By Jack Cochrane, Cycle MoCo<\/p>\n
Wouldn\u2019t it be great to air a public service announcement saying why cyclists don\u2019t stay right all the time? After all, this blog can\u2019t reach everyone. How\u2019s this?<\/p>\n
[Sound of driving]<\/em> To be honest it should be broken up into a couple shorter PSAs. For the next couple installments, maybe this: 1. Why aren\u2019t cyclists using the bike path? (and what\u2019s the difference between a bike lane and a bike path). 2. What are those funny bike markings with arrows in the middle of the road?<\/p>\n
\nMAN:<\/strong> Hey, there\u2019s a bicyclist. Why is he riding so far to the left? Shouldn\u2019t he move over?
\nWOMAN:<\/strong> Not if he wants to be safe. There are a lot of cars parked along the street. Cyclists should always stay well away from parked cars because a driver might suddenly open his door.
\nMAN:<\/strong> Even if there\u2019s a bike lane?
\nWOMAN:<\/strong> You bet. A cyclist might also leave the bike lane to avoid leaves or potholes or to get ready to turn left.
\nMAN:<\/strong> I get it. Look, there\u2019s another bicyclist up ahead. There\u2019s no parking but he\u2019s in the middle of my lane.
\nWOMAN:<\/strong> That\u2019s because the lane is too narrow for cars to pass him in the same lane. But some drivers will try anyway and it\u2019s very dangerous. If the cyclist rides in the middle of the lane, drivers will have to change lanes to pass or else wait until there\u2019s more room. Everyone is safer.
\n[pause with more sound of driving]<\/em>
\nWOMAN:<\/strong> And one more thing Mike. Drivers must always keep at least three feet to the left of cyclists<\/em> when passing. That\u2019s the law.
\nMAN:<\/strong> Wow. There\u2019s so much I didn\u2019t know. I\u2019ll definitely keep an eye out for cyclists in my lane now.<\/p>\n