[Cyclists] Use some common sense
B' Spokes: This article forgot to mention that cyclists when using a doorway should also press their body as close to the door frame to make room for more important people to use the doorway at the same time. [/sarcasm.] The point missed here is the travel lanes in question can only accommodate one vehicle side by side at a time. Bicycles need at least 5' of operating width, so subtract that from the roads in question and you get... motorist must change lanes to pass a cyclist and no amount of riding far right is going to change that. And PLEASE remember Maryland does have a 3' safe passing distance law, so you CANNOT just squeeze by a cyclists riding far right as implied in this article.
Re: I was raised that if a car is coming and I am in the road then I need to move as far to the side as possible,
I was raised that ignorance does not trump the law. The law clearly gives cyclists the right to the full lane when the lane is too narrow for safe side by side sharing.
Look at it this way, the law of the jungle is such the aggressive person will take advantage of the meek person every time. The defense against the aggressive personality type is not to be even more meek (ride further right) but to assert your rights.
My own point of view is if you are riding among polite and considerate drivers then riding to the right will probably work out. But if you are riding in aggressive traffic, riding far right is the last thing you want to do.
I may be over reacting to a poorly written article from someone ignorant of bicycle safety but I see this as a sign that southern Maryland is getting more aggressive drivers so you need to do the OPPOSITE of what this driver recommends and take the lane to prevent unsafe passing.
For more info on bicycle safety: <a href="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/links/index.php?category=Must+read+for+bike+safety">http://www.baltimorespokes.org/links/index.php?category=Must+read+for+bike+safety</a>;
The article to which I am reacting to: <a href="http://www.somdnews.com/article/20120803/OPINION/708039857/-1/use-some-common-sense&template=southernMaryland">http://www.somdnews.com/article/20120803/OPINION/708039857/-1/use-some-common-sense&template=southernMaryland</a>;
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