Cycling demands precision, too

Sat., May 13, 2006

Bill Love Marketing Department Columnist

I suspect that many motorized vehicle operators resent sharing the roads with bicyclists. In casual conversations, I’ve heard the grumbling about bike riders holding up traffic, running stop signs, cutting between stopped traffic, etc.

Of course there was a time, the first decade of the 1900s, when bicycles ruled local roads. Back then, there were nearly 2,000 bicycle manufacturers, and only one or two upstart carmakers. I imagine those early riders disliked sharing the road with cars.

The popularity of bicycles waned as automobiles established their dominance, but the bicycle persevered. Manufacturers have marketed bikes to children and adults in many configurations over the last 100 years with great success, and because of today’s fuel prices, that success may be enhanced.

With gasoline around three bucks a gal and rising, some of us may be using two-wheeled pedal power to supplant certain motor vehicle trips.

As motorists, we see more bicyclists every spring, but when spring is coupled with gas price hikes, we’ll see even more. Work commuters will be riding some of those, so please maintain a special vigilance at rush hour — some of these riders are beginners in traffic. Bikes do have a right on local roads — so try not to let a few bad riders affect your attitude toward all who pedal.

To aid both bicycle and auto operators, let’s have a look at some of the Washington state laws governing the subject:

•RCW 46.61.755 Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles.

(1) Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special regulations in RCW 46.61.750 through 46.61.780 and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.

•RCW 46.61.758 Hand Signals. All hand signals required of persons operating bicycles shall be given in the following manner: (1) Left turn. Left hand and arm extended horizontally beyond the side of the bicycle; (2) Right turn. Left hand and arm extended upward beyond the side of the bicycle, or right hand and arm extended horizontally to the right side of the bicycle; (3) Stop or decrease speed. Left hand and arm extended downward beyond the side of the bicycle. The hand signals required by this section shall be given before initiation of a turn.

•RCW 46.61.760 Riding on bicycles. (1) A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto. (2) No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.

•RCW 46.61.770 Riding on roadways and bicycle paths. (1) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place shall ride as near to the right side of the right through lane as is safe except as may be appropriate while preparing to make or while making turning movements, or while overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction. A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway or highway other than a limited-access highway, which roadway or highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near to the left side of the left through lane as is safe. A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway may use the shoulder of the roadway or any specially designated bicycle lane if such exists. (2) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

•RCW 46.61.780 Lamps and other equipment on bicycles. (1) Every bicycle when in use during the hours of darkness as defined in RCW 46.37.020 shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the state patrol which shall be visible from all distances up to six hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector. A light-emitting diode flashing taillight visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear may also be used in addition to the red reflector. (2) Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.

That’s just a smattering of the laws applicable to bicycle operation, but it’s a good base to study for bike riders and auto drivers who must coexist on the roadways.

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