Bike Advocate 9

"I got hit by a car." "I got doored." "A car pulled out from the side of the road right in front of me and I hit it." "I got a flat and crashed."

How many times have your heard these reasons from an unfortunate cyclist whose been downed? Has this happened to you? Well, flat avoidance and car door avoidance are good reasons to ride farther out to the left when in the streets. When you are riding in the street and come upon a row of parked cars parallel to the road, do you swerve out into traffic? If so, you probably were not properly positioned in your lane to begin with. What about flat tires? When was the last time you had a flat? Do you seem to get flats more often than other riders you know? Perhaps you are suffering from "Curb Hugger Syndrome?" Curb Hugger Syndrome (Yes, I just coined the term) is a lack of confidence in riding abilities coupled with a fear of motor vehicles resulting in the tendency to ride your bike too far to the right when using streets. This may result in frequent flat tires because you are probably riding in more debris. It also results in you, the rider, becoming less visible among other street users. You are sharing the street with multi-thousand pound vehicles that can hurt you if they don't see you, so why not ride more visibly?

Here is the code that allows you to ride safely;

CVC(California Vehicle Code)21202 (a)(3) - "You may move left" 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…..

The interpretation of this certainly allows for full use of a lane as well when reasonably necessary to avoid debris, or other hazardous conditions such as parked cars with doors that can open suddenly!

A motorist leaving his vehicle often still has "motorist vision" and will not look for an approaching bicycle before throwing open the driver's door! Simple solution. Ride three feet or so to the left of parked cars, and you cannot get doored. Ride to the left of the debris zone and you will get fewer flats. Not only will you get fewer flats, at the same time you are maximizing your visibility.

CVC 21202(a)(3) also allows bicyclists to the use of a full lane. If you are planning to go straight through an intersection, do yourself a favor. Make it obvious you are going straight by moving left to the "through lane" and not hugging the curb. If the lane is of a "substandard width," CVC 21202 specifically allows you to take the center of the lane. The CVC states that a substandard width lane is any lane that is too narrow to share safely with a motor vehicle. You have the right to make the decision when the lane is too narrow for you to share with a motor vehicle. Ride for maximum visibility and limit the opportunities for motor vehicles to make mistakes when they are around you.

What is safe?

Always ride for maximum visibility at all times. This will vary with the skill and confidence level of each individual rider. If you are not comfortable on your bicycle with asserting your right to the road, don't. Consider finding another route. Move left for visibility, especially at intersections. If you are in a group ride, your options may be limited because you will need to make movements that are safe within the group you are with. However, don't encourage unsafe behavior either. There is nothing wrong with letting the group know that it is safer to move to the left when approaching an intersection.