Appropriate lateral lane positions for bicycling

Written by Nelson Binggeli (09.19.24)

This article addresses questions about where bicyclists should position themselves on the road. It includes what is permissible under Oregon state law and best practices articulated by transportation safety experts. 

CONTENTS

(1) Oregon state laws

(2) What constitutes a bicycle lane or bicycle path suitable for safe use?

(3) How much operating space do bicyclists need?

(4) How much space are bicyclists entitled to on the roadway?

(5) When is a roadway too narrow for a bicycle and vehicle to travel safely side by side?

(6) What lateral lane position should bicyclists use to discourage unsafe passing?

(1) Oregon state laws

Oregon state law (ORS 814.430 - Improper use of lanes) states: "A person commits the offense of improper use of lanes by a bicycle if the person is operating a bicycle on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic using the roadway at that time and place under the existing conditions and the person does not ride as close as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway." The law provides several exceptions. It states: "A person is not in violation of the offense under this section if the person is not operating a bicycle as close as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway under any of the following circumstances: 

(a) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle that is proceeding in the same direction; 

(b) When preparing to execute a left turn; 

(c) When reasonably necessary to avoid hazardous conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards or other conditions that make continued operation along the right curb or edge unsafe or to avoid unsafe operation in a lane on the roadway that is too narrow for a bicycle and vehicle to travel safely side by side. Nothing in this paragraph excuses the operator of a bicycle from the requirements under ORS 811.425 (Failure of slower driver to yield to overtaking vehicle) or from the penalties for failure to comply with those requirements.

(d) When operating within a city as near as practicable to the left curb or edge of a roadway that is designated to allow traffic to move in only one direction along the roadway. A bicycle that is operated under this paragraph is subject to the same requirements and exceptions when operating along the left curb or edge as are applicable when a bicycle is operating along the right curb or edge of the roadway.

(e) When operating a bicycle alongside not more than one other bicycle as long as the bicycles are both being operated within a single lane and in a manner that does not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic."

Oregon state law (ORS 811.425 - Failure of slower driver to yield to overtaking vehicle) states: "A person commits the offense of failure of a slower driver to yield to overtaking vehicle if the person is driving a vehicle and the person fails to move the person’s vehicle off the main traveled portion of the highway into an area sufficient for safe turnout when: (a) The driver of the overtaken vehicle is proceeding at a speed less than a speed established in ORS 811.105 (Speeds that are evidence of basic rule violation) (see below); (b) The driver of the overtaking vehicle is proceeding at a speed in conformity with ORS 811.105; (c) The highway is a two directional, two-lane highway; and (d) There is no clear lane for passing available to the driver of the overtaking vehicle.

According to ORS 811.105 (Speeds that are evidence of basic rule violation) "if no designated speed is posted... any speed in excess of one of the following speeds is prima facie evidence of violation of the basic speed rule: (a) Fifteen miles per hour when driving on an alley or a narrow residential roadway; (b) Twenty miles per hour in a business district; (c) Twenty-five miles per hour in any public park; (d) Twenty-five miles per hour on a highway in a residence district if: The residence district is not located within a city; and The highway is not an arterial highway; and (e) Fifty-five miles per hour in locations not otherwise described in this section." 

Oregon state law (ORS 811.130 - Impeding traffic) "A person commits the offense of impeding traffic if the person drives a motor vehicle or a combination of motor vehicles in a manner that impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable movement of traffic." However, "A person is not in violation of the offense described under this section if the person is proceeding in a manner needed for safe operation. Proceeding in a manner needed for safe operation includes but is not necessarily limited to: (a) Momentarily stopping to allow oncoming traffic to pass before making a right-hand or left-hand turn; (b) Momentarily stopping in preparation of, or moving at an extremely slow pace while, negotiating an exit from the road."

Oregon state law (ORS 814.420 - Failure to use bicycle lane or path) states that "a person commits the offense of failure to use a bicycle lane or path if the person operates a bicycle on any portion of a roadway that is not a bicycle lane or bicycle path when a bicycle lane or bicycle path is adjacent to or near the roadway." However, "a person is not in violation (of this law) if the person is able to safely move out of the bicycle lane or path for the purpose of: (a) Overtaking and passing another bicycle, a vehicle or a pedestrian that is in the bicycle lane or path and passage cannot safely be made in the lane or path; (b) Preparing to execute a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway; (c) Avoiding debris or other hazardous conditions; (d) Preparing to execute a right turn where a right turn is authorized; and (e) Continuing straight at an intersection where the bicycle lane or path is to the right of a lane from which a motor vehicle must turn right." A person is also not required to comply with this law "unless the state or local authority with jurisdiction over the roadway finds, after public hearing, that the bicycle lane or bicycle path is suitable for safe bicycle use at reasonable rates of speed." 

