Bicycle – Motor Vehicle Etiquette

With spring finally here and people getting back outside, this is a reminder to share the road. As an avid cyclist the, dance between bicycles and motor vehicles is something I take very seriously. I’ve been hit by a few careless drivers in my 40+ years of cycling and had a few close calls on my bike that were my fault, so my call for caution is for both drivers and cyclists.

Too often cyclists ignore traffic laws, don’t signal turns, and feel entitled to ride however and wherever they want. When pedaling on streets, ride on the right (using bike lanes when available), obey all traffic laws – especially stop signs and red lights, and use proper hand signals to indicate left and right turns. A helmet is also a must. Mine saved me serious injury when I was hit by a car several years ago. It also helps to wear brightly colored clothing to make yourself as visible as possible to drivers and use head and taillights when riding at night (they also increase visibility during the day). Lastly, pay attention to what’s around you, ditch the ear buds so you can hear clearly, and wait until you are stopped or finished with your ride before using your cell phone.

On to motor vehicle drivers. It should go without saying, but please obey all traffic laws, particularly speed limits and stop signs in residential neighborhoods. Know what’s around you – check your surroundings before pulling out of your driveway, pulling away from the curb, and making a turn. Come to a complete stop before making a turn at a stop sign or light, and make sure there isn’t a cyclist near you when you turn. I almost got hit by a driver sliding through a stop sign and turning directly into my path (I had the right of way as the car had the stop sign). Luckily one of us was paying attention. A few more items to make sharing the road easier: respect bike lanes, know what hand signals mean for left and right turns (cyclists, this goes double for you) and please don’t race past a bicycle rider to then cut him/her off by making a quick turn. A few seconds isn’t going to impact your drive. Finally, in my home state of NJ a recently passed law requires drivers to move over at least 4 feet from a cyclist, and if that is not possible, reduce speed to a maximum of 25 mph.

One more tip: every once in a while I will be stopped at a stop sign and a driver who has the right of way will stop and wave me on. While this courtesy is appreciated, it creates a traffic hazard that could cause an accident if a driver coming up behind that stopped vehicle is not paying attention, and it doesn’t help the cyclist since once we are already stopped, it takes the same effort to get going again whether you wave us on or we wait for you to pass. That being said, if you see a cyclist approaching a stop sign and you want to pause to let him/her continue to cross in front of you without having to stop, that will be much appreciated. It saves us from stopping and re-starting again, and your vehicle is paused for only a few short seconds. Reminder to cyclists – do not ride through stop signs with the expectation that drivers will stop for you!

We are all using the same roadways and they become much safer, and more fun, for everyone when we all practice good road etiquette. So get out there, enjoy the coming spring weather and remember to share the road.

www.RetiredandInspiredat55.com 3-20-2023