Cyclists or Drivers: Who Really has the Right to the Roads?

If you’re driving along and happen to spot a cyclist on the side of the road, moving a little too slow, your first instinct might be to say “Stupid cyclist!” Of course, if you’re ever riding your bike down the road, trying to stay out of the way, and cars still zoom by right next to you, you’ve probably said “Stupid driver!” It’s an age-old battle that’s been going on ever since cyclists and drivers first shared the road. But who really has the rights to the pavement?

The bicycle laws differ depending on where you live – whether that’s one of the fifty states in America or in the United Kingdom. Sometimes, cyclists will be banished to bike routes and sidewalks, and other times, you’ll see cyclists interweaving with traffic. Although driving laws are usually uniform throughout an entire country like the United States or Great Britain, cycling laws can be very different across state lines.

Typically, traffic laws usually allow for the cyclist to have his or her space on the road – you can’t exactly mess around with defenseless cyclists when you’re driving a one-ton moving machine. But that doesn’t mean cyclists are free to disturb traffic and hog the road for themselves. Traffic laws often aim at an equilibrium that allows for the smoothest traffic flow possible without getting in the way of a cycling route.

There are often a number of laws on the books in local governments that force bicyclists to take special safety precautions, such as wearing a helmet and wearing reflectors at night. While the only safety law that effects drivers usually means you simply have to buckle up, cyclists will often have a number of hurdles to jump through in order to stay compliant with the law. Local police often encourage reflective vests in addition to reflecting bikes so that you can reflect as much light as possible.

Understanding all of the laws that go into making the road look like it does, can we claim to understand who gets the rights of the road? If you’re a cyclist, it’s best to be safe and assume the drivers own the road. You can’t assume that everyone will speed up, slow down, and steer so that you can enjoy as much pavement as possible. Instead, be on the safe side and remember that you’re not the only one with some wheels under them.

Photo Credits:richardmasoner

Originally posted 2009-08-11 03:36:58.

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bicycle laws, bicyclists, bike routes, cyclists, driving laws, equilibrium, fifty states, hog, hurdles, local governments, pavement, reflective vests, reflectors, safety law, safety precautions, sidewalks, states in america, stupid driver, traffic flow, traffic laws

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Biking, Safety

Posted by Bike Swim Run on December 1, 2009 in Biking, Safety. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.