To the Californians on the road...
Bicycle riders and drivers alike, I'd like to call your attention to the California Vehicle Code: Division 11, Chapter 1, Article 4: Operation of Bicycles.
The electronic version can be found here: www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/tocd11c1a4.htm
Of particular interest are sections 21202, 21208 (and 21229 for scooter riders), and 21209.
In a nutshell:
The electronic version can be found here: www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/tocd11c1a4.htm
Of particular interest are sections 21202, 21208 (and 21229 for scooter riders), and 21209.
In a nutshell:
- Bicyclists ride WITH the flow of traffic. This prevents head-on collisions between bicyclists and GREATLY reduces the chances of a motorist running over a bicyclist when making a right turn. (Hint: you're doing 15mph, the other guy is doing 20mph and coming straight at you. The impact will be like hitting a stationary object at 35mph. It's going to hurt... a lot.)
- Motorists ENTER the bicycle lane when making a right turn, but no more than 200ft from the turn. This means that as a motorist, you can't drive down the block in the bike lane with your blinker on (or off). This also means that you enter the bike lane BEFORE turning. You must not turn across the bike lane. Think about it: you're turning right, and the bicyclist is going straight.
- Bicyclists can leave the bike lane when making a left turn or wherever a right turn is permitted. If a bicyclist decides to leave the bike lane at an intersection and you, as a motorist can't turn right because they're there, tough shit. Wait out the light, just as if there was a car in front of you. No honking, no revving your engine, no throwing stuff, no screaming; just STFU and wait. They're out of the bike lane so they don't get clipped by drivers trying to make a right turn -- and they are permitted to be there.
- Bicyclists must use a forward-facing lamp when riding in the dark. You, as a bicyclist might be able to see just fine, (hey, watch out for the potholes!) but none of the motorists will see you until its too late. Save everyone a lot of trouble and just buy a damn lamp; strap a flashlight to your handlebars; have an LED array surgically implanted in your forehead; whatever! Just make sure that drivers can see lots of white or yellow light coming from you as you approach in the dark.