Oregon state law (ORS 811.065 - Unsafe passing of person operating bicycle) states "A driver of a motor vehicle commits the offense of unsafe passing of a person operating a bicycle if the driver violates any of the following requirements:

(a) The driver of a motor vehicle may only pass a person operating a bicycle by driving to the left of the bicycle at a safe distance and returning to the lane of travel once the motor vehicle is safely clear of the overtaken bicycle. For the purposes of this paragraph, a 'safe distance' means a distance that is sufficient to prevent contact with the person operating the bicycle if the person were to fall into the driver’s lane of traffic. This paragraph does not apply to a driver operating a motor vehicle:

(A) In a lane that is separate from and adjacent to a designated bicycle lane;

(B) At a speed not greater than 35 miles per hour; or

C) When the driver is passing a person operating a bicycle on the person’s right side and the person operating the bicycle is turning left.

(b) The driver of a motor vehicle may drive to the left of the center of a roadway to pass a person operating a bicycle proceeding in the same direction only if the roadway to the left of the center is unobstructed for a sufficient distance to permit the driver to pass the person operating the bicycle safely and avoid interference with oncoming traffic. This paragraph does not authorize driving on the left side of the center of a roadway when prohibited under ORS 811.295 (Failure to drive on right), 811.300 (Failure to drive on right of approaching vehicle) or 811.310 (Crossing center line on two-way, four-lane road) to 811.325 (Failure to keep camper, trailer or truck in right lane).

Oregon state law (814.420 Failure to use bicycle lane or path) states: "(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, a person commits the offense of failure to use a bicycle lane or path if the person operates a bicycle on any portion of a roadway that is not a bicycle lane or bicycle path when a bicycle lane or bicycle path is adjacent to or near the roadway." However:

"(2) A person is not required to comply with this section unless the state or local authority with jurisdiction over the roadway finds, after public hearing, that the bicycle lane or bicycle path is suitable for safe bicycle use at reasonable rates of speed." And...

(3) A person is not in violation of the offense under this section if the person is able to safely move out of the bicycle lane or path for the purpose of:

(a) Overtaking and passing another bicycle, a vehicle or a pedestrian that is in the bicycle lane or path and passage cannot safely be made in the lane or path.

(b) Preparing to execute a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

(c) Avoiding debris or other hazardous conditions.

(d) Preparing to execute a right turn where a right turn is authorized.

(e) Continuing straight at an intersection where the bicycle lane or path is to the right of a lane from which a motor vehicle must turn right.

(2) What constitutes a bicycle lane or bicycle path suitable for safe use?

The Oregon Department of Transportation Bicycle and Pedestrian Design Guide (Appendix L to the Highway Design Manual) describes standards for Bike Lanes, Shoulder Bikeways, and Shared-Use Paths.

A Bike Lane is portion of the roadway designated for preferential use by bicyclists and are typically used in urban and suburban settings. According to the manual, the "standard width of a bike lane is 6 feet, as measured from the center of stripe to the curb or edge of pavement.... The minimum bike lane width is 4 feet on open shoulders, or 5 feet from the face of a curb, guardrail or parked cars. A 4-foot (min 3 feet) wide smooth asphalt surface should be provided to the left of a longitudinal joint between asphalt pavement and the concrete gutter section. It is preferable to pave the bike lane to the curb face to avoid a longitudinal joint in the bike lane..... If on-street parking is permitted, the bike lane must be placed between parking and the travel lane, and be at least 5 feet wide  

A Shoulder Bikeway is a paved shoulder that provides a suitable area for bicycling. These are typically used on the rural state highway system and on county roads. The manual states: "When providing shoulders for bicycle use, a width of 6 feet is recommended... If there are physical width limitations, a minimum 4 foot shoulder may be used.... Shoulders adjacent to a curb face, guardrail or other roadside barriers must be 5 feet wide, as cyclists will 'shy' away from a vertical face. Shoulders adjacent to a curb should have 4 feet of pavement from the longitudinal joint at the gutter pan.... On steep uphill grades, it is desirable to maintain a 6-feet (min. 5-feet) shoulder, as cyclists need more space for maneuvering. Note: many rural roads are 28 feet wide, with fog lines striped at 11 feet from centerline. The remaining 3 feet should not be considered a shoulder bikeway (min. 4 feet)...."

Design standards for Shared-Use Paths are contained in Chapter 7 of the design guide. 

(4) How much space are bicyclists entitled to on the roadway?

