Drivers and bicyclists sharing the road

MaryLu Hertz
Published: June 2, 2008

Trying to be more green-minded, I’ve recently taken to the road on my bicycle. I’m quite a sight: pregnant mom pulling a trailer with two tots. I stay on fairly low traffic, low speed roads.  Even so, I’ve encountered some rude drivers and dangerous situations.  I thought I’d share some relevant tips and laws (most are posted on at http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/PROGRAMS/bk-laws.asp). 

Basically, motorists and bicyclists have the same rights and duties. The laws governing traffic regulation apply equally to both.  Bicyclists must obey all traffic signs, signals, lights and markings. 

They must ride with the flow of traffic on the right side of the highway. It seems simple, but it can get complicated at stop lights. For example, when I’m on Stonewall turning left onto Sudley Road. I have to ride between the cars going left and those going straight. I do have the option of riding on the sidewalk (providing I walk my bike across the crosswalk).

Motorists sometimes complain about the speed bicyclists maintain. Bicyclists are not required to maintain the posted speed limit but should stay as far to the right as possible to allow motorists to pass them. Motorists should pass with care as they would any slower moving vehicle. 

Bicycles are generally permitted on sidewalks and sometimes that is the safest option. However, bicyclists must always yield the right of way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing a pedestrian while on a shared path.

I sometimes take the shared path along the Prince William parkway. I’d like to just bike along it in either direction but it can be unsafe to go in the direction opposite traffic. Cars pulling onto the parkway just aren’t looking both ways for vehicular traffic. 

And I’ve learned from experience that it doesn’t matter who is right when a bike and car collide: the bicyclist always loses. So if you see me or my bicycling friends out and about please share the road with us. We’re doing our best to be safe and even helping keep everyone’s environment cleaner.

MaryLu HERTZ

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