Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Road Rules?

I've always thought that a bicycle has as much right to be on the road as a car. Thus a bicycle must also follow the same rules as a car. ie stopping at stop signs. Ok, here's my question, as a driver I notice many cyclist running red lights and stop signs. Are we suppose to ride the side of the road when we ride?

I know noobie questions, but I had to ask.

Cyclists are supposed to obey the same laws as cars. They have the same rights on the road as any other vehicle. That said, you won't make any friends for cyclists by riding in the middle of your lane out in the country. So in general, keep as far right as is safe. In city riding, it's often not safe to ride right beside parked cars, curbs, etc. In that case, stay 3' out in the lane, so as not to allow cars to force you over into stationary objects or get you "doored." But take even that with a grain of salt. Cars are very heavy and very hard. You are light and very soft. You will always lose a confrontation.

I primarily ride on country roads, no stop signs or traffic lights for miles. I try to stay a few feet from the white line and move closer when I hear a car coming. If I go much further than the white line I'm going to be rolling down some steep hills into some hard trees. The worst is if someone honks their horn at me, it scares the crap out of me even though there is plenty of room for them to go around.

You got it. That's just how it is. I usually ride about 6" from the fog line, but that depends on how much pavement is on the other side. If there's enough to ride safely on the other side, I'll do that when a car comes, but otherwise I never move. Best thing you can do is to ride consistently and in a straight line. Every once in a while a drink cup will come my way, but they always miss. So far, anyway.

Shouldn't this thread be up in Death and Destruction, rather than long distance cycling?

Hopefully the long distance cyclists are following the rules of the road. From my observations it's usually the student commuters who are the really scary ones.

If you read the rules of the road for your area (see your highway act) you'll see how you're supposed to behave as a cyclist. Here in Alberta, we are supposed to ride as far to the right as practicable ... in other words, we're supposed to ride right along the left curb unless there's a big pothole or puddle, in which case we can move out to go around it.

And we're not supposed to run more than 2 headlights.

Don't ask me why we're limited to 2, but if you check your highway act, you'll likely see at least one "odd" law in there. In Manitoba, you can run as many headlights as you want ... just don't use headphones.

Just remember "He with the most lug nuts, wins"!

Shouldn't this thread be up in Death and Destruction, rather than long distance cycling?

Hopefully the long distance cyclists are following the rules of the road. From my observations it's usually the student commuters who are the really scary ones.

If you read the rules of the road for your area (see your highway act) you'll see how you're supposed to behave as a cyclist. Here in Alberta, we are supposed to ride as far to the right as practicable ... in other words, we're supposed to ride right along the left curb unless there's a big pothole or puddle, in which case we can move out to go around it.



I think the rule about "as far to the right as practicable" is pretty universal in the US. In Michigan and Illinois (at least) it's considered legal to occupy the middle of the lane at times, as well. Not so in Canada?

Road Fan

I think the rule about "as far to the right as practicable" is pretty universal in the US. In Michigan and Illinois (at least) it's considered legal to occupy the middle of the lane at times, as well. Not so in Canada?

Road Fan

Not unless you've got a very good reason to be in the middle of the lane ... like a bicycle-eating pothole next to the curb ... or if you're passing another cyclist.

A thread not long ago in a SoCal Forum stated a rider must ride as far right as possible unless there is not enough room to safely fit a rider and a car in the lane. Then the rider has a right to take the lane.

But like any other law, the cyclist will make his judgement to benefit himself justifying his right to take the lane just as he does when it comes to running stops.

I myself stay the F out of the way for my own health!:D

And yes, I stop and also use signals in an attempt to keep myself alive. I figure if a driver knows my intentions, he can avoid me. Same in my vehicle. Still don't undersand why idiots don't use their signals for theirown safety.

Just ride any way you want as long as long to stay out of the way of automobiles. Cyclists are no different than automobile drivers - you break whatever rules you feel like as long as don't think you'll get caught or have a wreck.

Things like driving over the speed limit, ignoring turn signals, rolling stop signs and failing to take care when approaching and or passing bicyclists are all good enough reasons for cyclists to ride any way they want. That doesn't make it right, it's just reality......