Assuming there is no available and safe bike lanes, shoulder bikeways, and shared-use paths, bicyclists are entitled to at least 4 feet of operating space [according to American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (ASHTO)]. Oregon state law requires motorists traveling over 35 miles an hour to pass bicyclists at a safe distance, defined as "a distance that is sufficient to prevent contact with the person operating the bicycle if the person were to fall into the driver’s lane of traffic" (see ORS 811.065). Oregon law does not specify a safe passing distance for motorists traveling under 35 miles an hour. However, according to ASHTO "nationally, a commonly used minimum safe passing distance is at least 3 feet, and more distance is recommended at greater vehicular speeds." Three feet would probably not be sufficient to satisfy Oregon's safe passing law for vehicle speeds over 35 miles per hour.

Thus, bicyclists are arguably entitled to at least 4 feet of operating space plus an additional 3 feet or more of safe passing distance. This means that motorists should be passing bicyclists at a distance of at least 7 feet from the white line on the right.

(5) When is a roadway too narrow for a bicycle and vehicle to travel safely side by side?

The Uniform Vehicle Code (published by the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances) defines a “substandard width lane” as a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a motor vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane."

Most travel lanes are 12 feet wide and only the smallest of cars (e.g., a Mini Cooper) could offer 3 feet of clearance. A lane that could be shared with most mid-sized cars would have to be at least 14 feet wide. With larger vehicles the lane would need to be at least 16 feet wide. This is illustrated in the figure below as well as in a short video from American Bicycling Education Association.  

(6) What lateral lane position should bicyclists use to discourage unsafe passing?

According to the Oregon Bicycling Manual “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 (emphasis added). 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” (pp. 15-16).

The League of American Bicyclists (LAB) states: “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 (emphasis added). You do not want to give motorists the opportunity to try to squeeze past you.” The LAB Cycling Instructor Training Manual states: “If the lane is too narrow for a vehicle and cyclist to share, the cyclist should ride in the center or right of center of the lane…. (emphasis added)”

The LAB Smart Cycling Manual states: “If you don’t feel there is sufficient room for the lane to be shared (side-by-side) you should ride in the middle of traffic lane where other vehicle will have to wait until it’s safe to pass you rather than share the lane. This is called ‘taking the lane” (emphasis added). It also states: “On busier roads with just one lane in each direction, you may have to be more assertive and take the lane by riding in the center of the lane. By doing this you’re communicating that motorists will have to wait behind you until it’s safe for them to cross into the other side of the road… Remember that if motorists can tell from farther away that they can’t squeeze past you (when taking the lane), they’ll be able to plan their lane change earlier, causing less frustration and increasing safety for both parties.”

According to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO): “A bicyclist traveling at the same speed as other traffic, or in a travel lane too narrow for a motor vehicle to safely pass without encroaching into the adjacent lane, travels in the center of the lane (often referred to as ‘taking the lane’). The primary reason for taking the lane is to encourage overtaking traffic to make a full lane change instead of squeezing past the bicyclist in the same lane. The Uniform Vehicle Code and most State codes support bicyclists’ right to take the lane, if necessary (see p. 56 of the Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, 4th Ed.).

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA): "When a road is too narrow for cars and bikes to ride safely side by side, bicycles should take the travel lane, which means riding in or near the center of the lane” (see Share the Road & Save a Life).

What is the difference between "practicable" and "practical?"

Practical means useful (for example, "This is a practical tool”). Practicable means feasible or possible (for example, "The backup plan was practicable”). Another distinction is that practical can apply to people and skills, while practicable only applies to plans or actions.

Video

This well-done video, produced by the American Bicycling Education Association, illustrates all the concerns discussed above: Understanding cyclists’ position on the roadway.

What are hazardous conditions?

State law says that hazardous conditions include, but are not limited to, “fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards or other conditions that make continued operation along the right curb or edge unsafe (emphasis added).” 

According to the American Bicycling Education Association, the five most common crashes involving law-abiding bicyclists can be avoided by the bicyclist riding farther to the left to avoid hazardous conditions (emphasis added). These include the following:

• Sideswipe: This crash typically occurs when motorists attempt to pass cyclists without changing lanes and misjudge the amount of space needed to safely pass a cyclist. A cyclist can discourage this by riding further to the left, which requires motorists to change lanes to pass (emphasis added).

• Dooring: This crash occurs when cyclists are riding too close to parked vehicle, and can be avoided by riding at least 5 feet away from any parked vehicle.   

• Right hook: This crash occurs when a motorist passes a cyclist and makes a right turn into the cyclist's path. By riding far enough to the left to encourage a lane change, a cyclist encourages motorists to wait and turn after the cyclist has cleared the intersection. 

• Left cross: This crash occurs a vehicle traveling the opposite direction turns left at an intersection that the cyclist is crossing. Crashes are more likely to occur when a cyclist is following another vehicle and the approaching driver does not see the cyclist. Cyclists can be more visible by riding further to the left. 

• Drive out: This crash occurs when a vehicle enters the roadway from a side street located to the right of the cyclist. When cyclists ride too far to the right, they are often less visible to motorists than if they rode further to the left.