Rider Safety on the Road

• Posted on 14 April 2021
• By KW
• 0

Some rules and etiquette for sharing the road.

Here we are in mid-April already, building bike after bike after bike.  Unless we are fixing bikes.  Or selling them.  Which has to mean that lots of people are out there riding them a lot more, right?  With that in mind, we thought it was probably time to send out a refresher course, or, if you're new to this activity, an introduction to sharing the road with the occasional 4000-lb death machine known as the American automobile, as well as its large, imposing cousin the SUV.

First let's talk about official Michigan law*.  Bicycles are regulated under the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code; they even get their own section.  You can find a reference guide right here, but I'll hit some highlights for you.  An important thing to remember, though, is that in spite of "I was in the right and had the law on my side," you are still going to lose that argument with the aforementioned SUV.  

• Riding on the right  The Michigan Vehicle Code states that a rider shall (not "should" or "may") ride "as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway..."  You don't get the entire lane, but be aware that you don't end up less safe because you are too close to the edge, either.  Cars have the legal requirement to give you a three foot (3') passing distance as they go around, but that may not be something they always do.
• Ride no more than two abreast  Remember if you are riding with another person that you may indeed ride next to each other, but no more than two abreast.  Also be aware that on a group ride (wow, we will all need a refresher course on those...) that you should form only two columns; six riders riding two abreast can easily look like several more if everyone isn't following neatly behind the rider in front of them.
• Sidewalks  Cyclists may ride on sidewalks, but must yield to pedestrians.  Be aware, though, that some municipalities actually prohibit riders from being on the sidewalks in certain areas.  So if someone yells at you to get on the sidewalk, it might be illegal for you to do so!
• Lights  According to the Vehicle Code, if you are riding after sunset and before sunrise, you must have "an appropriate white headlamp" and a red reflector on the rear of your bike.  We actually recommend having at least a flashing taillight any time you are on the road with traffic.  Our most frequent question when talking about lights is "do you want to SEE or BE SEEN?"  If you frequently ride the Ottawa County multi-use pathways, think of all of the cross streets and driveways you cross.  If you have a nice flashing headlight going, the drivers looking to go across the path and into the road are more likely to notice you.  The same goes for a flashing taillight.  Any time I am on the road I have a taillight going.

I should probably also take some time to talk about helmets.  Please wear one.  Every time you're on your bike.  "But I never go fast, and I don't really ride that far, so I don't really need one."  I've crashed my road bike several times, and only one of those was above basically a walking speed; all of them wrecked my helmet.  If I hadn't been wearing a helmet, it would have wrecked my head.  Also remember that if your helmet hits the ground with your head still in it, it needs to be replaced.  They are not meant for multiple crashes!  (Kali, by the way, has a crash replacement program for their helmets, which is very cool.)

Another important road accessory is a mirror.  No, not so you can see how great you look in those new Pearl Izumi shorts...  A good rearview mirror is a great thing to have on your bike so you can keep tabs on approaching traffic.  You can get them for your handlebars, bar ends, and/or your helmet and glasses.  They are especially handy if, like me, for instance, you're getting older and your hearing isn't as good as it once was.  

It would seem wrong somehow if I wrote all of this and didn't include the business end of things, so I will say that we can help you with any of your road/commuting needs here at the store.  We are also just happy to answer the questions you might have; feel free to leave a comment or contact us at the shop.  Or stop in and visit and check out the lights, helmets, mirrors, and other accessories you might need for a happier experience on the road.

Stay safe!

KW

*This blog post should not in any way be considered legal advice.