The law allows for you to take up an entire lane on a 4 lane road such as Buena Vista. As you pointed out, this is actually the safe thing to do because it forces over taking cars into the left hand passing lane instead of trying to squeeze pass you in the right hand lane with a another car in the left hand lane. Most cyclists come to realize this quickly. Also, on 2 lane roads, moving left into the middle of the lane on curves is also a safe thing to do as it prevents cars from passing you unsafely when there isn't room in the lane for both a car and a cyclist. Most automobile drivers have no idea how scary it is when a cyclist is passed on a curve on a 2-lane road and a car appears in the other lane and the overtaking car nearly clips you trying to avoid a head on collision. Moving left to the middle of the lane on curves is often required for safety and fully permitted by the law. Be safe out there.
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Originally Posted by Bosoxfan
You probably are right but I'm guessing you're not a cyclist. I ride on the roads after first trying the mmp's .I don't get the workout I'm looking for there.All the stopping & starting just doesn't get it done.Also I found it unsafe with the way some drive their carts.After I tried the mmp's next I went on the shoulder of the roads.Talk about insanity people would be so close to me when passing that I was almost knocked off my bike several times . I'm pretty sure that a 3 foot clearance is the law when passing a bike ! The funny thing is that most of the folks passing me that close had the whole left lane to move over but because the were going to need to be in the right lane in a mile they wouldn' t move over. Then there was the time when I caught up to one of these vehicles at a gate where they had to wait. I asked why they had to pass me so close.The answer I got was the person in the left lane wouldn't let him move over.I asked him if he had brakes and pointed out that slowing down until it was safe to pass me sure would have been nice.
Now I take up the whole right lane.Right or wrong it's the safest way to ride.People get ****ed but I know I'm in control of the way you pass me.Oh I forgot to mention I ride only on 4 lane roads. I also wear bright colors, have flashing lights in front & back & I live in my mirrors. That's my story & I'm sticking to it!
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