Basics of Traffic Cycling
The law of the road concerning movement of vehicles says: bicycle = car. This means that you should operate your bicycle like a driver of a vehicle. You already know how to drive a car, right? Well the rules are the same, only you have to learn how to follow them while driving a narrow vehicle with not all of the speed you're used too. You are a part of traffic and you have a right to expect to be treated as other drivers are. Ride as if you belong on the road. Trying to be out of the way of cars all the time makes you less safe. If you do not act as a driver, you will not be treated as one, and, worse, you will put yourself in situations where you are not expected and are likely to be hit. Once you realize that you have the same rights as other drivers, you will see that driving your bicycle is not much different than driving your car. What does it mean to follow the rules of the road when bicycling? Here are the basic principles.

1. Go with the flow
Riding against traffic puts you in a collision path with vehicles entering the street from a stop sign-other drivers will be looking for a break in traffic coming from the other direction. You also cannot see traffic lights and are directly in the path of oncoming bicyclists. It's obvious that riding on sidewalks is safer than riding on roads-obvious but also wrong. Sidewalks are designed for pedestrians, not vehicles. At intersections, turning traffic may not see you coming off the sidewalk until a collision is unavoidable (and doubly so if you are riding on the sidewalk against the direction of traffic).

Figure 1: Wrong-way bicyclists get hit because they are not where drivers are looking, primarily at intersections. Note that the wrong way cyclist is outside of the field of view of both driver A and driver B.

Figure 2: Sidewalk cyclists get hit by cars emerging from driveways or alleys. Drivers don't look for anyone coming faster than a pedestrian on the sidewalk. Sidewalk bicyclists also get hit when riding across crosswalks.

2. Yield to traffic on bigger streets
When exiting a driveway or a small street, give way to traffic on the main street. Stop signs and traffic lights clarify who has the right of way. Don't imitate the many bicyclists who run red lights: it's dangerous and rude.

3. Ride in a straight line and yield when you must deviate from that line
What happens if you see a double-parked car or a pothole ahead? First look over your shoulder for traffic. If you see none close, move far enough left to avoid the obstacle ahead. If there is overtaking traffic, either slow and wait for it to pass, or, if traffic is steady, point left with your left hand. When the approaching driver slows, it is safe to move left. If the first motorist ignores you, try the next one.

4. Pick the correct position at intersections
Most car-bike collisions happen at intersections or driveways. Just as when you are driving a car, you must pick your lane depending on where you are going (right, left, or straight through). Since you are slower than other traffic, pick the rightmost lane that serves your destination if there is more than one. One more complication: since a bicycle doesn't occupy an entire lane, you must carefully choose your position within the lane. Here's the rule: if the lane serves only one destination, ride on its right side; otherwise, ride on the side closer to your destination.  For example, ride on the left side of an unmarked lane when turning left, but ride on the right side of a left-turn only lane. If there is heavy right-turning traffic and you are going straight, move towards the center of the lane to prevent being "hooked" by a right-turning motorist. If you must pass on the right in congested traffic, do so slowly and carefully, and never where a motorist can turn right. Stop behind the first vehicle in line at a traffic light-you never know if someone is going to turn right without signalling. Beware right-turning trucks. To position yourself for a left-turn, follow the principles in #3 above, and start a block early. If you have to cross more than one lane, do it one lane at a time, looking and yielding each time.

5. Lane Positioning Strategies
Normally, ride on the right portion of the travel lane, being sure to allow 1' of space from the edge of good pavement, 2' from a raised curb, and 3' from a parked car whose door might open. If you are moving as fast as other traffic (on congested streets or steep downhills), move towards the center of the lane and pass slower traffic on the left. Ride in the center of a lane that is too narrow to share, or you will be squeezed out by motorists passing too closely.

Figure 3: Ride a safe distance away from hazards along the edge of the road such as drain grates and debris.

Figure 4: Ride a straight line. Don't weave around parked cars.

Figure 5: If the lane is too narrow to share with a car, ride in the middle of the lane.

These concepts may sound tricky or dangerous at first, but with practice they become natural. Since they are not different from what you do when you drive a car, you already know the basic ideas. The best way to learn these principles and skills, and to develop your confidence in traffic, is to take a class. The Bicycling Skills program offered by MassBike teaches safe and efficient bicycling techniques with classroom instruction, parking lot practice, and on-road coaching. The information is also presented in Bicycling Street Smarts. In addition to the traffic skills above, having a bike in good working order, a well-fitting helmet, and gloves to protect your hands from scrapes are essential for safe cycling. 

Graphics on this page are copyrighted by the State of Oregon.

Riding in Traffic
Traffic Basics
Obey Your Signals
Don't Get Doored
Road Hazards
Make It Turn Green
Stay Away from Trucks
Use Lights at Night

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