Click to enlarge graphic
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Bicycling with traffic
Bicycle-riding expert John Forester coined the phrase vehicular cycling in the 1970s after observing bicycling attitudes and riding styles in Europe, where bicycle-riding is far more common and motor vehicle drivers and bicyclists are more used to sharing the road.
Forester said, “Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles.” For children and new bicyclists though, this is easier said than done! Especially since Interstate highways, limited access highways, and high-speed driving have been the norm, inexperienced bicyclists are often timid.
Regular cyclists encourage bicyclists to integrate themselves with motor vehicle traffic. When bicyclists are in command of their vehicles and when motorists see bicyclists acting predictably, the highways will be safer for everyone.
Remember, in Virginia bicycles are vehicles. Bicyclists and motor vehicle drivers share mutual rights and responsibilities as users of public roads. Ride your bicycle with confidence!
Bicycle-Friendly Communities
The League of American Bicyclists offers awards to communities and states that strive to make bicycling an integrated part of their transportation system.
Visit the Bicycle Friendly Community website.
Laws & Safety Tips - Street Rules
Ride in a straight line
Bicyclists should generally ride single file. Be predictable; especially don’t weave in and out of parked cars – bicyclists may disappear from motorists’ sight and get squeezed when they need to merge back into traffic. Occupy more of the travel lane if it is narrow or if traffic is moving slowly to increase visibility.
Likewise, motorists should stay in their lanes and not swerve into bike lanes.
Take the lane
If there is no shoulder or bike lane, and the travel lane is narrow, take the lane by riding closer to the center of the lane. This will prevent motorists from passing you when there isn’t room. You should also take the lane when you’re traveling at the same speed as traffic. This will keep you out of motorists’ blind spots and reduce conflicts with right-turning traffic.
Riding side by side
Two bicyclists may ride side by side, but only if they don’t impede other traffic. If traffic doesn’t have enough room to pass, ride single file.
Keep your distance
Don’t travel too close to parked cars. If you do, you risk having a door open in front of you! Ride three to five feet from parked cars to say out of their door opening zone. If streets are narrow and you want to be sure motorists don’t pass, take the lane.
Walk left
When there is no sidewalk or shoulder, pedestrians may walk on the far left edge of the lane facing oncoming traffic.
Ride RIGHT
Motorists and bicyclists use the right lane. Bicyclists should not hug the curb or road edge since hitting the curb could cause a bicyclist to lose his or her balance and fall into traffic. Bicyclists may ride on the shoulder.
Choose a lane
Like motorists, bicyclists should stay in the lane that is marked for the direction they are traveling. Don’t ride in the turn lane if not planning to turn.
Never ride against traffic
Wrong-way bicycle riding is against the law and is a leading cause of crashes. Bicyclists may think they are safe if looking at on-coming traffic, but it is more dangerous because if hit the impact would be greater.
When wrong-way riding, bicyclists can’t see signs and traffic signals and motorists are not expecting bicyclist approaching from that direction.
