Rules of the Road

Rules of the Road: Can rider in bike lane go against traffic?

By David Wright

For The Bellingham Herald
Bike lanes on East Magnolia Street at North Forest Street in Bellingham point bicyclists to which direction they should travel. Bikes in the lanes must ride in the same direction as vehicle traffic.
Bike lanes on East Magnolia Street at North Forest Street in Bellingham point bicyclists to which direction they should travel. Bikes in the lanes must ride in the same direction as vehicle traffic. File The Bellingham Herald

Question: Is it improper for a bicyclist to ride in a bike lane against traffic? I saw a cyclist almost get hit because a turning car didn’t expect a bicyclist to come from the opposite direction in the bike lane.

Answer: Yes, it would be improper/illegal for a bicycle to be riding in a bike lane against traffic. Bicycles riding on the roadway must follow the same rules as a vehicle. They must ride on the right side of the roadway and obey all of the traffic control signs and signals.

Rules of the Road is a regular column with questions and answers on road laws, safe driving habits and general police practices. Answers come from David Wright, a retired officer from the Bellingham Police Department who serves on the Whatcom County Traffic Safety Task Force. For previous Rules of the Road columns or to ask a question, go to bellinghamherald.com/news/traffic/rules-of-the-road/.

This story was originally published September 27, 2015 at 7:10 AM.

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