Oregon Bicyclists Manual - Ride to the Right or Take the Lane? (pp. 15-16)
In most traffic and road conditions, the rules of the road require you to ride on the right side of the road. In some conditions it is best to ride closer to the center and “take the lane.” In Oregon, if there is a bicycle lane on a street you are required to ride in it, except:
• When avoiding hazards
• When avoiding parked cars
• When a lane is too narrow for a bicycle and vehicle to travel safely side by side
• When making a left turn
• To avoid conflicts with right-turning cars.
• On a one-way street, you may ride on the left as long as you are riding with traffic.
When there is no bicycle lane, it is generally best to ride on the right side of the road, but this doesn’t mean that you have to be
right up against the curb or edge of the road. Riding too close to the curb or edge of the road can be dangerous if you hit the curb or
hit the roadway edge and lose your balance, causing you to fall. If there is no bicycle lane or shoulder and the vehicle travel lane
is narrow, you should ride closer to the center of the traffic lane. Many times this means riding in the lane about where a passenger
in a car would be sitting (slightly to the right of center). This will discourage people driving from passing you when there isn’t room. If you’re traveling at the same speed as traffic, positioning yourself closer to the center of a narrow lane will keep you out of people’s blind spots and reduce conflicts with right-turning traffic.
The League of American Bicyclists
Where should I ride? (article on lane position)
Bike Law University: Where to ride laws (discussion about state laws pertaining to lane position)
Where should I ride?
https://bikeleague.org/content/where-should-i-ride
The law states that people on bikes should ride as far right as practicable, but what exactly does that mean?
It does not mean that you have to ride in the gutter -- never ride there. If you’re on a road that is too narrow to share with another vehicle, you should be in the middle of the lane. You do not want to give motorists the opportunity to try to squeeze past you. When the lane is wide enough to share (around 14 feet), you should place yourself three feet away from traffic.
Bike Law University: Where to ride laws (discussion about state laws pertaining to lane position)
In most states, the law that applies to bicyclists regarding road position starts with a variation of requiring a position as far to the right as practicable.... (which) means “capable of being put into practice"....What is practicable is often context sensitive based upon road and traffic conditions. The League generally recommends that cyclists ride in the right third of the lane with traffic.
In most states there are a number of exceptions to the general requirement to ride as far to the right as practicable that allow a bicyclist to take the lane in certain situations. The seven most common exceptions are listed below:
Operating at or above the rate of speed of normal traffic flow on the roadway
Passing
Turning to the left
Avoiding hazards or hazardous roadway conditions (usually this is accompanied by a non-exhaustive list of hazards, often including parked cars to address the door zone)
Operating in a lane that is not sufficiently wide for a bicycle and vehicle to operate side by side
Operating on a one-way street, in which case a bicyclist may ride near to the left side of the roadway
Intending to proceed straight when the right-most lane is a right turn only lane (to avoid a right hook conflict)
These exceptions, along with the indefinite nature of what is “practicable”, can give cyclists substantial autonomy in deciding where they feel comfortable riding on a roadway given the conditions that exist on that roadway. Although these rules are usually phrased as exceptions, they can also be seen as clarifications regarding when it is practicable to ride to the right.
Videos for drivers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-4IaQ2LB3U&t=1s
--
Should I share that lane? https://cyclingsavvy.org/lane-width-space/
https://www.bikeleague.org/content/ride-better-tips
LANE POSITIONING
Ride on the right[-]
Ride in the same direction as traffic; stay far enough away from curb to avoid hazards
Ride in the right third of the right-most lane that goes in the direction you are going
Ride in the middle of the lane if traveling the same speed as traffic or in a narrow lane
Take the lane[-]
If there is not enough room to share the lane
If traveling the same speed as other traffic or if hazards narrow the usable width
Before intersections and turns to assert your position on the roadway
Cycling Savvy: https://cyclingsavvy.org/road-cycling
https://cyclingsavvy.org/road-cycling/
FAQ: Why do you ride like that?
Savvy Cyclists drive in the middle of the lane because it actually protects us against the most common motorist-caused crashes. Our top safety priority is to ensure vantage and visibility (to see and be seen). Bicycling in the middle of a lane is our #1 tool for defensive driving.
“I thought the law required bicyclists to keep all the way to the right.”
“Bicyclists don’t pay gas taxes, and shouldn’t be allowed on roads.”
Lane position demonstration video
Bicyclists across the nation who drive their bicycles in this manner have logged millions of miles without serious crashes or injuries. By comparison, bicyclists who hug the edge of the road, or ride on the sidewalk get into crashes much more frequently.
This video demonstrates why riding farther into the lane is not only safer for a cyclist, but creates less disruption for motorists.
https://vimeo.com/17300276?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=1805679
http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/11/29/helping-motorists-with-lane-positioning/
Another demonstration
https://vimeo.com/14273330?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=1805679
Share the road
https://floridabicycle.org/for-motorists/
Bike Lawyer, Steve Magas has an excellent article about why the concept of “sharing” fails cyclists.