Vehicle Drivers and Bicyclists Must Share the Roadway
Bicyclists and motorists have responsibilities when sharing the road.
Bicyclist Responsibility
Always be aware of the traffic around you
- Obey all traffic signs and signals. Always look left, then right, then left again and over your shoulder before entering the roadway and at all intersections.
- Drive with traffic on the right side of the road, in the same direction as traffic.
- Wear a properly fitting bicycle helmet every time you ride a bicycle.
- Pedestrians should be given the appropriate right of way.
- Before you or your child ride on the street with other vehicles, make sure a bicyclist can:
- Maintain control of the bicycle.
- Look back, over their shoulder, at traffic and ride with one hand.
- Accurately judge speed and distance.
- Demonstrate the ability to ride safely in traffic.
Be Predictable:
- Ride in a straight line and single file.
- Do not enter the road from between parked cars.
- Check for traffic before entering street or intersection.
- Use hand signals to communicate stops and turns to other roadway users.
Be Visible:
- Wear brightly colored and reflective clothing.
- Use a white front light in low light conditions.
- Use a red rear light in low light conditions.
- Use amber reflectors on the side of the bike in low light conditions.
- Make eye contact with motorists to be sure you are seen.
Motorist Responsibility
Drive With Care:
- Reduce your speed when sharing the road with bicyclists.
- Bicyclists should be given the appropriate right of way.
- Yield to bicyclists and allow extra time for bicyclists to go across intersections.
- Merge with bicycle traffic when preparing for a right turn.
- Scan for bicyclists in traffic and at intersections. Be careful not to turn directly across the path of a bicyclist.
Be Considerate:
- Do not blast your horn in close proximity to bicyclists.
- Look for bicyclists when opening car doors.
Pass with Care:
- Wait for safe traffic conditions that allow plenty of room between you and a bicyclist when passing and then be certain to check over your shoulder to assure plenty of room before moving back.
Watch for Children:
- Children on bicycles are often unpredictable.
- Look for bicycles entering the road from driveways, or from behind parked cars or other objects that may block your view of children entering the roadway. Because of their size, children can be difficult to see.
- Watch for bicyclists turning in front of you without looking or signaling, especially if the rider is a child.
- Do not expect children to know traffic laws.