Aug, 7, 2008
TRANSPORTATION
Cyclists, drivers bound by same rules or the road
Who is he? Doug Dahl, the Traffic Safety Program coordinator for the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, answers reader questions about traffic issues.
What can he answer? Dahl works with other agencies, so he can get answers to questions about city, county or state roads or the police who patrol them.
How do I ask a question? Go to Jared Paben’s Transportation Talk blog at TheBelling hamHerald.com and leave a comment or e-mail jared.paben@bellinghamherald.com.
Looking for more on Traffic Guy or traffic safety? Go to the Web page of the Whatcom County Traffic Safety Task Force, www.trafficsafetyinfo.net.
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THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
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Today's question: Could you clarify the rules for the interaction between bikes and cars on the road? Where can bikes go and what should cars do?
Today's answer: That's a bigger question than I can cover in a short article, so I'll address a few key points for motorists and cyclists.
First of all, cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as the driver of a vehicle. Not only does that give cyclists the freedom to use the road, but also the obligation to follow all traffic laws. Cyclists who obey traffic laws will be much more predictable to motorists, making it possible to anticipate a cyclist's actions and avoid a collision. The law also requires cyclists traveling slower than the speed limit to ride as far to the right side of the lane as is safe unless passing another vehicle or preparing to turn.
Sometimes drivers forget that cyclists have the right to be on the roadway, and see cyclists as an intrusion. Drivers should remember that cyclists are far more vulnerable in a collision and they depend on motorists' respect of their cycling rights to travel safely. Leave at least three feet between your vehicle and a cyclists when passing. Also, it is illegal to pass another car on a two-lane road if a cyclist or pedestrian is approaching in the oncoming lane.
For cyclists, I have this advice: Your right to ride in the road will not protect you from a collision with a vehicle. Even when you have the right-of-way, diligently watch for inattentive or unsafe motorists. In a crash between a car and a bike, the cyclist always loses.
