Uniform Vehicle Code and Model Traffic Ordinance - Publication is designed as a comprehensive guide for developing standard state motor vehicle and traffic laws. It is based on experience under various state laws throughout the United States. Contact: National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances (NCUTLO). https://ncutcd.org
The National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD) or the “National Committee” is an organization whose purpose is to assist in the development of standards, guides and warrants for traffic control devices and practices used to regulate, warn and guide traffic on streets and highways. The NCUTCD recommends to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and to other appropriate agencies proposed revisions and interpretations to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and other accepted national standards.
(a) Any person operating a bicycle or a moped upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as close as practicable to the right—hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
3. When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions including but not limited to: fixed or moving objects; parked or moving vehicles; bicycles; pedestrians; animals; surface hazards; or substandard width lanes that make it unsafe to continue along the right—hand curb or edge. For purposes of this section, a “substandard width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a motor vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
4. When riding in the right—turn—only lane.
(b) Any person operating a bicycle or a moped upon a one-way highway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near the left—hand curb or edge of such roadway as practicable.
Substandard width lanes
According to the Uniform Vehicle Code of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD) bicyclists to not have to ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway when substandard width lanes that make it unsafe. The code 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.