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What Gets You Hurt/Killed

Take a good look at this graphic posted by Keri Caffrey at Commute Orlando:

In today’s Springfield News-Leader, a reader makes this comment:

I know that laws and customs will probably never change regarding bicyclists and traffic flow, but I would prefer that cyclists ride against traffic flow. At least then, when I pop over the hill in my truck, they can see me and get out of the way. Let’s face it (Hey! That’s a good slogan) many cyclists tend to wander a bit. They are not always in that 2-foot area at the edge of the lane. By facing traffic, they have a fighting chance. Otherwise… Can you say “road kill?”

Yes. Road kill. If you do what this seriously misinformed person suggests.

Missouri law (307.190) states:

Every person operating a bicycle or motorized bicycle at less than the posted speed or slower than the flow of traffic upon a street or highway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as safe, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction, except when making a left turn, when avoiding hazardous conditions, when the lane is too narrow to share with another vehicle, or when on a one-way street. Bicyclists may ride abreast when not impeding other vehicles.

This is remarkably clear. You have a right to the road. When the lane is sharable (i.e. wide enough for a car to pass a bicycle safely in the lane — usually >14 feet), bicyclists should stay to the right. That doesn’t mean the gutter or the shoulder. On narrow roads we have the right to the lane.

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Comments 6

  1. A.J. wrote:

    Great chart, but I have to be honest. I took the driving exam today (I’m a late bloomer) and now that I have my driver’s license, I really don’t like cyclists ;)

    Posted 13 May 2010 at 10:41 am
  2. Andy Cline wrote:

    AJ… :-)

    Posted 13 May 2010 at 1:52 pm
  3. Tinker wrote:

    How does biking on a side walk get you killed or injured as opposed to simply walking along, I mean? If the fool is going to hit you on the sidewalk, he’d hit you in the street, surely?

    Thats a bunch of people getting hit by cars riding on the sidewalk.

    Posted 14 May 2010 at 9:31 am
  4. Andy Cline wrote:

    Tinker… The hit doesn’t come on the sidewalk but because of the sidewalk. Drivers are not used to seeing fast-movers on a sidewalk. The problem usually occurs at intersections — especially driveways. This danger is multiplied when the bicyclist is traveling against traffic on a sidewalk.

    Posted 14 May 2010 at 10:09 am
  5. Keri wrote:

    “I would prefer that cyclists ride against traffic flow. At least then, when I pop over the hill in my truck, they can see me and get out of the way.”

    Oh that’s priceless!

    Posted 16 May 2010 at 9:20 am
  6. Andy Cline wrote:

    Keri… Oh, yeah. I had to chuckle at that one — wrong on sooooo many levels.

    Posted 16 May 2010 at 9:34 am