3 ms·

Quite true. For novice riders are simply tell them to ride where they would put they right wheel when driving a car. And at least a meter away from the curb/pa

Quite true. For novice riders are simply tell them to ride where they would put they right wheel when driving a car. And at least a meter away from the curb/parked cars.

kqr 4y ago
I usually go for "where the driver's seat would be".
- LeifCarrotson 4y ago
  I (in the US, driving and riding on the right) go for where the passenger seat would be - far enough left to take up enough of the lane that cars can't pass me by just squeezing between the yellow line and my bike, but that I'm not inconsiderately taking up more of the road than necessary. There are way too many jerks who put their passenger rearview mirror 12" from my head or literally into my elbow at 55 mph, or who slow down to 25 and try to pass me at a crawl while treating the yellow line as a brick wall if I ride where the outside tire goes or if I ride on the white line. The law here states that cars must give 5 feet of space when passing, but it's not widely respected... Given the choice between squeezing through at an illegally close distance, or waiting for a chance to pass in the opposite lane, too many choose to squeeze past - so don't give them that choice.
  - kqr 4y ago
    For me it depends a little on how safe I feel. If there's very little traffic, road conditions are good, etc, I'll move closer to the side of the road. I still tell other people to aim for the driver's seat, though. Mostly to communicate clearly to them that it's okay to use the road.
- tzs 4y ago
  But check your local laws first. There are often specific rules for bicycles in the traffic. Here, for example, is Washington state's law on lane position: RCW 46.61.770 Riding on roadways and bicycle paths. (1) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place shall ride as near to the right side of the right through lane as is safe except: __(a) While preparing to make or while making turning movements at an intersection or into a private road or driveway; __(b) When approaching an intersection where right turns are permitted and there is a dedicated right turn lane, in which case a person may operate a bicycle in this lane even if the operator does not intend to turn right; __(c) While overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction; and __(d) When reasonably necessary to avoid unsafe conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians, animals, and surface hazards. (2) A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway or highway other than a limited access highway, which roadway or highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near to the left side of the left through lane as is safe. (3) A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway may use the shoulder of the roadway or any specially designated bicycle lane. (4) When the operator of a bicycle is using the travel lane of a roadway with only one lane for traffic moving in the direction of travel and it is wide enough for a bicyclist and a vehicle to travel safely side-by-side within it, the bicycle operator shall operate far enough to the right to facilitate the movement of an overtaking vehicle unless other conditions make it unsafe to do so or unless the bicyclist is preparing to make a turning movement or while making a turning movement. (5) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles
  - kqr 4y ago
    > shall ride as near to the right side of the right through lane as is safe ...so basically what the grandparent is saying?
- jimmaswell 4y ago
  I haven't had any issue riding on the far right when I can, even before I installed my blinking light system.
afc 4y ago
I love the simplicity of this formulation. It's very obvious in retrospect. Thanks for your comment. I'll steal this.

Quite true. For novice riders are simply tell them to ride where they would put they right wheel when driving a car. And at least a meter away from the curb/parked cars.

kqr 4y ago

I usually go for "where the driver's seat would be".

LeifCarrotson 4y ago
I (in the US, driving and riding on the right) go for where the passenger seat would be - far enough left to take up enough of the lane that cars can't pass me by just squeezing between the yellow line and my bike, but that I'm not inconsiderately taking up more of the road than necessary. There are way too many jerks who put their passenger rearview mirror 12" from my head or literally into my elbow at 55 mph, or who slow down to 25 and try to pass me at a crawl while treating the yellow line as a brick wall if I ride where the outside tire goes or if I ride on the white line. The law here states that cars must give 5 feet of space when passing, but it's not widely respected... Given the choice between squeezing through at an illegally close distance, or waiting for a chance to pass in the opposite lane, too many choose to squeeze past - so don't give them that choice.
- kqr 4y ago
  For me it depends a little on how safe I feel. If there's very little traffic, road conditions are good, etc, I'll move closer to the side of the road. I still tell other people to aim for the driver's seat, though. Mostly to communicate clearly to them that it's okay to use the road.
tzs 4y ago
But check your local laws first. There are often specific rules for bicycles in the traffic. Here, for example, is Washington state's law on lane position: RCW 46.61.770 Riding on roadways and bicycle paths. (1) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place shall ride as near to the right side of the right through lane as is safe except: __(a) While preparing to make or while making turning movements at an intersection or into a private road or driveway; __(b) When approaching an intersection where right turns are permitted and there is a dedicated right turn lane, in which case a person may operate a bicycle in this lane even if the operator does not intend to turn right; __(c) While overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction; and __(d) When reasonably necessary to avoid unsafe conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians, animals, and surface hazards. (2) A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway or highway other than a limited access highway, which roadway or highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near to the left side of the left through lane as is safe. (3) A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway may use the shoulder of the roadway or any specially designated bicycle lane. (4) When the operator of a bicycle is using the travel lane of a roadway with only one lane for traffic moving in the direction of travel and it is wide enough for a bicyclist and a vehicle to travel safely side-by-side within it, the bicycle operator shall operate far enough to the right to facilitate the movement of an overtaking vehicle unless other conditions make it unsafe to do so or unless the bicyclist is preparing to make a turning movement or while making a turning movement. (5) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles
- kqr 4y ago
  > shall ride as near to the right side of the right through lane as is safe ...so basically what the grandparent is saying?
jimmaswell 4y ago
I haven't had any issue riding on the far right when I can, even before I installed my blinking light system.

afc 4y ago

I love the simplicity of this formulation. It's very obvious in retrospect. Thanks for your comment. I'll steal this.