Debunk the Myths

It's been a long time since bicycles were commonly used for transportation in Texas. A lot of myths have developed in the meantime, and we have a lot of educating to do, of both cyclists and motorists alike, before avoidable car-bicycle accidents are a thing of the past.

It always bugs me when I tell someone who drives everywhere that I am riding my bike, and they say, "Be careful." Like it's dangerous to ride a bike. It doesn't have to be; just ride (1) visibly and (2) predictably. So I tell them, "You're the one driving a car, the single leading cause of death of all young Texans between the ages of 5 and 25, you be careful!"

One common myth about bikes is that you should always ride as far to the right as you possibly can. When faster traffic is present on a road with a marked bike lane or a wide shoulder, without a curb, and no driveways or cross streets, this might be true. But in most other situations it is overwhelmingly more important to be seen by the motorists than to get out of their way.

In urban areas, 89% of all car-bicycle accidents involve turnings or crossings (e.g. running a light). Just 7% of urban car-bicycle crashes actually involve a bike being overtaken from behind. [HGAC Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, p.23 (1996)]. Most of the bike fatalities hit from behind occur at night without lights and/or involve alcohol.

Cycling on the Shoulder

Texas law generally requires a cyclist to ride as far to the right side of the "roadway" as practicable, when faster traffic is present. Texas law does not define the shoulder or parking lane as being a part of the roadway, and we are thus not required to use the shoulder. But, unlike motorists, you may legally use the shoulder.

And it is certainly a good idea to use the shoulder lots of the time. But if the surface is not smooth, debris-free, glass-free, and wide enough, use the traffic lane. If there are pedestrians or parked cars, use the traffic lane. If there is danger from side street or driveway traffic which might spot you better if you were in the roadway, don't use the shoulder.

Cycling in the Middle

When you use the traffic lanes, but the rightmost or curb lane is not wide enough to let you to safely share it with a passing motorist, you may legally use the full lane. This is exactly what the Texas Department of Public Safety recommends that you do in the DPS Driver's Handbook.

Riding in the middle of a too-narrow lane takes away the invitation that a motorist might otherwise feel he has to buzz you. And riding in the middle of a lane has the added advantage of making you more easily seen by a car driver, plus side street traffic. Also, it gives you more room on both sides to maneuver. This is handy if you need to avoid a date with a pothole, debris or the occasional bike-friendly motorist backing out of a driveway who may not see you.

When is a lane too narrow? The experts agree that the absolute minimum width needed for a bicyle to share a lane with a car is 14 feet.

The problem in Houston is that there are very few 14-foot lanes -- almost all curb lanes here are only 10-12 feet wide. Substandard width. To ride safely, then, follow the DPS recommendations. Take the full lane when you need to, or at least enough of the lane so that overtaking motorists will readily appreciate they will have to go over the white line into the next lane to get around you.

You will find that, like magic, almost all motorists will give you the full lane when you ride there confidently like you know you belong. And you will also find they generally refrain from giving you that annoying warning honk they sometimes feel compelled to offer when they are planning to come close to you.

If the thought of cars approaching from the rear makes you nervous, remember that there are very few cyclists hit from behind in the daytime (or with lights at night). Ninety percent of accidents happen in front of you. The whole system of cars on roads would not work at all if they couldn't routinely avoid hitting an object the size of a bicycle.

If you are still uneasy, try investing in a mirror. That way you can see the driver coming and have the option of making an evasive maneuver at the last minute if it doesn't look as if he is going to go around you.

On Two-Lane Rural Section Roads

If the road only has one lane in each direction and no shoulder, as in many places in the countryside, special rules apply. You will usually want to stay near the right side of the road to make it easy for cars to pass around you from behind.

But whenever there is oncoming traffic, take the full lane and make the cars wait behind you until it is safe to go around. Then move over to the right again and let them pass. If there is no break in the oncoming traffic, it is polite to pull off the road periodically to let the faster traffic get past you.

Be especially alert for an oncoming car being passed by another car who doesn't see you. Your natural instinct should be to get off the roadhere you must obey your instincts at all costs.

Cycling on the Left

Did you know sometimes you can legally ride on the left side of the street with traffic? It is not always best, however, because motorists are not used to cyclists being on the left and may not be looking there for you. It is always illegal (and extremely hazardous) to ride against traffic, i.e., the wrong way. However, Texas law allows you to legally ride on the left with traffic as follows:

• when preparing to make a left turn at an intersection or private road or driveway, you are permitted to use the left-most lane in your direction
• when riding on a one-way, multilane roadway, you can use the left lane
• when overtaking and passing a slower moving vehicle in the same direction (such as a Metro bus), you can use the next lane over to go around it (but watch for any traffic overtaking you).

Be a Cycling Advocate While You Ride

Remember that you are a bicycle goodwill ambassador for all other cyclists every time you ride. Take advantage of the law to stay safe. Please be courteous and obey the other vehicle laws that apply to cyclists as well as motorists. If you use a full lane, for example, don't sneak around a motorist who has been courteous enough to take a lane to pass you, when she stops in front of you at a light, only forcing her to pass you again.

We can do quite a bit to earn respect for cycling as a serious form of transportation and recreation on our streets if we just ride our bikes as if we are driving a car. We can earn even more respect if we are courteous to share the road with motorists whenever possible. We don't need to ban cars or buses from the streets; we just need to build roads with a curb lane wide enough for a cyclist to safely accommodate the motorist.