We see a huge increase in bicyclists on the road in summer, so it’s extremely important to know how to share the road with cyclists. Cyclists don’t have nearly as much protection as drivers do if an accident does occur, so drivers play a huge role in making sure cyclists arrive at their destination safely. Keep reading to learn some valuable safety tips for sharing the road with bicyclists.
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Sharing the road with bikers
Don’t park in bike lanes
Even if it’s just for a quick second, bike lanes aren’t meant to be parked in. Parking your car in a bike lane will cause cyclists to swerve into traffic lanes, and since most drivers aren’t expecting to see a biker in a traffic lane when there’s a bike lane, this is extremely dangerous for the cyclist.
Pass with caution
If there’s a cyclist in front of you and you need to get around them, make sure you give them plenty of room while maneuvering around them. It’s important to give the biker at least five feet of space, so wait until there isn’t any oncoming traffic and hug the center line when passing to make sure the cyclist has plenty of room.
Learn biking signals
You probably learned biking signals as a kid, but it’s never a bad idea to take a second to refresh your memory. If the biker’s arm is turned up in a right angle, they are turning right, if their arm is turned down in a right angle, they are slowing down or stopping, and if their arm is straight out, they will be making a left turn.
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Drivers interested in learning more about how to safely share the road with bicyclists are encouraged to drop us a line in the comments below! We’ll fill you in on everything you need to know.
