than a little bit. A person was riding a bicycle AGAINST Traffic and in the
LEFT-hand lane…and in a curve just past the stop-light in an area with limited
sight lines.
Unfortunately, there was a car coming and there was damn
near a head-on between the car and the bicycle. The person on the bicycle would
have likely died in this case.
Wanna watch? Then click right here. Yes, there's no sound. Mostly because I muted the video because I didn't want you to hear me yelling Whoa, Whoa, Whoa #*)*%7$#$%^.!!!
As a person driving – it’s okay to come to complete stop in
that situation, move right, or even change lanes.
As a
reminder, a person on a bicycle is legally required to ride WITH traffic – not
against traffic. In Maryland, a person riding a bicycle shall ride as close to the right
side of the road as practicable and safe, except when:
• Making or attempting to make a left turn;
• Operating on a one-way street;
• Passing a stopped or slower moving vehicle;
• Avoiding pedestrians or road hazards;
• The right lane is a right turn only lane; or
• Operating in a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle to travel safely side-by-side within the lane (TR § 21-1205)
• Making or attempting to make a left turn;
• Operating on a one-way street;
• Passing a stopped or slower moving vehicle;
• Avoiding pedestrians or road hazards;
• The right lane is a right turn only lane; or
• Operating in a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle to travel safely side-by-side within the lane (TR § 21-1205)
So, tell your friends that bike to ride WITH
traffic not against and tell your friends that drive it's okay to change lanes,
move away from the bike or even stop.
Ohhhh and if you're sitting there in Maryland, thinking just ride on the sidewalk and no problem. That's cute. In Maryland, you're not allowed to ride on the sidewalk unless permissible by local ordinance. Most localities don't allow you to ride on the sidewalks.
Until next time, Fatti Maschii, Parole Femine
