A bill sponsored by NC House Representative Jeffrey Elmore (representing Alexander and Wilkes Counties) would require all bicycles operated by persons age 16 and over to be registered with the state DMV and equipped with a bicycle-specific license plate for an annual fee of ten dollars per bicycle. https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2019/Bills/House/PDF/H157v0.pdf Although the suggested purpose of the bill is to raise money for bicycle projects, bicyclist advocates around the state were immediately critical of the proposal. Terry Lansdell, executive director of BikeWalk NC, pointed out that … [Read more...]
Change Lanes to Pass- A Lesson in Safety
Consensus building around a better paradigm for bicycling safety by Steven Goodridge A driver pulling a wide trailer nearly sideswipes a bicyclist in Petaluma, California The Problem Unsafe close passing, especially at high speeds, is one of the most common safety concerns expressed by bicyclists who use our state’s roadways. Beyond just frightening bicyclists, unsafe close passing contributes to a large share of car-overtaking-bicycle collisions. Although darkness, impaired driving and distracted driving are factors in many overtaking-type collisions, a growing body of evidence … [Read more...]
Rules of the Road for Electric Scooters
What are the traffic rules for electric scooters such as the Bird? What should they be? These questions are being asked by a wide range of stakeholders following the sudden influx of scooter-share activity in urban areas. Electric scooter rental offers the instant ability to travel at 15 mph between downtown destinations without physical exertion (or sweating), and without the up-front cost of purchasing the vehicle. Although they may resemble a child’s kick-scooter, electric scooter-share vehicles are not toys; nor are they to be confused with disability-assistance devices that move at … [Read more...]
How to Pass a Bicyclist
Motor vehicle drivers pass bicyclists safely countless times every day. When done improperly, however, the results can be tragic. Some drivers say that they are unsure of what to do when they encounter bicyclists on the road ahead. It's therefore important to increase public awareness of how to pass a bicyclist safely. Safe passing of a bicyclist on ordinary roads requires following three simple steps: 1. Slow Down. 2. Look and Wait until Safe. 3. Change Lanes to Pass. Let's look at each step in detail: 1. Slow Down Your first responsibility as a driver is to not hit other … [Read more...]
Critical Mind Share
A chicken-and-egg relationship exists between common public beliefs and the interpretation of laws. For bicyclists, our legal right to the road may hinge on the prevailing concept of operations for marked travel lanes. Bicyclist advocates and safety instructors hold a concept of operations where other drivers change lanes to pass bicyclists safely, and where it is reasonable or even recommended for a bicyclist to ride in a lane position that makes it visibly clear that same-lane passing is not viable. Some motoring advocates, however, hold a concept of operations where motorists pass … [Read more...]
BikeWalk NC Publishes Group Bicycling Guide
BikeWalk NC has released the first part of its education initiative to promote best practices for group bicycling. The first installment, Skills and Techniques, is now available as an online guide. It covers cooperative bicycling, applicable traffic laws, group size and formation tradeoffs, paceline techniques, and safe negotiation of intersections and road hazards. Future releases will include Part II: Organization and Leadership, and additional media formats such as handouts, cards, and videos. The objective of BikeWalk NC's group bicycling best practices project is to inform cyclists, … [Read more...]
The Evolution of Stay-Right Laws
[The following article by BikeWalk NC was submitted to the H232 Bicycle Safety Law Study Committee in September 2015 in response to discussion of restricting bicyclists' position on roadways.] A car stuck on an unpaved Johnston County Road in 1909. [Image: State Archives of NC] Abstract This paper provides an overview of the developmental history of stay-right laws for slower traffic in the United States, including generic laws applicable to all vehicles and special laws applicable only to bicycles. Particular attention is focused on the Uniform Vehicle Code (UVC) and the state laws … [Read more...]
The Case for Requiring Rear Lighting at Night
The bicycle law study committee created by the enactment of HB232 had its first meeting August 7, when it identified priority safety issues to examine. One change to state traffic law that BikeWalk NC has recommended is that night lighting requirements for bicyclists be upgraded to require a rear lamp. Cycling in darkness is important for commuting and other forms of utility cycling. Visibility is a concern, however. About 1/4 of car/bike collisions in North Carolina happen at night, including about one half of all bicyclist fatalities. Black and Hispanic bicyclists represent over half of … [Read more...]
Legal Status of a Bicycle under NC Traffic Law
An upcoming study of bicycling laws requested by the state legislature has resulted in a flurry of discussion and recommendations by non-bicyclist stakeholders, many of whom are unfamiliar with existing state laws. A common point of confusion is the legal distinction between bicycles and motor vehicles. We hope this post can clarify this issue. Existing state law clearly defines bicycles as vehicles, and defines bicyclists as having the responsibilities of drivers of vehicles. State law separately defines a motor vehicle as being self-propelled, i.e. motorized. “Motor vehicles” are by … [Read more...]
BikeWalk NC Priority Recommendations for Bike Law Study
BikeWalk NC has developed the following priority recommendations for the Study/Update on Bicycle Safety Laws to be conducted by NCDOT according to HB 232. These summary recommendations can be downloaded as a printer-friendly .pdf file. A detailed support document for these recommendations, discussing existing law and best bicycling practices, is also provided in .pdf format. BikeWalk NC Recommendations on North Carolina Traffic Laws 7/20/2015 Abstract North Carolina’s existing traffic laws are among the best in the nation in terms of their alignment with best bicycling practices (see … [Read more...]