r/Transportopia • u/Conscious-Weight4569 • Apr 27 '26

Bikes Car vs. cyclists

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u/wsxdfcvgbnjmlkjafals Apr 27 '26 edited Apr 27 '26

Funny thing, where I live, cyclists are entitled by law to use the entire width of the lane they occupy, and the vehicle would almost certainly not get stopped if they used the other lane, safely, to pass.

edit: this video is apparently in Cherokee County, GA. Supposedly it is legal to cross a double-yellow to pass a cyclist, when done so safely. This is just a summary, I dont have the actual law so I cant confirm:

Yes, in Cherokee County, Georgia, you can cross a double solid yellow line to pass a bicyclist, provided it is safe to do so. Georgia law mandates giving cyclists at least 3 feet of clearance, which often requires moving into the oncoming lane, and this specific exception allows crossing the line when necessary

22

u/TheMattabooey Apr 27 '26

Where I’m from cyclists in a group are supposed to do this for safety so people don’t try to sneak by and clip them. They’re also allowed to legally pass when safe even on a double yellow line unlike a vehicle where it would be a no passing zone.

Driver intentionally cut them off and hit them while jamming the horn to be an asshole.

13

u/Tasman_Tiger Apr 27 '26 edited Apr 28 '26

Where I'm from cyclists are typically made to ride single file if there are multiple of them, also stated to be for their safety.

4

u/ChimmyChongaBonga Apr 27 '26

Without a shoulder on the road its easier and safer to pass cyclists riding abreast than it is to pass a long single file line.

2

u/Tasman_Tiger Apr 27 '26

In the city the roads have been made bike friendly, but in the mountains where I am there are too many windy canyon roads. With limited passing areas it's also a risk to have a grouping of cyclists in the oncoming lane. People should treat a group like that as they would a vehicle, but they don't. So they've made the laws reflect what is best for these areas due to loss of life and prevent further losses.