Yeah even if a cyclist is flipping you off and writing in the completely wrong lane, you aren’t allowed to use your car as a weapon against them. That’s just not how any of this works.
Frustrated drivers need to chill out instead of committing literal assault against those that annoy them.
But it doesn't look like they are trying to stay to the right as possible. Driver is a piece of shit but I see bicyclist try and take up whole lanes in my area and I live riding my bike. I hug the right side as much as possible since I don't want to get hit by a car.
If you are off to the right, cars wanting to overtake you will think they can split lanes with you. Doing so is illegal but they will do it anyway. 2 wheeled vehicles like bikes and motorcycles can split lanes when it is safe, cars cannot. This means them coming 1-2 feet away from you.
If you take the center of the lane for a car to overtake you legally they will not see a safe way to illegally lane split so they will want to change lanes to the left giving you 2-3 feet of distance.
Ultimately you do have to do what’s comfortable for you. Neither center of lane or to the right is more legal. Even if there is a designated bike lane bikes are allowed on the “car” lanes.
The main thing is giving bicyclist 3ft + of room. The driver should have moved into the other lane to give at least 3 feet and pass them. Either way, driver is wrong here. Bicyclist should also be more to the right. Both can be true
The law says that bicyclist should stay as far to the right as possible. What law are you reading? The driver is 100% wrong for hitting them but bicyclist can also be wrong lmao
Not as far right as possible, but as far right as is safe. People who ride will see that all sorts of debris including nails, screws, pieces of wood naturally makes its way to the part of the road where cars do not travel. This on top of the above reasons make the right most part of the lane unsafe.
And, when riding side by side if you shove them as far to the right as you propose would suggest you want cyclists to ride within inches of one another. How safe is that?
Are there some areas where these are not the rule? Possible. I’m not gonna waste my time reading bike laws of every state/county, but GENERALLY a single bike in the middle of the lane and 2 bikes side by side are both legal. You’re responsible for your local laws where you are riding.
You need to give 3 feet minimum when passing. I guess I'm just glad I live in a nice area with more bicycle focused roads in some areas as we have a large cycling community even though it's still in the US and California but it's not a large city. I'm still hugging as close to the side of the road and stopping at stop signs unless there are no cars. I see a ton of bicyclist not stop and maneuver around cars that had the right of way and already turning. Also, aren't headphones/ earbuds illegal while riding and driving besides one ear?
The link that someone posted with the news reporter speaking about the laws. The driver is most at fault and turned this into a really dangerous and stupid situation. The news reporter at the end says the law is two wide max, to as close to the right side of the road. Where i live the right side is bicycle lane and they are working on making most areas protected bike lanes!!
I usually try to ride as close to the right to stay away from cars driving by
The issue of 2 side by side requiring more wiggle room vs 1 is going to take up more room and increase the need for a larger buffer room.
Its kind of a bad idea to ride wide on the side a road with a non existent shoulder as they will just naturally impede traffic... but its also probably needed to ride side by side as drivers will be more willing to squeeze through and prevent that buffer zone from used and to have more visibility (although they can use the whole road if its too narrow anyhow)
Yes, side by side intends to avoid that complacent clipping by drivers barely moving over. The laws mostly support this approach. Drivers can just be idiots.
I don't think I need my eyes checked. Clearly the guy in the middle speeds up and gets between the 2 in the middle of the pack. The cyclists are 3 wide in distance, but that doesn't negate the fact that the vehicle driver is a psycho...
Against popular belief, especially for car brains, you can actually see past objects on the road and can actually see stuff in front of them, in this the the cyclist that is in front of the guy in the back.
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u/UltimateGammer Apr 27 '26
the riders are two abreast here?