Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Bicyclists need to follow road rules

Bicyclists need to follow road rules

May 12, 2007 - 07:34:53 CDT

By BRIAN BEATTIE
Bismarck

Next week is Bike to Work Week. Hopefully, we will see some bicycle commuters on our streets trying a different way of getting around town.

Bicyclists need to follow all the rules of the road, stopping at all stop signs and traffic signals. They should ride with the traffic. Riding toward opposing traffic allows them to see oncoming cars but makes them invisible to cars at side streets.

Riding on sidewalks is illegal unless they are marked as bike paths. Cyclists should watch for and give room for opening car doors. They must not ride past cars that have passed them in traffic. That causes drivers frustration at having to pass them again and again between intersections.

Drivers need to share the road with bicyclists. The person on the bike may be a teacher, student, doctor, someoneâ€™s parent, someoneâ€™s child. Leaving three feet of clearance between oneâ€™s car and the bicyclist is suggested as the minimum safe passing distance.

A particularly common habit among drivers is to roll into or through intersections when turning right. They should look to the right before driving through the crosswalk. Pedestrians or bicycles on a marked side path may be there.

Last week, along Century Avenue, I was nearly hit by three right-turning cars that all ran the red light, and I had two cars pull into the crosswalk at stop signs before stopping. Drivers should remember that traffic is just more than other cars.

A little patience on the streets will go a long way. There is no prize for getting to work 10, 20 or 30 seconds faster because of not waiting to pass a bicycle safely.

There is talk on the Internet about a day next week when drivers are encouraged not to buy gasoline. A likely outcome of this will be that people who need gas will fill up the day before or the day after.Â If half of us would ride our bicycle to work only one day each week, gas consumption would decrease dramatically. Isnâ€™t that a better message?

Commuting by bike is not for everyone, but for some it is a good option.

News > Opinion

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Comments

mANDAN bOY wrote on May 12, 2007 12:24 PM:

" The law is when a bike path is available it has to be used,the law is not enforced like it should be.. "

keep safe wrote on May 12, 2007 11:07 AM:

" http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t39c101.pdf Follow the link for the ND Century Code re: bicycles. After some searching I found some states require slow moving vehicle designation and signage for bikers on highways as traffic flow is far faster than the speed of the bike. Some require helmets, all require they move over and allow traffic to move past. It is a different story within city limits. There they are considered part of the traffic and need to be considered part of the traffic flow. Some cities have designated bike routes and the bikers need to use those routes. IF bikers are walking their bikes they are often considered a pedestrian. No wonder it is confusing...and it is just plain bad manners to throw things at cyclist..just remember what you give is what you get! "

Ross Warner wrote on May 12, 2007 9:08 AM:

" My favorites are riding rural roads and having people drive up right behind you and hit the horn just to let you know they are there. Then there are the can throwers and those that swing the car door open at you. Biking is exciting and great fun. And you must be kidding, someone in Bismarck run a red light. "

keep safe wrote on May 12, 2007 8:41 AM:

" What are the rules for riding a bike on a highway? When the posted speed limit is 65 on a 2 lane highway and the bike rider is moving much slower it seems highway biking is very dangerous for not only the bike rider but for the snarled traffic trying to pass the biker. Highway 1806 is a lovely ride, but bike riders need to move over when riding this route as the traffice flow is heavy with cars, trucks,some pulling trailers and boats. I also agree when a bike path is available bikers need to stay on the path. It is just safer that way for all the traffic. "

Skeeter wrote on May 12, 2007 8:33 AM:

" To MaNDan Boy: I think it is an ego thing. A lot of these bikers probably feel stupid wearing all their gear and then riding on the bike path. They're pretending that they are in the Tour de France and they've never seen Lance Armstrong riding on a bike path. I ride my bike a lot and always use a bike path where available. I am terrified to ride on a highway, because I don't trust any of you to drive 50 to 60 mph within a few feet of me. No offense, but alot of you are not very good drivers and I don't know who is coming up from behind at 55 mph with cell phone in hand. "

mANDAN bOY wrote on May 12, 2007 6:59 AM:

" I think they should use the bike paths when availaible. Many,many times i've encountered bikers riding on the highway next to a bike path.South of Mandan. They usually are the ones in full biker gear,with mirrors off the side of their helments.STAY ON THE BIKE PATHS. "

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