Every cyclist should read this book (http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Law-Your-Rights-Cyclist/dp/1931382999).

Read it, then read your local laws. You will know everything you need to know.

The author, Bob Mionske, has a regular article on VeloNews. Here's a snippet that might interest you:


In California, the operation of a bicycle on the roadway is governed by Section 21202 of the Vehicle Code, which states that “Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as is practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations”:When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway. When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, [subject to the requirement to turn out when five or more faster-moving vehicles are following in line]. For purposes of this section, a “substandard width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane. When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized. Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.” Before we get to what this means, we’ll need to take a look at one additional requirement in California; Section 21208 requires that “Whenever a bicycle lane has been established on a roadway pursuant to [the law], any person operating a bicycle upon the roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at the same time shall ride within the bicycle lane, except that the person may move out of the lane under any of the following situations:”When overtaking and passing another bicycle, vehicle, or pedestrian within the lane or about to enter the lane if the overtaking and passing cannot be done safely within the lane. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway. When reasonably necessary to leave the bicycle lane to avoid debris or other hazardous conditions.When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized. now let’s sort out what the law requires. In California, if you are traveling at “the normal speed” of traffic moving in the same direction at that time, you may ride in any lane that is legally available to other vehicles. As you already know, this means that you are right, and the police officer and all your friends at the pub are wrong.

Now, if you’re riding at a slower speed than “the normal speed” of traffic moving in the same direction at that time, the law generally requires you to ride “as close as is practicable” to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. Let’s talk about these two concepts for a moment. First, there’s nothing in the statute or in case law that defines what is meant by “normal speed.” However, I think it’s safe to say that the term refers to the speed of traffic at that time, rather than the posted speed limit. This means that if you are able to ride at the speed at which traffic is moving, it is legal for you to ride in any lane.

Second, if you must ride to the right, the law requires that you “ride as close as is practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.” By “as close as is practicable,” the legislature means as close as is feasible; of course, that raises the question, what does “feasible” mean? Basically, it means that if you’re riding at a slower speed than the traffic at that time, you’re expected to ride as close to the right as is reasonably capable of being accomplished under the conditions. Now, according to the police officer, "a bicycle is required to ride to the farthest right hand side of the road.” So he’s wrong on two counts, because “practicable” does not mean “to the farthest.”

Now let’s discuss bike lanes. If a bike lane has been established on the roadway, you’re generally required to ride within the bike lane if you’re riding at a slower speed than “the normal speed” of traffic moving in the same direction at that time. If you are traveling at the same speed as the normal speed of traffic at that time, there is no requirement to use the bike lane.

There’s another point to consider in these requirements to ride to the right or to use a bike lane: each of these requirements has exceptions which make it legal to ride in the lane under certain conditions, even if you are riding at less than the normal speed of traffic at that time. If you fall within one of these exceptions, you are entitled to ride within the lane for as long as the exception exists.

(You can find the full article here (http://www.velonews.com/article/9893).)

It's one of those instances where just because you see other people breaking the rules doesn't mean you should do it too. You should follow the rules of the road, but there are times when you can't. For example, I've sat at red lights forever before because the signal never changed as it would if a car were to pull up. in those instances, I run the red light simply because I'd be stuck there forever if I didn't. Follow the rules, but know that the rules can be broken if you play it smart.

Here in Alberta, we are supposed to ride as far to the right as practicable ... in other words, we're supposed to ride right along the left curb unless there's a big pothole or puddle, in which case we can move out to go around it.

My understanding is that in most legal systems the word "practical" in this context implies "practical and/or safe in the judgment of the cyclist". Thus, it is generally perfectly legal to ride in the center of the lane if you feel that that's the best place to be, i.e. no shoulder, bad surface, road too narrow for close passing (i.e. you want the passer to be forced to cross the centerline just like they were passing another car), whatever, it's your call. I'll refrain from further detail, you can read thousands of posts on this topic in the A&S forum. :)

I've ridden with Dante, Beanz and Cranium (Dante's real name, Beanz and Cranium, not their real names), and I've never seen any riding safety issues, so I will follow their advice (above).

In terms of just ignoring the law, the most dangerous riders I've seen are the bike commuters in London (well, and the messengers).

Rick / OCRR