Introduction
Bicycle driving is much like driving a car, because the same basic rules of the road apply. These rules can be expressed in priority order as follows:
- First come, first served (yield to traffic already on the road)
- Drive on the right half of the roadway
- Yield before entering a more important roadway
- Yield before moving laterally or turning
- Destination positioning at intersections
- Speed positioning between intersections
However, two-wheeled vehicles are narrower than cars. This compels bicycle operators to pay more attention to their visibility and position in travel lanes in order for their movements to be predictable to other road users. Also, bicyclists often travel slower than other traffic, which means cyclists must be aware of when and where other traffic may be overtaking, and sometimes take steps to manage that overtaking. This guide provides real-world examples to illustrate how cyclists can employ safe, legal and effective defensive bicycle driving techniques to optimize their safety, efficiency and courtesy when negotiating traffic.
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