Drive on the Right Half of the Road
In North America, all vehicle drivers, including bicyclists, drive on the right half of the road. Bicycling against traffic is several times more dangerous than bicycling on the right half of the road. A bicyclist traveling against traffic creates the danger of a head-on collision and reduces the time a motorist has to reduce speed or to stop. Bicyclists traveling against traffic at intersections also surprise motorists, who aren’t conditioned to look for vehicles coming from the wrong direction. One of the most common types of car-bike collisions in urban areas involves a right-turning motorist colliding with a contra-flow bicyclist on the roadway, sidewalk or crosswalk.
Pedestrians may walk either direction on sidewalks and are required to walk on the left side of the road when there are no sidewalks. (Pedestrians walking in the roadway in darkness may not be visible to a driver. Walking facing traffic reduces pedestrian fatalities at night, whereas bicyclists are required by law to use lights and reflectors at night to ensure their visibility.) As a vehicle operator, always scan both directions for pedestrians before turning at a junction.
